Today, I went to chruch and sang this song. This song is so touching. Jesus Christ thought of me and died on the cross to redeem me. Thank you Lord!
Above All (Crucified) ; Click here
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Today's verses: Romans 4:1 - 4:25
Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
4Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
9Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
10How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
12and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
13For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
15for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
16For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17(as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
22Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
23Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
Here is my thought for today.
Even if we believe that we are saved by faith, we try to add to it. We do something to earn the salvation. If our good deeds come out of love, that's wonderful. But if we do them with wrong motivation, that humbles His salvation. His death on the cross is more than sufficient and nothing can be added to it.
As I wrote yesterday, when we belived in His death and resurrection, our sins were forgiven and forgotten forever in His view. But sometimes our guild condems us even after we are saved.
We should know tihs one thing that what he had paid on the cross is far greater than our sins. It is arrogant to think that any of our sins are too great for Him to cover. Even though our faith is weak, our conscience is sensitive, and our memory haunts us, God's Word declars that sins confessed are sins forgiven.
We should trust in His word, not in our own understanding. When my past sins condem me (which is Satan's tactics), I shouldn't focus on them, but on His promises. Then I should rejoice with the fact my sins are forever forgotten like David did in verse 6-8.
Halleluja! I'm free and righteous in the Lord!
Today's verses: Romans 3:21-31
Justification by Faith
21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27Where then is boasting? It is excluded By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
31Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Here is my thoughts.
Sometimes, we humans try to achieve our own salvation by good deeds. But no matter how hard we try, there is a huge gap between our sinful nature and God's holy nature. That is our pride to think that we can go to heaven by work.
We shouldn't focus on our deeds, but His greater plan. He prepared perfect salvation for all humanity. He sent His only son Jesus Christ to this earth to redeem us. Jesus paid the price to pay our debts.
Only we can do is to receive that wonderful gift. We should humble ourselves to receive it. Once we receive His salvation as a gift, our sins are forgiven and our past record is wiped out from His book. How wonderful it is!
I found a good note on these passages.
Why does God save us by faith alone?
(1) Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do.
(2) Faith exalts what God has done, not what people do.
(3) Faith admits that we can't keep the law or measure up to God's standards - we need help.
(4) Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our perfoamance for God.
Let's live by faith!
My focus today is Jesus Christ.