2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
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
Faith in the name of Jesus Christ. He accomplished everything that is necessary for salvation. Christ in you the hope of glory!
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Romans through Philemon were written to the Gentile believers by the Apostle Paul. The 12 Apostles were sent to the Jew to fulfill the promises of the Father to them but Paul was sent to the Gentiles. They all saw the risen Lord after His birth and death.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
Colossians 1:24-27 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 3:23-24 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.
Romans 1:16-17 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-17 in combination with 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 1:16-17 sums up the work of the Cross and the power of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, to save all who believe in Him. Carla
Not ashamed expresses a high degree of confidence in the gospel. Paul is confident that the hope he has placed in the gospel message will not be disappointed. The Greek word used here, dynamis, for power often refers to miraculous works (Matthew 7:22; 11:20; Mark 6:2). Here, it refers to God’s ability to deliver His people from sin and future judgment (Exodus 9:16; Romans 8:2–3; 1 Corinthians 1:18) God’s power also relates to the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:4).
The Greek word used here for salvation, sōtēria, refers to deliverance from the final judgment. It also might refer to deliverance from sin and the results of sin: death and alienation from God. Paul uses references to both Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles) to encompass all of humanity. Although the gospel message applies to all people, Paul describes it as being directed first toward the Jew because God gave the Jews the covenants and promises to which the gospel refers (9:4). The priority of the Jews in God’s plan of salvation also anticipates the discussion of Israel’s future role in chapters 9–11.
The righteousness of God is one of the key phrases in Romans and Paul’s other letters (3:5, 21, 22, 25, 26; 10:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). It could refer to righteousness that comes from God—that is, the righteous status or right standing that God grants to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Alternatively, it may refer to God’s own righteousness and His saving work. It’s also possible to combine these possibilities: Righteousness is an attribute of God that is manifested in His provision of salvation. As a result, those who believe are granted righteous status before God, who is himself righteous.
God reveals His righteousness in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21). This good news about Jesus Christ—the gospel message—also might be the way that the righteousness of God is made known.
Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 to support his position that righteousness before God is only by faith (Galatians 3:11). In the original context of Habakkuk 2:4, faith in God sustains a righteous person through hardship. This same faith in God—which relies on God’s promises for deliverance—is applicable to salvation. Will live probably refers both to a life of trust in God and to the eternal life which God grants believers. Faithlife Study Bible
The New Testament speaks of salvation in the past tense (Ephesians 2:8), the present tense (2 Corinthians 2:15), and the future tense (13:11). In the past, the believer has been saved from the penalty of sin. In the present, the believer is being saved from the power of sin. In the future, the believer will be saved from the very presence of sin (Matthew 5:10–12; 8:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:11–13; Revelation 22:12). 1:17
From faith to faith means faith is at the beginning of the salvation process, and it is the goal as well. When a person first exercises faith in Christ, that person is saved from the penalty of sin and declared righteous. As the believer lives by faith, God continues to save him or her from the power of sin to live righteously (verse 16) The NKJV Study Bible
Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 2:9–10 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Acts 3:26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
What does it mean when our creed (“I believe…”) touches the ground where we walk, where we touch hands and hearts and lives? Where our choices do not allow us to look the other way, out of comfort or moral superiority. Where our choices can indeed “repair the world”.
I love the invitation here: the gift, and the power, of faithfulness. The idea of choosing, daily, to put skin in the game. The gift, and the power, of a behavioral framework. A ritual—a liturgy—for faithfulness.
And this week I’ll take with me this prayer, “Dear God, May we honor the quiet courage of those who stay the course. Give us the strength to be brave in our own way, and the wisdom to recognize and celebrate bravery in others. Amen.” (Thank you Maria Shriver) SabbathMoments
Anyone can go from pride to humility in the blink of an eye. Everything in this world that we try to use to fill the deep longings of our hearts, from our money to our jobs, possessions and even people, all are temporary. They can vanish in an instant. Stripped of everything worldly, all we truly have is complete and utter dependance on God.
Friend, the beautiful news is: He alone is more than enough.
We also have revelation from the greatest Prophet: "In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:2)! Hebrews 1:3 goes on to describe Jesus as "the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature," who "upholds the universe by the word of his power."
God wants us to know that we do not possess the power to buy, earn or secure for ourselves everything our hearts desire. But Jesus Christ has the power to give us all we need and more. In the words of C. S. Lewis, "Look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else thrown in."
Wealth and power can make us start to believe we are above the law. Yet " if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8). It is vital to the health of our hearts that we confess our sin and thank the Lord for His gift of forgiveness in Christ (1 John 2:1-2).
Let's not buy into the lies, friend. May our only boast be in the glorious richness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:17). First5
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