Monthly Archive

Christ was born, lived and died and was raised from the dead in order that we might be enabled to love, delight and be satisfied in him more than anything else.

Merry Christmas to all my family, friends and visitors. - Todd

Romans 4:5-7

4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7″Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Are you a worker? Do you try to make up for your daily sins but doing good things later? Trying and hoping that your goodness will outweigh the bad? This is “Religion”, sadly even we who proclaim to be Christians do this. But Romans 5:7 says the one who trusts him who justifies the ungodly that “his faith is counted as righteousness” When we trust Jesus to be our righteousness we have left the world of religion and have become Christian in our thinking and experience. Justification is a gift, we don’t earn it, and all Christians have the exact same amount. Look at the following verse for help in seeing God’s work in us.

2 Cor 5:21
21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus bore our sins so that we might become the righteousness of God . This is the gift He gave us, not earned by our works, and most certainly not deserved. When a Christian bears good fruit it proves he is part of the “true vine”. Our fruit(good deeds) are evidence of being justified but it does not justify us. Therefore, let us trust the One that justifies the ungodly and be grateful.

John 19:23-24

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be. This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
They divided my garments among them , and for my clothing they cast lots.

Acts 1:26

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Proverbs 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Our Lord knew which soldier would win his garment, he knew which apostle would replace Judas. He has never been surprised nor will he ever react to a situation. This same God is working all things for the good of those that love him and are called by his purpose. (Romans:2

I recently discovered the song “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. I post the lyrics here for those who have not heard them.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

This song does a wonderful job of presenting the “Gospel” message. If you get the message this song brings you get the “Good News”.