GOFAMINT DEVOTIONAL-THE PROMISE IS FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN

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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THE PROMISE IS FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN

Sat. 19/3/2022                                              Rom. 4:22-24

The Scripture was not written for those who have lived and passed on in the Bible times. It was written for us so that by applying the principles of the word, we may get results. Abraham wasn’t declared righteous by God because of his own benefit alone, he was declared righteous to assure us that God is the judge and justifier of all men – Jews or Gentiles; rich or poor; circumcised or uncircumcised. As Abraham in his uncircumcised state believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, we know that if we believe the power of God and call upon Him, He will hear us, save us and declare us righteous before Him.

Point of Emphasis: Whoever calls on God’s name (in any generation and times) shall be saved.

Prayer Point: Lord, I believe in You and in Your power that raised Jesus from the grave, I therefore receive pardon today in Jesus’ name.

Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Gal. 4:1-20; Evening: Job 19-21

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 were 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 mankind. Christ’s righteousness was imputed to make us right with God.

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PART 3: ABRAHAM’S FAITH - ROM. 4:16-27

God requires unflinching faith from all who will come to Him. Abraham became the father of faith because his walk with God was an epitome of faith in action. Abraham trusted God, believed in Him and never doubted God even in the face of conflicting circumstances. It was the kind of faith that Abraham displayed in his walk with God that laid the foundation for all who walk with God throughout all generations. Abraham’s faith made the following clear; (a) God loves everyone no matter their religious, ethnic or geological background, (b) God desires obedience that is built on trust in Him as God, (c) There are no requirements for Salvation [justification]. Aside faith in Jesus Christ.

Abraham’s faith hinges on God’s word. God spoke to him and he so believed that he refused to consider physical and biological factors that were so glaring. God told him that he would become the father of many nations and he believed the one who had spoken. He did not waver because he knew faithful is He who had promised (Rom. 4:19-20). This was why God credited righteousness unto him.

As Abraham believed God and God imputed righteousness unto him, we also, by believing in God, through Jesus our Lord, righteousness is imputed to us.

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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.