Faith in Christ

 

Faith in Christ

Romans 3:21-26

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.

Lord, we believe in the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for revealing the mysteries of who You are to the Gentiles as well.  Your Word is light, and we have life because of the Son of God. Our hearts and minds are focused on the scriptures that have given us the grace to believe that by faith we are saved. Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Saints, we have the riches of glory bestowed upon our lives. The mercies of God are poured upon us to give us the gift of salvation. The love that Christ shows to us is everlasting. His work was finished at the cross. He gave His life for us to pay our sin debt. The Law could not save us from our sins but keep record of our transgressions and offenses. The end of the Law is death, but faith in Christ is eternal life through grace.

The sacrificial system kept the people bound to the law because the law clearly revealed the power of sin reigning in the flesh of mortal men thus causing men to disobey God’s Law. The law revealed to us our perpetual sins, transgressions, and offenses against God. The law keepers were not merciful, and many were stone to death for their sin. The outward sin of the people was documented, and punishment followed according to the Law. However, the Law only punished men for their outward sins, but not the sins of the heart and evil thoughts in them. So, the religious men who walked around that had no outward offenses felt superior. Yet, they were guilty of sin because we are all guilty according to Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We must understand that God looks at the heart of a man to understand him. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 3:10-14  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

On our journey, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. He is the Spirit of truth. We understand that He is our helper and is working within us to help change us into the new man. We must submit our will and obey the Holy Spirit. We have indwelling sin that we must confess to the Lord. Our walk in Christ is the path to eternal life. We will never be perfect, but we cannot use it as an excuse to sin, e.g., unforgiveness, disobedience, entertaining impure thoughts, etc. Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus freed us from the Law of sin and death. We must pray to the Holy Spirit to intercede for us to the Father. The Spirit understands the spirit and knows how to help us in our weak flesh. We are alive to Christ and dead to sin when we become born again. But we need the Holy Spirit to help us walk in the Spirit and to teach us the Word of the Lord. Our faith in Christ made us sons and daughters of God. Therefore, let us pray to the Father and thank Him for His Son Jesus and for saving us.

We are still prisoners in these mortal bodies because sin is still in our members. We are at war inside our bodies because sin once ruled over us before we came to Christ. The flesh is the body and sin live inside our bodies and is working against the Spirit. But we must fight our flesh by binding it with the Word of the Lord and resisting the temptations because Christ died to set us free from sins grip. Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 

The Law exposed our sins and made it alive to us. Before the Law men were living in darkness doing evil and living ungodly. Thus, sin was their slave master and had taught men how to use their bodies to worship sin. There was no Law to tell them what they were doing was sinful. But when the handwriting of God was given to Moses to give to the people the Ten Commandments of God, it revealed to them their sins. Then the Law was added to the Ten Commandments. 

The Lord is just and merciful toward us. Therefore, our hearts and minds must be committed to doing His will. The Word of the Lord is the knowledge that we must renew our minds with daily. We cannot know the Father’s will if we do not meditate on the Word. The prince of the power of the air is alive, and he is plotting and planning to deceive the elect. We would’ve still been lost in darkness if God had not given us His Word and Spirit. John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

There are many of God’s people living a double minded life because they have been deceived to believe that they are not saved without works. But scripture alone tells us Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Our sinful nature and flesh cannot save us by doing good works. We must humble ourselves and bind this doctrine “a man is not saved unless he is doing good works for salvation.” We must pray to the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes of understanding to help us rest in knowing that the work of the cross and the blood of Christ was the propitiation for our sins. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast Romans 3:25 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 Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Mercy Seat

Now is the time to prepare

Every living soul has received grace

When your earthly life is over there is another step

 You will be judged according to your life

Your tests, trials, and tribulations

The mercy that you showed to others

How you live your life is being recorded

Have you accepted Christ?

Justice and eternal life are His gifts

God’s judgments are fair because He’s divine

The power that dwells from the mercy seat is heaven’s law

Pray, believe, forgive, love, and serve Christ now  

ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”