September
12, 2003
JUSTIFIED
THROUGH FAITH
"For
I am not ashamed of the Gospel, It is the saving power of
God for everyone who has faith- - because here is revealed
God's way of righting wrong, a way that starts from faith
and ends in faith; as Scripture says, 'he shall gain life
who is justified through faith' " (Romans 1:16, 17, NEB).
The Gospel
is the Good News about God, His love for mankind and His purpose
to save everyone who put their faith and trust in Him. The
love of God is indisputable, "For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life" (John 3:16).
It is
God's purpose to save everyone who put their faith and trust
in Him, "God our Savior - desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one
God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:3-6).
"And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the
name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).
The Bible
reveals God's way of righting wrong, "For it is God who
works in you both to will and to do - His good pleasure"
(Philippians 2:13). "For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope
and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every
lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14).
God's
way starts with faith and ends in faith, "God, who is
rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He [loves]
us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ... For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship"
Ephesians 2:4, 5, 8-10). The
gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23) through faith and
trust in the provision that God has made for us, "For
He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
(2 Corinthians 5:21). Whoever
is born of God overcomes the world by faith (see 1 John 5:4,
5).
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