Daily Bread 11-15-17

Romans 3:27-31

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

ref. - Gal 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no man be justified.

Do you believe in Christ? Do you believe in his power and ability to get you through to God? Do you believe that he can do all things in you? Brothers and sisters, this is faith. And the more faith that we have in him the closer we will get to becoming the children that God made us to be. It was proven a long time ago that a people could be chosen and put on a right path but somewhere along that path they would begin to waver. Soon they were making their own rules and living by their own way. They did not believe in the ones that God had put in front of them as doubt was cast upon them by the enemy and eventually they were lost. Yes, of course, the enemy works in many ways and will creep in wherever he can, but we must grow in faith to the point whereas that enemy no longer has power over us. This faith must be in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. Let us get further into this. When you were saved was it because you performed a deed that qualified you for salvation? Did you stop stealing? Did you heal yourself of perversion? Alcohol? Did you stop drinking? Did you become obedient to the law? No, it was not possible for you to fix yourself into a Christian person without that salvation. So you could not be accepted in God's eyes until you believed in a man named Jesus Christ. Until you let him have control over your thinking and direction there was nothing you could do to gain God's favor. You could go to church and wear the suit or dress and play the part but the part had not been introduced to you yet. No, it took a repentance and willingness to let Christ lead you. Through faith in him you were saved and became justified in him. Through his faith. This is the faith in God that we all must seek, a faith that is equal to the faith that Christ has. Wow, a pretty big order but the more that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that we have been put under his rule the more we are going to allow him to put in us as pertains to obedience to the law. Only he can make us pure. We, under our faith in him, will be purified and caused to walk on a straight path as his Spirit will not guide us down a wrong road. So, let us simplify this whole lesson this morning. We couldn't and still can't do it on our own. No matter how hard we try we will stumble if we try it on our own. Eventually we will fail. But the more we trust in Christ, the more we will learn of him and learn what his purpose is for us. If we believe what he tells us to do or be, then we will know that it is in our best interest to be obedient to it. The more we believe in him the more he can do in us. So, let us go today and be justified not by our great works and even what he has done in us or through us. Let us rather be justified by his faith. Let his will be done in our lives and eternity will be ours, in Jesus' name!! Have a great day!!