Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday in October. Waine and I have just returned from Great Northwest visiting Earl Kong, Waine's brother, and his wife Carol and Melanie and her family. It was long trip but well worth it. The grandchildren, Audry and Vincent, are growing up to be wonderful people. Vincent is a laugh a minute and no longer shy. Audry is tall and beautiful. Melanie's business, Play Connections, is up to 27 staff with a waiting list of 20 children. She will undergo her 3rd expansion in 5 years. We are very proud of them.
I am continuing my journey in Romans, chapter 4, verses 1-25 " What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." Amen! Hallelujah and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word!!!
Christ was delivered unto death for our sins and THEN raised to life for our JUSTIFICATION! Hallelujah! Justification means to set something right, or to declare righteous. Adam's Sin and Disobedience condemned mankind from walking with God and Christ's sacrifice and obedience unto death allows us to walk with God again but this time through our FAITH and Not by Our Works. This is what this chapter is talking about. Paul is talking with the Roman Jews that it will not be by their "works" that they will see God and "walk" with God. It is not through keeping the 10 commandments that they become justified; it is not because they are circumcised that they are justified. It will be through their faith--just as Abraham had faith that God's promise would be fulfilled and he (Abram) would have a child who would then become the father of many nations!
It is not enough to be a good person--whatever that means. It is not enough to be a kind and considerate person, what ever that means. We come to God through the death and RESURRECTION of Jesus the Christ. All other acts are meaningless. If Paul is telling the Jews that their "ACTS" are not enough, he, Paul, is also telling us that our acts are not enough. We can live a moral life and still spend eternity in hell. That's the bottom line. We were not created to spend time on this earth only. We were created to spend eternity with God. He wants all of us to live with Him now and in eternity through FAITH in the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, the Christ. We can also live a life of abundance here on earth through our faith. We need only to remain steadfast in our faith in God's promises. I have been struggling with a few of His promises lately. I have become mired in "waiting" on God for an answer. He has taken my faith to another level. I am at the point of professing my faith to all who will hear HOWEVER then my patience has to keep up with my professions. I, like Paul, am strong in the Lord and weak in of MYSELF but this chapter gave me renewed determination to work God's plan for the promises I am waiting on. When He gives me the desires of my heart in these areas it will be signed, sealed and delivered! I have to remain faithful and remain expectant as He works out His perfect timing. Hallelujah!
If you are struggling with anything today, this chapter in Romans is for you! To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you! Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn is face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
Stephanie
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