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For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

  Good morning. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. I have said several times that everything happened at just the right time; everything had to be in place for Jesus to come. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. We do see today where people give their lives trying to protect others in shooting situations. In a lot of cases, they don’t even know whether the people they are saving are good or bad. But God knew that we were bad. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Thankfully we did not have to get good enough for Him to die for us - we couldn’t. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. This is what I was talking about before: notice that it says we were justified by His blood; not through His resurrection. For if while we were enemies we w...
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Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

  Good morning. OK so we have been justified – now what? Having been justified by faith (not works), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Having peace with God is a big deal. (that is not the same thing as having the peace of God). Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations. Now wait a minute Paul! I get that we exult in hope of the glory of God, but exulting in our tribulations??? Why: knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance. Isn’t that kind of like praying for patience, and then getting situations in which you need to be patient? What does perseverance bring about – proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Do we have to go through all of that? Can’t we just get ou...
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But for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

  Good morning. So Abraham believed God, even though the circumstances appeared to be against it happening. What was the result – therefore it was credited to him as righteousness. It wasn’t a true indwelling righteousness as we experience; that only comes through a relationship with Jesus. Now not for his (Abraham’s) sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him  who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. The king James uses the word ”for” in both cases where this says “because of”. That is sometimes interpreted as: Jesus was raised in order to obtain our justification; i.e. we would not be justified, if He had not been raised. I believe it should be interpreted as: He was delivered over as a result of our transgressions, and was raised as a result of our justification. I believe that what foll...
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Without becoming week in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old, and the deadness of Sarah‘s womb, yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform

  Good morning. Back to Abraham: without becoming week in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old, and the deadness of Sarah‘s womb, yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. That is extremely hard to do. Even with some minor affliction, such as a little hoarseness, it’s hard to imagine yourself speaking clearly. In your mind, you hear yourself talking with that same hoarseness. And yet Abraham was able to look at the problem and believe that God was going to do what He said He would do, in spite of the problem. Some “faith” people say that they don’t have a problem, when obviously they do. That’s not what Abraham did. He said, I’ve got a problem, but my God is greater than the problem. It says that he grew strong in faith. Most of us would’ve grown weak in faith. He knew that he ...
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David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works

  Good morning. David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. Paul asks, was the faith credited to Abraham as righteousness while he was circumcised or uncircumcised? It was while he was uncircumcised; therefore, one does not have to be a Jew to have his faith reckoned as righteousness (praise God!). For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. It is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with Grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all. That reminded me of the old song: father Abraham had many sons… God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which ...
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What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

  Good morning. Paul now gives what seems like a refutation to what James said. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works (uh-oh), he has something to boast about, but not before God. What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God (when He said that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the heavens), and it was credited to him as righteousness. James also mentions this verse. He says that when Abraham offered up his son Isaac on the altar, that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was fulfilled which says that Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Christian say they believe, but don’t act like it. Abraham did act like it. He was offering up his only hope that his descendants would be as the stars of the heavens. Back to Paul: now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a fa...
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Because in the forbearance of God He passed over sins previously committed, for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus

  Good morning. Why did God display Jesus as a propitiation? This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over sins previously committed, for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. This is something that mankind was unable to figure out. How could God be a just God, and at the same time justify His people? We deserved total annihilation; and yet He wanted a people for His own. Someone had to pay for the wrath due us. And so the wrath of God fell on Jesus; the only one who did not deserve it. We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? This brings us back again to what James said. God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. No matter what the Jews did, they were not able to receive justification...
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