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Wednesday, May
14, 2008
Oh So Gracious
Romans 4:1-5 What shall we say then that
Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? (2) For if
Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before
God. (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness. (KJV)
Williams New Testament Romans
4:1-5:
1. Then what are we to say about our forefather Abraham? 2. For if he was considered in right
standing with God on the condition of what he did, he has something to
boast of, but not before God. 3. For
what does the Scripture say?
"Abraham put his faith in God, and it was credited to him as
right standing with God." 4.
Now when a workman gets his pay, it is not considered from the point
of view of a favor but of an obligation; 5.
but the man who does no work, but simply puts his faith in Him who
brings the ungodly into right standing with Himself, has his faith credited
to him as right standing.
When you really stop and think about
God’s plan of salvation aren’t you glad it is not based on works? Or how
about our reward of inheritance, that too is something I wouldn’t want to
be based on a debt, something I had to earn. If we all got what was coming
to us or what we truly deserved based on works, then we would be back under
the old grueling law, a place our Lord doesn’t desire for anyone anymore.
Actually if we all got what was coming to us we would still be under a
death sentence, separated from God, thus why He sent His Son to bring
reconciliation to mankind. So what work did Abraham do to be in right
standing with God, which is what the word righteousness means? If you said
nothing, however he was willing to believe in someone greater than himself,
then you too would be headed in the right direction to be in right standing
with God as well. Personally I am relieved, glad that salvation isn’t left
up to me or my way of thinking, and certainly not according to my strength
or abilities but rather I can cast all my cares upon the Lord and let Him
do the caring for me. In fact long before it ever occurred to me to cast my
cares His way, even before the foundation of the world, God made a plan for
my life, a path He chose for me as well as anyone else who was willing to
simply believe in Him. Yet with that in mind, the simplicity of this plan
by a God whose ways and thoughts are so much higher than mine, why at times
do we still doubt or think we need to be doing something other than putting
our faith in God and trusting in what He is able to do if only we will let
Him?
1 Corinthians 3:18-21 Let no man deceive
himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him
become a fool, that he may be wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness. (20) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that
they are vain. (21) Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are
yours; (KJV)
Strong’s definition for fool:
3474
moros (mo-ros'); probably from the base of 3466; dull or stupid (as
if shut up), i.e. heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd:
KJV-- fool (-ish, X -ishness).
Now before you go out and start acting
like one of the above definitions because you just read where Paul said
‘let him become a fool, that he may be wise’ keep in mind that many think
they can instruct God on how His plan of salvation works which they base
more on works than on believing. I mean, if mankind is so smart and
intelligent then why when the word of God specifically tells us there is
one Lord and one faith, that in this country alone we have thousands of
different so called faiths; now talk about blockheads. What man calls
wisdom! Especially the wisdom of this world and its worldly preachers who
base their salvation on works and not a simple belief in the completed work
Jesus Christ has done on our behalf. While many profess themselves to be
wise, they are in essence fools when teaching any other doctrine than the
doctrine of Christ and the work He has begun and desires to do within the
believer. So when someone tries to tell you that you have to do something
in order to be in right standing with God, which most of the time means
giving more money to their organizations, simple truth is that it is your
ability to believe in the message being delivered by Christ to His people
on a daily basis is what will keep one strong in the Lord and the power of
His might. How can two walk together unless they be in agreement? It would
be to your advantage to build a relationship with the Father through Jesus
Christ so that you can hear His message of faith firsthand and no longer
seek the glory of mankind. Nothing is more foolish, absurd, heedless and
stupid than to see a bunch of people patting themselves on the back and
boasting about all the things they are doing for God, and not the other way
around.
John 14:8-11 Philip saith unto him, Lord,
shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I
been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that
hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the
Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in
me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the
Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
(KJV)
Here is a different take on salvation,
did you ever stop and think that this man Jesus of Nazareth had to rely on
hearing and obeying in order to attain salvation for himself? While some
claim he was God, the simple fact is that he was a man just like us
believers seeking to please our Father, and that in order for him to
inherit eternal life he too had to be willing and obedient to what God had
planned for his life. Jesus was a man who was anointed with the Holy Ghost
and with power so that he could manifest God’s plan of salvation and be an
example of how to live a life that is pleasing to Him. The same Spirit that
worked in Him is in us as well. Now it is a matter of hearing the words of
God and learning to speak not of ourselves but what the Spirit within is
speaking. Jesus of Nazareth was the first born, or the first born again man
into the realm of the Spirit, to demonstrate a life based on the grace of
God through faith and not that of himself; willing to lay down His life for
us. Are you in the Father this day and is His word working mightily in you?
Are you believing in Him because of what He is doing or are you trying to
base your salvation on your own works? In order to operate in the wisdom of
God one needs to realize how futile and foolish their own thinking is.
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no
thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these
things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no
thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (KJV)
Once you come into agreement with God’s
plan of salvation, and the more you remain in that realm, the more you see
it contradicts the way of the world. First and foremost one needs to seek
the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all that is needed is added
after we hear His take on it. While many seek to take care of the outward
man first which is foolish, few are willing to enter into the realm of God,
cease from their own works, and allow Him to be their source. The Spirit is
willing, it is the flesh and its carnal thinking that is weak and futile.
God’s gift is of grace not based on our works; which is so simple and yet
so hard for many to let go and trust in the Lord with all their heart and
no longer lean unto their own understanding.
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