Made Righteous By Grace - Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - Success Scripture December 8, 2009

Made Righteous By Grace 

"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - Romans 4:2-5 (Read: Romans 3:1 - 16)

EXPLORATION

The case of Abraham in this text is used to illustrate justification by God and being made righteous by Him.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT: Abraham was a native of Chaldea which originally was a small territory of southern Babylonia. The Chaldeans were a warlike and aggressive people. They were active in the practice of divination through astrology (known as stargazing) and were numbered among the magicians and sorcerers of Babylon. (Daniel 2:2-10, Daniel 4:7) So, Abraham had a totally ungodly and idolatrous background before God called him. (Acts 7:2-4)

INSPIRATION

It was from this ungodly and idolatrous background that God called Abraham to leave Haran, his father's house and his kindred to the land that He would show him with the promise that he would be a father of many nations. (Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8-9, Genesis 15:6)

At the time God called Abraham he was not yet circumcised, without a seal on him as a covenant man of God. It was only by God's grace (undeserved favor) that he was made righteous before Him. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - Romans 4:2-5

Like Abraham, no one has any merit to stand before God as righteous. "we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:8

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." - Isaiah 64:6 Brethren, we are made righteous only because we have believed the gospel of our Lord Jesus and obey God from the heart like Abraham. The question in the Bible now is: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" - 1 Peter 4:17-18

And the Bible also say: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" - Hebrews 2:3-4

This week: What are you doing with the grace of God in your life? Do you know God love you regardless of who you're or the situation you may be passing through? It's time to go back to HIM the way we are that HE might beautify us and renew our lives.

The goodness of God is manifest in HIS grace. The Bible says: "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." - Romans 4:6 - 8.

Remember the Bible says: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" - Titus 2:11-12

We are praying for you,

It's our JOY to see you blessed!

Pastor Wales Goriola

Bliss & Fire Network Team. 

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