God's Grace and Mercy

Humility- What Becomes Of Our Boasting {Romans 3}

1:00 AM


Monday Feb. 25, Humility- Romans 3

While reflecting on writing about humility, the Lord brought to my mind the time He used a simple loving gesture to teach me a powerful life lesson. A couple of years ago a family conversation started about King David. Opinions differed, with strong feelings on all sides. When I noticed that the ones participating didn’t know what God’s Word had to say, I was quick to jump in. I quoted verses, offered my own commentary, and handed out suggestions of picking up their Bibles more often. I was on a roll! I remember riding home that night feeling pretty proud of myself, and I couldn’t wait to boast to my husband. After all didn’t I show everyone that I was the better Christian? Surely my actions impressed God and made me just a little more special in His eyes. 

A short time later a dear friend of mine sent me a random text message full of silly heart and love emojis to which I jokingly replied, “What did I do to earn such affection?” My friend answered, “It’s like grace and mercy, not earned just given.” She went on to say that she hadn’t reached out because of anything I had done, but simply because she loved me. Now little did she know at the time, but boy did her words tear at my heart. The conviction I instantly felt let me know that God was far from impressed with me. Feelings of humility, and sorrow swirled inside as my eyes welled with tears. Filled with shame, I prayed for forgiveness, and for a heart change. A heart that would never again forget that it is only by God’s saving grace that I can be reconciled to Him. A heart that has no room for boasting knowing the Jesus paid my sin debt with His precious blood. And a heart of thankfulness that the same love God offers me, He so generously offers to all. 

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.” (vs. 27) The lesson God taught me, was the same lesson Paul was trying to teach in his letter to the Jews in Rome. Feeling an air of superiority for being God’s chosen people, they weren’t thrilled with Paul’s teaching that all, both Jew and Gentile, are equally guilty in the eyes of the Lord; “There is none righteous, not even one.” “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (vs. 10, 23) They scoffed at his declaration of justification through grace alone; not by the works of the Law. And their prideful hearts found it hard to accept that God sent His Son not just to save Israel, but to save the world. 

It’s been said that humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. And there’s no better example of this than Christ. From start to finish Jesus, in humility and obedience, always put the will of the Father before His own. Never once seeking His own glory, His joy was found in serving God and others. He endured much and sacrificed unto death to give us eternal life. Just like the love of my friend, His grace and mercy not earned, just given. Knowing this, I can honestly say there is nothing in me worth boasting about. And so I continue to  pray for a humble heart, to live for God’s glory, and to remember that love, “does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Cor. 13:4) 

“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”...C.S. Lewis

To read more about humility click on the following link:


Faith

Justification Through Faith {Romans 4}

1:24 AM



By Lisa Moore

In the first four chapters of Romans, Paul makes it very clear that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  There isn't a sacrifice we can make, a good deed we can do, nor a price we can pay to obtain salvation.  He taught it is only because of grace through faith that we are justified.  Now that was a pretty radical concept to the Jewish people whose whole lives were wrapped up in the Law and a system of works.  After all how could God possibly show the kindness and goodness that comes with receiving His grace so freely, without regard to our worth or merit?  But in Romans 3:28 Paul reiterates, "...a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."  And he illustrated his point with the example of the great Jewish patriarch Abraham.

The word justified means, "declared, or made righteous in the sight of God".  The Jewish people believed that Abraham was justified by his works, because he kept the Law.  But Paul argues that in the Old Testament it is written that "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." (v. 3)  God made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible. (Gen. 15:1-6)  And even though it took 25 years for him to see that promise fulfilled, Abraham never lost faith.  It was his faith that God counted as righteousness, not Abraham's works.  And just as Abraham was declared righteous because his faith, so are we through our faith in Christ Jesus.  

We are all sinners, whose sin keeps us eternally separated from God.  But because of the work of Jesus on the Cross, by faith in Him we are, "justified by a gift of His grace." (3:24).  Everyone of us is guilty of breaking the Law.  And the Law's penalty for sin was death.  Even though Jesus lived a perfect life, He paid our penalty so we could receive His righteousness. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21) The moment we receive Jesus as our Savior that righteousness covers us.  We are justified.  The Law fulfilled, our sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean.  For as in Romans 8:1 God promises, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8:1)  Did you get that?  I mean really get that?   No condemnation.  None!  No matter what the enemy may tell you to the contrary.    

God's mercy is never ending, His love unconditional.  He wants for nothing and yet He wants us.  He wants a close and personal relationship with us.  And because of this He provided a path to reconciliation through His Son Jesus.  It is our faith in Jesus that deems us righteous, and because of that righteousness we can receive eternal life.  This is God's precious gift to us.  An irrevocable gift (Rom. 11:29) which can not be earned,  and one offered out of His perfect love.