GOFAMINT DAILY DEVOTIONAL- NOT BY WORKS

ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 14,75

Devotional Reading: Rom. 4

Topic for Adults: Not By Works

Topic for Youths: God Credited Righteousness To Abraham

Topic for Intermediates: God Justified The Uncircumcised

Lesson Scriptures: Rom. 4:9-12; Acts 15:5-6; Rom. 4:1-8; 22; 4:16-27

MEMORY VERSE

“And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness”

Romans 4:21-22 (NKJV).

    DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

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 NOT BY WORKS

Tue. 15/3/2022                                                 Rom. 4:4-8

Wages are earned by works. Sometimes, it is true that the more work you do, the more you earn. Putting effort in spiritual activity is commendable. Believers should know that good works is not a replacement of faith. While you walk in faith with God, don’t fail to do good works, understand that it is not enough to just confess your sins and just believe that you are forgiven and acquitted. Some people believe that there remains a penance [punishment] everyone must pay even after their conversion. But righteousness is not attained by good works, it is only attained by believing in the finality of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. David affirms this when he said, “blessed is he to whom God credits righteousness, whose sins are forgiven and whose sins have been completely buried and no longer accounted for”.

Point of Emphasis: Before circumcision, Abraham walked with God with a perfect heart.

Prayer Point: Lord Jesus, because I believe in Your suffering, death and resurrection, I believe my sins are forgiven and I receive pardon in Your name.

Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Gal. 2:1-10; Evening: Job 7-9

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BACKGROUND

Abraham is regarded as the father of faith. He became the father of faith by becoming a great example of unwavering faith for both the Jews and Gentiles; the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Although on several occasions Abraham obeyed God without hesitation and was relentless in his pursuit of the God who spoke to him, it was not his good works alone that made him right with God. Rather, it was his faith. On the premise of his unwavering faith, righteousness was imputed and credited to him and he became an example to us who believe in the name of the Lord and have as a result been declared righteous.

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PART 2: IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS - ROM. 4:1-8, 22

One of the Bible truths being attacked today is imputation of sin and righteousness. The truth remains unchanged though; when Adam sinned, his guilt was imputed to us and we also became as culpable as he was. In the same way, when Jesus suffered and was crucified, His righteousness and sinlessness was imputed into us. Just as Adam’s guilt was not ours but we became partaker of it by imputation, same way, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is not ours but became ours when God made Christ culpable and liable for our wrongdoings.

Righteousness is not earned by good works; there is nothing we can do that will measure to God’s standard of holiness and righteousness. If it were to be earned by good works, Abraham (more than most of us) had several things to boast about in his walk with God. But God’s unchanging rule is that salvation or righteousness is not to be attained by good works. The only requirement for salvation is faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Abraham believed God and righteousness was imputed or credited to him. He didn’t do anything to merit God’s righteousness. The sacrifice of his son, his obedience to leave his father’s house, his care for the angels and every other good works he did were not too good or sufficient enough to earn God’s righteousness. Through Adam’s sin, sin was imputed to all mankinds. Christ’s righteousness was imputed to make us right with God.

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CONCLUSION

Abraham became the father of faith not by being circumcised, not by being a Jew, not by doing good works and not even by his sacrifice. He became the father of faith and became an example to us all by his total trust in and dependence on God. Abraham heard the voice of God and he believed Him and God in His sovereignty credited righteousness unto him. It was faith of Abraham that prompted him to do good works. Any believers who have faith in God will not fail to do good works like Abraham. Though, it is not the good works that make us righteous.

QUESTIONS

1. How important is circumcision to salvation?

2. In your own words, explain how righteousness is credited to Abraham.

3. How important is faith to our salvation?

4. What did you learn about the faith of Abraham in God’s word?

5. What do we need to do to be declared righteous by God?

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

©2022 THE GOSPEL FAITH MISSION INTERNATIONAL DEVOTIONAL IS BY PASTOR (DR) E.O ABINA, THE GENERAL OVERSEER OF GOFAMINT Worldwide.