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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Abraham and David Justified by Faith Bible Verse:Romans 4:1-8 (ESV) "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”" Message:
Paul, having introduced the concept of justification by faith, now anticipates arguments that the Jews might make against the concept. The Jews believed their righteousness came from their works. God had made a covenant with Abraham (and his seed forever): They believed that they were Abraham’s seed and thus God’s chosen people, if they would circumcise their sons and follow his commandments. Thus, they would say, their works — following God’s commandments — made them righteous before God.
Jacob Wrestling Angel|Rembrandt
Abraham’s actions were not the foundation of his righteousness, however; it was his belief in God, his faith. He agreed to follow all kinds of rules, solely because his faith in God was so strong. He believed in God, and he based his life on that belief. His actions were fundamentally expressions of faith.
Paul compares the theology of grace by works to someone who has done a day’s work and expects to be paid. But someone who has not done the job and gets paid, has not earned his wages; they are a gift. And even in the Old Testament, God has repeatedly given His grace to those who have not earned it, but have faith in Him.
To illustrate this, Paul points to a second Jewish all-star, David. David was certainly one of the most beloved men in the history of Judaism and had many great works to his credit. But he also erred, and the quoted psalm (Psalm 32) probably refers to David’s blackest moment, when he lusted after the wife of Uriah the Hittite and arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle, so that he could have Bathsheba.
David was specifically forgiven for this wickedness (see 2 Samuel 12:13). And if David was forgiven for such terrible sin, how can the Jews boast of justification by their works? For God’s grace to the Jews was a gift, and forgiveness was always a possibility for them. And if grace is a gift, those who receive it have not earned it by their works.
What Paul is getting at is that the Jews are wrong. Their obedience to the law—their actions or “works”—will not justify them. And their argument that Abraham and David were justified by obedience to the law is wrong; Abraham and David were justified by faith, and faith is the only route to salvation.
Meditation : Prayer : Now to him who by his power within us is able to do far more than we ever dare to ask or imagine — to him be glory in the Church through Jesus Christ for ever and ever,.......Amen |
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