GOFAMINT DAILY DEVOTIONAL-JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL

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).

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                                JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL

Wed. 16/3/2022                                                           Rom. 4:9-12

God loves sinners but hates the sin in them. Jesus still seeks the lost and He is still much interested in giving eternal life to all who believe. God never seeks for the perfect but perfects the sought. Abraham was uncircumcised (circumcision is a symbol of spiritual consecration and separation to God) when God credited righteousness unto him. God didn’t wait for him to “do the rituals” and fulfil the requirements of the law before he was right with Him. God reached out to him and declared him as righteous because he obey and walk with God. The same is applicable to us today. Once we decide to walk in faith with Jesus and lay aside all filthy things, as Abraham was called to circumcision after his justification, we are also called to a life long relationship with the one who died for us and bore our guilt.

Point of Emphasis: Our justification is not by work but by faith.

Prayer Point: Lord, by grace I’m justified. Help me to walk faithfully with Thee to the end.

Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Gal. 2:11-21; Evening: Job 10-12

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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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NOTES ON THE LESSON

PART 1: UNCIRCUMCISED BUT JUSTIFIED - ROM. 4:9-12; ACTS 15:5-6

Circumcision was a sign to others and a personal seal for the Jews that they were God’s special people. God’s ways are not same as the ways of men. One of the things that make God sovereign is His ability to decide on matters without consulting any man. The debate on circumcision is a well pronounced debate in the New Testament Church. When Gentiles believers were introduced to the Jewish community, there were people who protested and demanded that they should be circumcised before their admittance into the community of the saints.

Paul in his response to the matters of circumcision attests that. “Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous (Rom. 4:11 NLT).

God, who is the righteous judge and justifier declared Abraham as righteous even when he was yet uncircumcised; this was done to make it clear what was written in 1Tim. 2:4. God desires the salvation of all men irrespective of their background, belief, tradition or race. God made provision through Jesus Christ for all men to be saved, justified and forgiven. Salvation is for all men.

After the justification of Abraham, he was circumcised. The circumcision of the heart may not be an initial requirement for salvation (salvation is free), but after we have come to know the Lord and are converted, there is a need for us to experience spiritual circumcision - the removal of the nature of sin.

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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.