“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4
Though the law of God is good, it could not save us because we are, since Adam’s fall, sinful and unable to fulfill the law’s demands. But Christ Jesus, God’s own dear Son, fulfilled it for us and then suffered the condemnation of God’s law in our stead so that we who walk by the Spirit of God and trust in Christ Jesus might be counted righteous and saved.
O gracious and merciful God, thank You for the gift of Your Son and His sacrifice for my sins that I might, by Your Spirit, hear Your Word and trust in Christ Jesus as my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15
The people of this world have their portion in this life and then face God’s judgment. Those who trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross have an inheritance in heaven. With David, they have the confidence of being raised up without sin and seeing the LORD God face-to-face, of being satisfied in the resurrection when they awake in the likeness of Jesus!
Forgive my sins and failings, O Lord, and grant that I be more and more like You in this life, and raise me up on the last day in Your image and likeness. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1
Those who continue to walk according to the sinful longings of the flesh will be condemned on the last day. But those who repent and, by the Spirit’s gracious working through God’s Word, trust in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross are not condemned but are forgiven and counted righteous by God.
Keep me in the true faith, O God. Grant that I continue in daily contrition and repentance and hold fast in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross unto life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
A close look into the mirror of God’s law shows us the true condition of our hearts — inclined to selfishness and sin against God’s commandments and deceiving us into thinking we are good. Only Christ is good, and He is our only Savior!
Have mercy upon me, O God, and forgive the wickedness of my heart for the sake of the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
”O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25
No matter how hard we try, we just can’t measure up to what God demands of us in His holy commandments. Even as believers with a new nature that loves God and desires to please Him, we come short and are poor, wretched sinners! Thankfully, God sent His only-begotten Son to redeem us and, through faith in Christ, we are forgiven and granted everlasting life in fellowship with God.
Thank You, dear Heavenly Father, for sending Your only-begotten Son to pay the price for my sins and failings that I might have Your pardon and forgiveness through faith in Christ Jesus and His cross. Graciously keep me in the true and saving faith unto that Day when You will raise me up, without sin, to serve You forever in righteousness and true holiness. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
