"'they could save only themselves by their righteousness,' declares the Sovereign LORD." - Ezekiel 14:14
Today is a simple, straightforward teaching, calling each person to surrender to the work of God's Holy Spirit in your heart.
For the Holy Spirit of the Living God wills to work a faith in you that believes that God loves you and makes the way for you to have peace both with God and also with all people who believe.
Such belief, such faith, that yields to God's work in us and trusts God's work for us, is one of the most critical teachings of the Judeo-Christian heritage.
Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith is not our own work.
Faith does not save us. Faith instead receives the God who, through Christ Jesus, saves us.
God saves. God works faith in us, in other words, God works a simple trust in us that God saves. God calls us to surrender to God's work and believe that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, namely, makes us right with God. This is called the "right"eousness of faith.
Here are some Bible passages to consider on this critical teaching. Meditate on one of them, and let God's word bless you today and forever.
Romans 1:17 --
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3:21 --
[ Righteousness Through Faith ] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
Romans 3:22 --
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
Romans 3:25 --
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-
Romans 3:26 --
he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:5 --
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:9 --
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.
Romans 4:11 --
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.
Romans 4:13 --
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.
Romans 9:30 --
[Israel's Unbelief ] What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Romans 10:6 --
But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
Galatians 5:5 --
For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
Philippians 3:9 --
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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