“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Romans 9:6-7
To truly be a part of God’s people of Israel, it is not enough to be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; one must share in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and trust in God’s promise to send a Savior to redeem fallen mankind. The same is true today. Holding membership in a Christian church does not make one a Christian; one must repent of his sinful ways and trust in Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and life to be a true Christian and child of God (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.).
O Spirit of God, through Your life-giving Word, create in me faith in Christ Jesus that I might be a true Israelite and true Christian. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
What is the Gospel? It is the faith-producing message of God’s Word, revealing the perfect righteousness that God imputes to all those who look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is a righteousness of faith and not of our failed works under the law; and it is revealed to faith — to those who, by God’s grace, believe God’s promise to justify and save those who trust in Christ Jesus.
O gracious God, grant me faith in the Gospel message that I may trust in Christ Jesus and His cross and be counted righteous and acceptable in Your sight. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:18-19 KJV
The path upon which those who acknowledge their sins and look to Christ and His cross for mercy and forgiveness is brightly lit and shines brighter and brighter as they draw nearer the day when Christ receives them into glory. The way upon which the unbelieving walk is so dark that they can’t even see the error of their ways or the eternal doom ahead of them.
By Your Word, O Lord, open my eyes to the truth and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
What a comfort it is for us who trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to know that God’s love rests upon us and that nothing can separate us from that love, which is ours in Christ!
O loving and merciful God, by the Spirit’s gracious working through the promises of Your Word, keep me trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and walking in Your love. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:35-37
Can anyone or anything separate us from the love of Christ and take from us the salvation He won for us? His love and His promises are sure — even in the face of trouble, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or death. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have the victory!
O gracious Savior, keep us in the true and saving faith so that nothing may separate us from Your love and mercy or take from us what You have promised. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
