JOY IN BELIEVING By JOHN FREDERICKSEN, Pastor Scripture Reading: Romans I5:13 Believers in the age of grace have perhaps more reason to rejoice in their salvation than believers of any previous time. Very early in mans history, God revealed His plan to bring spiritual blessing to the entire world through Abraham. God promised him, In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed, (Genesis 12:3). Progressive revelation unfolded the details of Abrahams seed providing a specific Saviour as a sacrifice for sin. Then the remainder of the nation was to become a kingdom of priests ministering to the world. When Christ came the first time, it was to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, (vs. 8). Had Israel responded in belief, the millennial kingdom would have been established and Gentiles would have at last enjoyed blessing. They would have glorified God for His mercy, (vs. 9), rejoiced (vs. 10), and praised the Lord because they too would trust in Him (vs. 11-12). The problem is, Israel refused to believe and Gods plan to bless the Gentiles could have been frustrated. But the God of hope found a solution. Romans 11:11-15 explains that God is now blessing Gentiles NOT through Israels rise to prominence, but through her fall from Gods unique favor. Today salvation is offered to all apart from Israels promises or instrumentality, and solely on the basis of grace. No wonder then that Paul exhorted his readers to be filled with joy and peace in believing. He even exhorted them to abound in the confident expectations of eternal blessings. Ours is a salvation provided by the determined purpose of a merciful God. Lets truly rejoice in it today! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy Independence Day Americans! 238 yrs ago today a group of God-fearing patriots took a bold step of faith as they ascribed their names to the U.S. Constitution & declared our freedom from Great Britain.Freedom did not come nor has it been maintained without a high cost,but we can stand & truly declare that this is the greatest nation on the face of the earth. We ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD!
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 17:45:58 +0000
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