For The Earth Is The Lord's And The Fulness Thereof - Part 2526

"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory ... but not before God. For what saith the scripture: Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:1-3)

Apostle Paul herein is writing to the beloved of God, called to be saints in Rome. Note that these saints are still alive -- not dead one hundred years before earning the title of saints - as some man-made religions like to declare. Paul also declares himself "a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God." (Romans 1:1)

This gospel of God (the definition of godliness according to I Timothy 3:16) is the same gospel which He promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures concerning His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. As we read in the prophets, God prepares for Himself a body so that He can bring us salvation. For unto us a child is born. (Isaiah 9:6) "The Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) And that will happen on the day that God came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)

"And He shall pass through Judah; He shall overflow and go over, He shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of His wings shall fill the beneath of Thy land, O Immanuel." (Isaiah 8:8)

"And His breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity ... and the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of His arm." (Isaiah 30:28-30)

Again, the good news gospel of God wherein He robed Himself in flesh (yet without sin) so that we might have abundant and eternal life in Him. His name in this current dispensation of grace - JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

"... which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh ... and declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:1-6)

Thus, we are not receive God's gift of salvation by/through good works but we do know that good works will flow through those who believe. We also know that the promise, that Abraham should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

Why is the promise of salvation not through the law? Paul states, "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect .. because the law works wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be of grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations) before Him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were ... [and] who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:14-18)

You see, Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, even though physically he was 100 years of age. Rather, Abraham was fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was also able to perform. And for this reason, it was imputed to him for righteousness.

But Paul makes it clear that it was not imputed to Abraham's sake alone or that it was imputed to him only, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

"But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and [therefore] the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:5-6)

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed." (I Peter 2:24)

He shed His precious holy blood on a cross so that you and I could be redeemed -- so that we no longer had to search elsewhere for that healing of our soul. Indeed, Jesus paid the price once and for all so that we might have abundant life in Him.

His plan of salvation -- "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (I Peter 2:25)

Stand in the offering plate.