We have been saved by grace, through faith

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have, for the entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Monday, June 21, 2010
Devotions: Ps 89; Num 16:1-19; Rom 3:21-31; Mt 19:13-22

Ethan the Ezrahite wrote: I will sing of YHWH’s steadfast love forever, proclaiming His faithfulness to all generations. Let all creation praise our God, feared among the heavenly beings, Master of creation, Owner of heavens and earth. Lord, Your throne is founded on righteousness and justice. Blessed are all who know our God, the Holy One of Israel. God chose David and his line to lead Israel; He sent His only begotten Son through that line to be Savior of humankind, eternal Keeper of God’s covenant with us. Blessed be YHWH for ever.

Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On led an uprising protesting against Moses and Aaron, claiming the latter were exalting themselves without warrant. Moses addressed Korah and his contingent: ‘Tomorrow, YHWH will show who is His, who is holy, and whom He chooses to be near Him. Let all take censers and fill them with incense and appear before the Lord; then let Him choose those He will set aside for Himself. Moses tried to reason with Korah: is it too small a thing for you the God has separated you to serve Him in His tabernacle, and to minister before His congregation? Your uprising is against YHWH, not against Aaron.’ Moses likewise addressed Dathan and Abiram; but they refused his summons: ‘We will not come up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey in order to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also make yourself a prince over us? You have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or provided us with fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!’ Moses was livid; he said to YHWH, ‘Do not respect their offering. I have not taken anything from them, or harmed them in any way.’ Moses said to Korah, ‘Be present, you and all your company, before the Lord, you and they and Aaron, tomorrow. Let each take his censer, put incense on it, and bring them before the Lord. So they all did this, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.

Paul wrote to the Romans: Now, God’s righteousness has been manifested apart from the law, though the law and prophets bear it witness: the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus the Messiah for all who believe. There is no distinction: all of sinned and fall short of the glory of God; and all are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in the Messiah Jesus, Who God put forward as an expiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This demonstrates God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance, He had passed over former sins. It was to prove at the present that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies whoever has faith in Jesus. So, what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded on the principle of faith. A person is justified by faith apart from works of law. God is the God of both Jews and Gentiles, since God is One. He will justify the circumcised on the basis of their faith, and the uncircumcised on the basis of their faith. Does this faith, then, overthrow the law? Not at all; we uphold the law!

People tried to bring children to Jesus, for Him to lay hands on them and pray for them. The disciples rebuked these people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them. To such as these belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid hands on them, and then went away. A man approached Jesus, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus answered, ‘Why ask Me about what is good? There is One Who is good, only One. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’ The man asked Jesus, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said: ‘Don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal; don’t bear false witness; honor your parents, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man replied, ‘I have observed all these. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow Me.’ Hearing this, the young man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.