Daily Bible Study

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Day 110 Romans 4:1 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. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute sin.” 9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 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, 12 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. 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope, believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So will your descendants be.” 19 Not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 Therefore, “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It will be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification. Many people believe they need to do good deeds every day to live a good life and get to heaven. When people die, you hear accolades about how good the person was, and God welcomed the person with open arms because of how good he was. Paul told the people it wasn’t what they did because they couldn’t earn their salvation. It’s not in doing things but faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross that gives eternal life. Jesus told Nicodemus what he needed to do to receive eternal life. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” So then, faith in Jesus, accepting Him as your Savior and Lord, brings salvation. Nothing else. You must be born again. Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (NKJV) Therefore, Abraham was saved through faith, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Faith saves, not works. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV) As Christians, you belong to God because you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord. You didn’t do anything to earn your salvation. Faith in Jesus brought you to salvation and eternal life. It was God working in you that brought about your salvation. You did nothing to bring about your salvation. You can’t. It’s impossible. When you accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, He puts in you the desire to do good works for everyone you meet. You cannot do good works without the love of Jesus working in you. James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 Someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith with my works. You must have both faith and works but works alone will not save you. Only faith saves and brings about good works. For you are God’s workmanship. He is not your workmanship. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. When he did, then He did what God told him. He circumcised himself to show his faith in God. His circumcision happened before God gave the law to Moses. So then, the law cannot save you. Only faith in God and His Son, Jesus, can save you. And the only way you can have faith to believe is through the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born of the water and the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who draws you to faith in Jesus. You can do nothing to receive salvation except believe. You can only believe through the Holy Spirit. When you do, you will want to do good works, known today as acts of kindness. You will do it because you love Jesus, not because it will give you a sure reward in heaven. Your reward is eternal life when you believe. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. When you believe, it will be counted to you as righteousness too and you will feel the blessedness that comes from salvation through Jesus Christ. Let’s pray: Father, thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn salvation. Help me to do Your work to tell others about faith in You, faith that brings Your blessing into their life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 3 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.