Faith

“Consider Abraham: “He believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

(Galatians 3:6)

Reflection:
The Gospel is not primarily good news about a baby in a manger, a preacher in Galilee or even an empty tomb. It is mainly concerned with Christ upon the cross. This proclamation is about that event, not merely as an historical one but as a life-changing reality today. It is as people are confronted, challenged and comforted by this ‘good news’ that they begin to realise it may bring salvation into their lives right now.

The gospel offers in fact a twofold blessing. The first is our justification before God. The second is the gift of the Holy Spirit. God both justifies us, accepting us as righteous in His sight, and places His Spirit within us. The one gift is never given without the other.

To receive these blessing we do not have to do anything as if we had to earn them. They are received by believing in God and what He says. When Abraham believed God it was ‘credited to him as righteousness.’ God desires the same of us today – that we will hear Him, believe Him, and keep on believing in Him. If we seek to obey Him as a part of the salvation process then we are attempting to gain it as a reward for our actions. Instead by believing we allow Christ to be Who He came to be, our Saviour, and we find our rest and peace in Him through the work that He commenced and completed on our behalf.

Our obedience and new way of living follow as a consequence of our salvation and new relationship with God – not as a prior requirement.

• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
• “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

Response:
Take time to receive/recall God’s great gifts of His Son and His Spirit. Own your new relationship as a son/daughter of God. Dare to really believe!

Prayer:

Father I believe and want to believe – please help me to put my complete faith and trust in You and to relax into my identity as Your beloved and eternal son/daughter. Amen.

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