Click here to go to Romans 4
I don't remember seeing this verse before, or maybe I should say it has never registered before today:
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7 “Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
That wonderful reminder that we can earn our salvation, it is through our faith in God who forgives sinners! So very, very good!
Lots of good stuff in this chapter about Abraham, our father, what jumped out at you?
Romans 4
ReplyDelete13 So it was not by obeying Moses’ Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, it was through God’s approval of his faith.
Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Romans 4
16-17 Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift. Consequently, the promise is guaranteed for every descendant, not only for those who are descendants by obeying Moses’ Teachings but also for those who are descendants by believing as Abraham did. He is the father of all of us, as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.”
I would have to quote the whole chapter!! So good. So excellent! God's promise extends to all who will receive Him. WHOSOEVER will...
18 When there was nothing left to hope for, Abraham still hoped and believed.
25 Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval.
Hebrews 11
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
James 4
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Revelation 22
17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEMh4OrepnQ
The Trammells sing Whosoever Will May Come
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
ReplyDeleteI like how Paul brings in lessons from the Old Testament and helps us understand how those lessons pertain to Jesus' time.