Reading
SAA Notes
God’s purposes for Israel are the same as for Gentiles – faith comes from hearing the message through the word of Christ. Israel’s obstinacy and disobedience continue. So too does the holding out of the Gospel message to them by the Lord. In the light of these passages how should we treat Israel – as the favoured focus of Old Testament prophecy or as erring brothers and sisters who need to come to the Christ to find entrance into His Kingdom?
SJA Notes
* God Above, remind us today from Your word of how great Your love is for us, Your steadfast love and faithfulness without end.
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Here is a wonderful truth!
Simple and profound – Confession and belief. Mouth and heart.
Paul opens things up further,
“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Why?
Does that mean I give some input into my justification and salvation?
No. Absolutely not.
As Paul says,
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,”
It is not our own belief that justifies us, or our own lips confessing that saves us – But that we already have the WORD of our God in us!
We are alive in Christ, God’s word become flesh – His Spirit at work, writing on our hearts, each day.
And so our hearts can believe and our mouths can confess.
Hallelujah, what a God we have!
* Father God,
Thank You for Your wonderful grace at work, making dead hearts alive and able to believe, stubborn rebellious lips able to confess Jesus.
Thank You!
Please help us Lord God, each day, to continue to confess and believe in Jesus.
Amen.