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Scripture Reading:
Romans 4:23-25 (Phillips New Testament)
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23 Now this counting of faith for righteousness was not recorded simply for Abraham’s credit,
24 but as a divine principle which should apply to us as well. Faith is to be reckoned as righteousness to us also, who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was delivered to death for our sins and raised again to secure our justification.
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Thought for the day:
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Many people consider the Old Testament to be just that – ‘Old’ and therefore has no relevance to modern day culture or Christianity. It seems that everything today is aimed toward a younger generation and anything old is regarded as almost useless or meant for museums. Things are moving on at a rapid pace and it’s difficult to keep up with the constant change.
However, what we read in our verses today stands in stark contrast to that viewpoint and provides stability and constancy on which we can base our lives and faith. The Phillips New Testament uses the phrase ‘as a divine principle’ and it is used to explain one of the key purposes for the Old Testament. Nothing in the Scripture is recorded just for the sake of it. It serves a purpose. The apostle Paul is saying that we read of Abraham’s faith so that we can use that as a principle that spans the centuries, applying to us all.
While it is safe to say that not everything in the Old Testament is intended to be applied literally, when we read something as clear as this, we have to grasp it with both hands and treasure it. We can be aligned with Abraham as we believe in the same God and exercise faith in Him. In doing so, God will reward us in exactly the same way as He did with Abraham – we will be reckoned as righteous before God.
Note that God raised Jesus from the dead as a demonstration of His pleasure in Him and also to show His acceptance of the perfect sacrifice.
Jesus died for our sins and was raised again for our justification. Many people have argued over this phrase but I simply believe that when we accept Christ as our Saviour, His death pays the penalty for our sin and we can stand without guilt and free from condemnation. His resurrection secures our justification and He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. We have a right relationship with God because of the resurrection of Christ.
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Prayer and Application:
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We don’t need to be ashamed of our sin. We have to recognise it for what it is, and place our faith in Christ that He has forgiven us. It is wonderful to live a guilt free life. Take a few moments today to thank Him for all He’s done for us.
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