November 17 - Romans 4-6
I believe this passage does more to explain salvation in a very precise way than any other passage in the Bible. Some people have called the book of Romans, "The Gospel According To Paul." I believe he is setting forth the good news as God had revealed it to him and under the inspiration of the Spirit. It is a joy to read all of this as the Lord unfolds it to us.
In chapter 4 we read about the importance of faith. Abraham is the example of one who is counted righteous because he exercised faith in God. He was not saved by faith, because faith is not a work. He was saved by the grace of God, because God saw his faith, and then God saved him. This is what God had determined to do before the world began. God responds to faith. Anyone can exercise faith in God or in Jesus Christ, who is the full revelation of God to us today. Look at verse 21 for a definition of faith. Faith is being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to preform. Faith is placing trust in God for salvation because of what He promised. Anyone can trust someone else. When a person trusts Jesus for salvation because He promised to deliver them through His death and resurrection, He will save them and give them eternal life. This is a foundational truth.
Then, in chapter 5 we see that we are not only to be saved by grace, but God gives us grace to live every day. (v.2) Paul refers to the grace "in which we stand." He refers to the grace for living each day, since now we are reconciled to God. That means we have a relationship with God, because of our salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to live out our salvation in life by reigning with Christ each day. (v.17) We are not to be defeated by the world and by sin. We have the power of God to overcome through our faith in Christ. Have you experienced that victory? It is for every believer.
In chapter 6 Paul tells us why some people do not live in victory. They do not realize that we are dead to sin. They do not realize they are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness. They do not yield their bodies and minds to the Lord to do righteousness, they go on living like they did before salvation. They do not live by grace, but by the flesh and by works. That will never achieve God's will for the Christian. The only way to live a life of victory is to be saved by grace through faith, and then to live each day by grace through faith. Think about it. We are no more able to do God's will today on our own than we were to save ourselves from our own sins. We had to trust God to save us by His power. The same is true today. Without Christ we can do nothing. (John 15:5) We must surrender to Him each day, saying to Him that we trust Him to give us the grace in which to stand today. Then we can have peace and victory. What a glorious, comprehensive gospel Paul lays out for us. I pray that you are experiencing this each day and looking forward to heaven.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 7-9.
In chapter 4 we read about the importance of faith. Abraham is the example of one who is counted righteous because he exercised faith in God. He was not saved by faith, because faith is not a work. He was saved by the grace of God, because God saw his faith, and then God saved him. This is what God had determined to do before the world began. God responds to faith. Anyone can exercise faith in God or in Jesus Christ, who is the full revelation of God to us today. Look at verse 21 for a definition of faith. Faith is being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to preform. Faith is placing trust in God for salvation because of what He promised. Anyone can trust someone else. When a person trusts Jesus for salvation because He promised to deliver them through His death and resurrection, He will save them and give them eternal life. This is a foundational truth.
Then, in chapter 5 we see that we are not only to be saved by grace, but God gives us grace to live every day. (v.2) Paul refers to the grace "in which we stand." He refers to the grace for living each day, since now we are reconciled to God. That means we have a relationship with God, because of our salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to live out our salvation in life by reigning with Christ each day. (v.17) We are not to be defeated by the world and by sin. We have the power of God to overcome through our faith in Christ. Have you experienced that victory? It is for every believer.
In chapter 6 Paul tells us why some people do not live in victory. They do not realize that we are dead to sin. They do not realize they are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness. They do not yield their bodies and minds to the Lord to do righteousness, they go on living like they did before salvation. They do not live by grace, but by the flesh and by works. That will never achieve God's will for the Christian. The only way to live a life of victory is to be saved by grace through faith, and then to live each day by grace through faith. Think about it. We are no more able to do God's will today on our own than we were to save ourselves from our own sins. We had to trust God to save us by His power. The same is true today. Without Christ we can do nothing. (John 15:5) We must surrender to Him each day, saying to Him that we trust Him to give us the grace in which to stand today. Then we can have peace and victory. What a glorious, comprehensive gospel Paul lays out for us. I pray that you are experiencing this each day and looking forward to heaven.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 7-9.