DAY 5
Romans 4:4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Abraham had no basis to boast because without God he could have done nothing...and the same is true for you and me. As stated in a previous lesson, faith in God is the basis for becoming righteous. Righteousness by faith is a gift and impartation of grace from God through Jesus Christ.
When people think they must work for salvation, they also think God is indebted to them. Example: If I do a job for you, I expect to be paid. If you do a big job for me, and do not charge me, I will regard that as an underserved act of love and grace.
Jesus did the big job of saving us, changing our eternal destiny, and giving us purpose for life! He only wants you to say “thank you” and go out to become a witness to others.
Reflection Question: How does less work in our own strength bring more grace from God?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
DAY 4
Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
One of the sure signs of self-righteousness is bragging about oneself in relation to being a Christian. If someone asked you, “How did you become a believer in Christ?” your answer does not include the good things you have done. The answer is all about what Jesus did for you.
We are justified neither by the Old Testament law nor by any other rule invented by religion. We are justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Jesus made this possible.
Reflection Question: What does it mean to be “justified?”
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
DAY 3
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
In a day when people are blessed to receive the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, there are still those who believe they have to work for it. Worse, there are some who insist that one must live by their rules and lists of “do’s and don’ts.”
Yes, we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory, but we don’t find the answer to any sin issue by trusting in religion or doing religious practice. God loved us and Jesus gave His life to make salvation, redemption, and righteousness available to all.
Those who have received Jesus Christ have been made righteous and now desire to follow God. We have been “justified” which means “made righteous.”
The grace that saved you is the same grace that will motivate you to follow God and be obedient to God’s word.
Reflection Question: How is God’s grace at work in your life?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
DAY 2
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
The message of the Gospel of Christ carries the power to change lives. It is a message of which we should never be ashamed. In fact, the best thing you’ve ever had the opportunity to know and share is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The Good News of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the power that produced salvation and the hope of our eternal future.
The Gospel produced righteousness that you could never achieve on your own. It is the gift of God along with the faith that God gave you to believe Him. “Faith to faith” describes your walk of faith from salvation to your daily life. “The just shall live by faith.”
Reflection Question: In relation to your faith walk, what do you need to stop talking about and begin talking about?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
DAY 1
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
One of the encouraging truths about our Christian life is that we are never alone. We are not islands unto ourselves. We are neither independent nor dependent. We are interdependent in both helping one another and being self-empowered.
We have great riches in Christ! We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10), but we also have the blessing of impartation from others. God uses others who can share insights and wisdom with us. Leaders, such as our pastors, help us discover new dimensions of God’s gifting within.
Paul expressed his desire to spend time with believers to help them through instruction and training in God’s grace. We need our pastors, spiritual mentors, and fellow believers in the same way. We spend time in personal study and prayer for direct impartation through the Holy Spirit.
We also benefit greatly from participating in Bible study and other gatherings of believers where we can receive the word and grow stronger in Christ.
Reflection Question: Who does God use in your life to impart gifts and grace?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
