Romans 4:15 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. In our continued belief in God’s grace we see again and again that faith is a big part of living a righteous life. I have faith in Jesus Christ and it is that faith in Him that draws me into righteousness. In the Old Testament it speaks of Abraham being a Father of many nations and that the faith of Abraham was credited to him as righteousness. The more Abraham followed God’s law, the more righteous he became. And not him only but his descendants. Abraham believed that what God said, He would do, and he did not waver in that faith, but grew stronger in that faith. As Paul wrote to the Romans in 4: 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.
When Jesus came all of this became very personal for the world and the distinction between saved and lost was laser focused so that all would know the difference. Paul, in writing to the church at Rome was very concise in his message about where our hope comes from and their was no variance in his words. Just as Abraham believed in God and God blessed, so also we believe in God and are blessed through our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is why we as believers say “Jesus is our only hope.” Because He is our only hope. In Acts 4:12 it is very clear where salvation comes from where it says, 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Believers in Jesus Christ should never follow the inclination to back down from the purity of the truth from the Word of God. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that is it.
The world we live in has many options that are all dependent on relative circumstances that are happening at the time. There is no truth in the way the world presents truth and the world’s perspective is flawed at best. We see a world unhinged and it should not surprise us as the poisoned perspective of a Godless world tries to indoctrinate, even believers, to follow it’s flawed truth. We elevate universities as “truth holders” and send our children to get knowledge from unwise sources that try to indoctrinate them to a worldly way of thinking and then are shocked as the result is them running from God. We allow weak man-made teachings of God’s Word infiltrate our Christian Universities and then are amazed when people are leaving churches in droves. We hold to old, worn out, traditions that didn’t work when they were first used, and comfortably sit in our pews hoping things will change without us accepting any change.
In the denomination of the church I serve in we have seen record numbers of people leaving our churches and we are still not willing to seek God’s perspective on what is wrong. Of all times for believers to stand up for the “truth” it is now. Time for people who don’t even know God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to be emptied from their positions of leadership and let God lead again. Time for the “remnant” to take the wheel and drive this gospel ship back out into deep water and begin to aggressively seek the lost with the hope of salvation and make disciples. Time for our faith to come alive and put the unhinged world back on it’s hinges so it will function a little better. Of course, we are dealing with “the world” here…… The world will always be the world and that is a force that objects to the truth of God’s Word. But we must still present the truth and be lights that shine in the darkness!! We must not have so much of the darkness in our lives that there is no light to shine in the darkness. We must be light!! Without the truth of God’s Word the world will continue to be unhinged and satan will raise his head and try to overcome those who will stand in the gap. But do not fear our God is listening to our prayers and I believe He will respond.
Matthew 6: 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
Augustine said it well. Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.
The Pilgrimage continues….
David Warren
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