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What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. ’Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 5:1-5, 13-17)
Years ago I taught Introduction into the New Testament as part of my work as a campus minister. In those days the state of Texas allowed off-campus instructors to teach Bible courses for university credit. The university kept the money and we got a chance to work with students. I learned that there was a house off campus where single men considering the priesthood lived under the tutelage of a priest, and these young men were told to take my course so they could see the difference in theology between themselves and Protestants. The main difference was faith vs. works. They would argue they had to work out their salvation. I would point them to passages such as this. Some, because of past sins, thought that being in a religious vocation was the only way to earn forgiveness. I would argue they were forgiven just by asking. The message of Lent should be that God forgives those who ask, not who follow acts of obedience and penitence. And the reason God forgives us is that God loves us. Think on your life and the greatest gifts you have received and probably most, if not all, have been the result of someone's love for you. Our greatest gift of salvation came through Jesus' love through God in what Jesus did for us, not what we did for Him.
All Abraham did, was by faith. He left his family and home by faith to receive the gift of faith; for that reason he is called the father of the faith. For that reason Paul as he writes says, if you have a job the check you get is not out of love, but out of the work you did. Our salvation came to us free. I should point out that what we do after we are saved counts as fruits of that faith, and we should demonstrate what Christ has done in us. Love someone enough to tell them about Jesus!
PRAYER: Loving Father, grant to me that faith that shows Your love to all. Thank You for Your grace and pardon. Help me to share the good news with someone special today. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
