Romans 3:19–26 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The love of God for His creation was manifested in the person of Jesus the Christ.He willingly gave up His life for ours that in abiding in Him we are free from the barnacles of sin.
Luke 17:13-14 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
Jesus taught under the Law of Moses. In His time on earth He came to minister to the Israelites to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant and His promises to David.
Matthew 19:16-17 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
The Law sets the parameters of death but Christ crucified the law and nailed it to His cross. No one is justified by the law.
Romans 7:3-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Where there is no morality democracy implodes! In Christ precept by precept the fruits of Holy Spirit show up on our lives. Jesus in His birth, death and resurrection freed believers from the law and placed them by faith under the tutelage of Holy Spirit. He will raise us up. The letter of the law is death but there is freedom in Jesus the Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Romans 3:20-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
On this side of the Cross there is newness of spirit. God’s Righteousness is revealed through Faith in His gift in the offering of His only begotten Son for the sins of the world. Now in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. Grace, undeserved and unmerited, the gift of God.
The Gospel message by faith plus nothing equals salvation! We serve Him out of our love. Our matured love is evident by good works which we were created to walk in.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God
The risen Son of God overcame the power of sin which traps mankind and established us in right standing with the Father. In His rising Jesus overcame the last barrier, death, in Him we rise! Carla
God’s provision of salvation through the crucifixion of a messiah appeared to be foolishness according to the wisdom of the world. The Romans used the cross as a humiliating form of execution reserved for the worst criminals—insurrectionists. The Greeks believed that the gods operated above the limitations of people and would not have allowed themselves to be treated as Jesus was. Jews regarded the cross as a shameful punishment and even a curse from God (Deuteronomy 21:23). Although Paul believed that people were made right with God when they entered into a relationship with Jesus, he also viewed God’s work of making people more like Him as an ongoing process. Faithlife Study Bible
The message of the cross is the gospel, the Good News about Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins. The gospel penetrates to the core of self-centeredness. For those who exalt self, the message sounds absurd. But for those who bow humbly in faith, it becomes the power that is able to snatch them from death and impart eternal life. No wonder Paul put such confidence in this message (Romans 1:16). The NKJV Study Bible
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:23–25 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God…
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," and Revelation 17:14 calls Him the "King of kings"!
Luke 6:27-28: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." This love and forgiveness can only come from a heart surrendered to the Lord…may we live with a humble perspective framed by God's faithfulness, receiving the blessings of our heavenly Father.
When we are facing great trials and challenges, it is often difficult to see God's sovereignty and goodness in the present moment. Yet trials are the refining fires that test our faith (1 Peter 1:7). True faith is trusting in the God we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1), even when everything we can see around us is imploding. There are no coincidences in God's plans. When our circumstances seem insurmountable and we are tempted to despair, we can speak truth to our hearts: God is with us, He is in control, He is working for our good, and He is faithful. First5
No comments:
Post a Comment