“And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:13-16
Our churches are to be houses where we hear God’s Word and offer up our prayers and praises. They are not to be places for us to buy and sell and do business. Many seem to forget Jesus’ zeal for the Lord’s house and treat it like a marketplace to sell music, books and other items.
“LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth” (Psalm 26:8). Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
It is through faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all that we have access to God’s mercy and grace upon which our salvation depends. And, when we trust in Christ, we can rejoice in the certainty of the eternal joys of heaven which await us for Jesus’ sake!
Thank you, O God, for pardoning the guilt of my sins and granting to me the right to come into Your presence through faith in Christ Jesus and His sacrifice for my sins. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …” Romans 5:1
How can sinners like you and me have peace with God? Through faith in Jesus Christ! When we turn from our sinful ways and trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice for mercy, we are counted just and righteous through faith in Christ and have peace with God.
Thank You, O gracious God, for granting to me, through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, the peace of sins forgiven. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:23-25
The Bible’s testimony that Abraham was justified and counted righteous through faith in God’s promise was recorded not just for Abraham but for us also, teaching us that God will count us righteous in His sight when we trust in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised again that we might be forgiven and justified through faith in Him.
O gracious and merciful God, as Abraham was justified by faith in the promised Seed, grant that we too are counted just and righteous through faith in Christ Jesus, the Seed of Abraham and Son of God who died for our sins and rose again that we might be justified through faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Webster Version of the Bible.]
“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” Romans 4:11-12
Circumcision was a sign and seal that one was a partaker of God’s covenant and, like Abraham, counted just and righteous in God’s eyes through faith in God’s promise of a Savior. Thus, Abraham is the father of all who trust God’s promise of mercy and forgiveness in the Messiah and Savior, whether circumcised or uncircumcised. New Testament baptism supersedes Old Testament circumcision and is the circumcision made without hands, the circumcision of Christ, the sign and seal that we are partakers of God’s new covenant of grace and our sins are washed away in Jesus’ shed blood. It signifies that we are now dead to sin and alive to God through faith in Christ (cf. Col. 2:11ff.).
O Lord, grant that I do not view baptism as my work but as Your gracious work, making me a partaker of the New Covenant in Your blood in which I have forgiveness for all my sins and a place in Your everlasting kingdom through faith in You and Your atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.
