“I am not ashamed of the gospel…” Romans 1:16
On my walked yesterday morning I was reviewing some verses that I have been learning and I came across a very balancing and supportive text to my thoughts on faith yesterday. Here’s how I broke the verse down while walking:
- “I am NOT ashamed of the gospel;” and the reason given by Paul is, “because it is the power of God for salvation.” The GOSPEL is the power of salvation. If I struggle with the assurance of salvation I need to look no farther than the gospel.
- “for everyone who believes;” EVERYONE who calls on the name of Jesus can be saved!
- “For IN the gospel a righteousness FROM GOD is revealed.” Righteousness is NOT from me, it’s from God! The gospel is about God’s righteousness.
- “A righteousness that is BY FAITH from first to last;” Faith, my action step of believing, is to trust God and HIS righteousness, not mine! “from first to last; from beginning to the end.”
- “Just as it is written;” Remember yesterday, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God?” Well, to understand fully the righteousness of God I have to go back to His word.
- “The righteous will live by HIS faithfulness;” A quote from Habakkuk 2:4, but when I read it, and if I remember my Hebrew correctly, I longer see it saying, as I have for so long quoted, “The just shall live by faith,” in spite of what Martin Luther says in the film. That sounds too much like it is MY faith that saves me—if I can muster up enough faith I will be saved. No, I think it says more that I am saved and righteous by HIS FAITHFULNESS! It’s not MY faith, it’s HIS faith in me as His child that saves me. I get no credit for my faith, I just grow my faith, which was from the beginning already a gift to me, SO THAT I can take the action step of believing and accepting this. And the first verse that came to my mind as I mused on HIS FAITHFULNESS was, “I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.” How can it get any better than that?
Martin Luther reportedly wrote the word “Sola” in the margin of the Bible where he discovered Romans 1:16. Sola- alone- saved by faith- sola- alone! But it’s not sola me, it’s sola HIM!
Have a great day basking in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, SOLA,
Pastor Rich
Quote for the day: “Happiness is not the absence of problems, but it is the ability to deal with them.”
PS Human Development & Campus Ministries Presents:
Daily quote/verse: Your speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward.
Look forward to our email later today & do not forget to stop by Ortner between 1:00-2:00 PM!
- Esteban C, Tito B., Jennie M, Victoria B., Sandy E.
PPS Union College Gospel Choir practice 3:30pm CVC Heartland Hall C. All are welcome if you like to sing!!
PPS Family Worship- Concert by Bonray, in the church @ 7:30
PPPS Afterglo will be hosted by Christian and the Nursing folks, right after Family Worship.