The Success of the Righteous – Esther 10:1-3
For we live by faith, not by sight.
An Extreme Makeover or an Inward Cleansing? – Galatians 5:2-6
Outward signs of worship to God mean nothing if our hearts are not humble.
A Generational Blessing for All Nations – Galatians 3:7-12
What will I choose today?
How Pride Tears Us and Others Down – Luke 18:9-12
If we persist in ignoring our sin, we will make our situation worse and worse.
A Race Car of Righteousness – Romans 8:3b-4
And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Pretend that you have an old Formula One race car you drive around town. Now, this probably would outperform any other normal car from a full stop, right? Yes, but people would be quick to point out that the comparison wasn’t…
Declared Righteous – Romans 5:19-21
For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him. But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it…
The Promise that Leads to Adventure – Romans 4:13-17
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received THE PROMISE that he would be heir of the world, but THROUGH the RIGHTEOUSNESS that comes BY FAITH. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and…
A Special Metal of Achievement – Romans 4:9-12
Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe…
Covered by God – Romans 4:6-8
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” A covering over the bad things one has done is a pretty amazing thing. This makes me think of the great imagery of protection in Psalm 91:1-4: “Whoever dwells in the…