Romans 1:16

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

I have studied the Word for decades and I admit to everyone here, right now, that my thoughts have been wrong about the meaning of this passage. I held the notion of the Jews and Greeks as having preeminence in seeking God.  I was wrong. It just dawned on me as I concluded yesterday’s post. “I am no longer ashamed.”

The Jews had one approach to a right relationship with God. They held the law in high esteem even though they could not keep it. The Greek believed intellect was the key to having a right relationship with God. They were both wrong and they both needed to be ashamed. The reason they were listed 1 and 2 in the order was to point out the two approaches to a relationship with God the Father were full of pride and vanity. They are the worst approaches to salvation.

• Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
• Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
• Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

We have access to the Father through the obedience of the Son to be our sacrifice for sin forever.

Zechariah 3:7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

There it is, that big little word again, “if”. The only one that accomplished that “if” is Jesus Christ. He rules the house, has charge over the courts and grants access because He and He alone was faithful to do all the will of the Father. Even to His own death on the Cross.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The Jews and the Greeks did not humble themselves before God the Father. They failed to listen and understand. Pride and vanity stood in their way.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I am inspired by the Word. But I am already a believer, a disciple, and have been for decades. I have lost touch with how it feels to be lost and alone. Emotions are fleeting and change over time with worship, fellowship and obedience of faith.

I do not know if what inspires me today will touch a lost soul and inspire them to seek salvation. Maybe inspiration is the wrong thought altogether. Maybe it is desperation. I will admit I had read the bible and been in bible studies and church for some time before I ever got to the point of repenting of a life full of sin. Bible reading, studies and fellowship do not guarantee righteousness. To be honest my repentance had nothing to do with seeking righteousness.

That was in the background and I didn’t pay attention when I was younger. The Word crept into my mind. It was available to lead me to an understanding of repentance even though I did not know until that very moment that I needed it. Even that moment didn’t sound like a repentant mouth, but in my heart God heard me and accepted my broken heart.

So many times we focus on words that resonate with us because they hold important truths. We have been disciples for some time and have studied many scriptures and often find some scriptures become our “favorites”. We recite them often, if not allowed then in our hearts. That does not mean they will be the scriptures that turn another broken heart to God.

Some of us used many words and many opportunities to reason with the husband of a faithful woman. We brought out the big guns and still he did not accept Christ. Then one day, left alone to his own thoughts he repented. What scripture held the key to his salvation? His answer to me was so simple we all overlooked it. “God is not a liar.”

God knows how to reach the lost so much better than we do. We pass out tracts, have “stump” speeches, use apologetics, sit and reason with the lost and in the end it all comes down to this; “Father knows best”.

I don’t know the odds that my witness of how God turned my life around would make a difference in anyone else’s life, but it made a difference in mine. If it only reaches one person then all my efforts would have made it worth the time spent.

Here is a non scriptural thought I believe to be true. God doesn’t make mistakes.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

I am not ashamed any longer.