Faith
The Gospel saves us, whatever our background, good or bad, religious or pagan, Jew or Gentile. We need the good news that Jesus died on the cross as our substitute, exchanging all our mess for His righteousness.
Today’s passage tells us that the power of God saves us and gives us righteousness when we put our faith in Him. The challenge is also there to carry on living by faith.
When you became a Christian you put your faith in Jesus. What does that mean? John Paton was a missionary on some Pacific islands, who over a hundred years ago was trying to translate the Bible into the local language. He couldn’t find a word for “faith”, so one day as his local servant came in to see him, he took his feet off the ground and leant back in his chair and asked “What am I doing?” The servant’s reply used a word that means “to lean your whole weight upon.”
What do we lean our whole weight on? Romans 10:9 tells us that “if we believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord we will be saved.” That is saving faith. The instantaneous leaning on Jesus that saves and makes us a brand new creation. God makes us one of his adopted children and will never let go! From that moment we begin to live by faith – continually leaning on Jesus and enjoying a wonderful relationship with God the Father.
Pray: Thank God for giving you righteousness by faith.