Day 2 - Week 78 - "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."  Romans 1:16-17

"In memorizing Romans 1:16-17, you have the whole book of Romans in digest form.  These verses, coming at the end of Paul's magnificent prologue to Romans, summarize the theme and thesis of this book.  Verses 16 & 17 provide the essential vocabulary of the Christian dictionary.  As you read these two verses, underline these words:

• Gospel - The good news of Jesus Christ
• God - The source of life, hope, forgiveness and justification
• Power - The omnipotence of heaven is packed into this message
• Salvation - Deliverance from sin, death, despair and hell
• Everyone - The scope of the gospel is universal in its offer
• Believes - The condition and requirement for justification
• Righteousness - The state of being made right with God
• Revealed - This message can't be discovered from below; it had to be revealed from above
• Faith - This term occurs three times in verse 17, explaining the word believes in verse 16."

                                               - Robert J. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart

I appreciated Mr. Morgan's very straightforward analysis of these two verses and all that they cover.  He states it so well, that I felt compelled to share completely.   What a lot of great, basic Christian theology is packed into these two verses.  For in these two verses we learn of the saving news of Jesus, sent by God to deliver us from our sin and resulting death.  We come to understand that this offer is extended to all peoples, presented to us as a gift from God and revealed by His Spirit, and our acceptance of this beautiful gift is expressed by our belief, and belief then takes form as lives subsequently lived by faith.

Two short verses - lots of power!  Lots of truth!  God has laid out such a wonderful plan for us to be redeemed.  It is not a complicated plan, but it does take faith.  "Faith to faith"...it is all about faith, start to finish, first to last.  It is revealed to us through faith, and that revelation adds to our faith.  Faith builds on faith.

I cannot imagine traveling through this life, through its peaks, and especially through its valleys, without this life-sustaining faith. "The righteous will live by faith."  I can only claim righteousness through the work of Christ, but I know that I do live by faith.  I know that without my faith in an all-knowing, completely loving God, who I can place all my confidence in when otherwise I am totally shaken, my life would be empty and pointless.   I would pray that if you do not share this faith, that you find it now...for when you're in the middle of the valley, it is truly your only source of sustenance.


 

Day 1 - Week 78 - A new week begins, a new verse to hide in our hearts...

Another week begins...life goes on, even when you think the world should stop, it doesn't.  You continue to grieve, but through the days, knowing that God is walking with us and feeling His love along with the love of family and friends, we some how continue on.  You realize that you are still here, in the land of the living, for a reason...a reason that is hard to determine at times, but you know that if you are here, you are to be of purpose.  That is what I think I am feeling now...still dazed, still confused, still heartbroken...but understanding that while I am here on this earth, I am to seek God's purpose for my days. 

Part of God's purpose for me seems to be this blog...it directs me to His Word, and it allows me to proclaim my faith.  There have been so many faith-affirming verses through these weeks.  I wish I truly had all 77 to date at my ready recall...I am sorry to say that I don't at this point.  I have determined that when we reach the end of our 100 week journey, that I will have to go back and retrace my steps and focus again on memorization, having the luxury of not leaving a verse until I have it down pat....that process may take me another 200 weeks!  And if it does, so be it!  What better way to travel through life than with God's word as your travel companion!

At the beginning of this 78th week, let's review our most recent verses:


The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."


Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

We follow with Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

You almost have to recite Romans 1:16-17 together, for if you just state verse 17 by itself, you don't know what "it" is.  "It" is the gospel...and the gospel reveals God's righteousness, or as Robert J. Morgan puts it, "That is, He tells us how we can share His righteousness and be restored into good standing with Him."

Apart from Jesus, we have no hope to be seen as righteous before God.  But through His atoning death and the power of His resurrection (the gospel), we can now stand before our Father clothed in His righteousness, all of our sinfulness removed.  And what does that miraculous cleansing require from us?  Faith.  Faith, beginning to end...faith to faith.  That's how we come to life, and that's how we live forever. 

Day 4 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek."

Do you ever have doubts regarding salvation?  Do you ever wonder if you really qualify?  If you may be the one person whose God's grace will not cover? 

When we have those doubts (and most believers do at some point), remind yourself of this verse and counter the lie that Satan is trying to have you dwell on.  Here Scripture tells us that the gospel, the good news of the saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes.  Everyone --- if you believe, you cannot be omitted from the "everyone" that this verse applies to. 

Just as in John 3:16 we are told, "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."  Just as you are one of the "everyone", as a believer, you are also a "who" in "whoever."

The gospel, God's power for salvation, is not a narrow plan, it is not a limited plan, it is made available to ALL, and it is our responsibility, as believers, to share this good news with everyone we can, to not be ashamed of this gospel, but to eagerly share it with those who have not yet heard.

Now Paul does include his closing statement on this verse that some could argue does show some preferential treatment..."first to the Jew, and also to the Greek."  But when you study this verse and these closing words, what you see is that this is actually additional reinforcement to the idea that God's power for salvation is available to all mankind.

Many translations use the word "Gentile" instead of "Greek."  The meaning is the same either way...that the gospel was presented first to the Jewish people, and then to everyone who wasn't Jewish.  And the gospel was presented first to Jews...Jesus was a Jew and His ministry on earth was among the Jewish people.  But at this point in time, Paul has also presented the gospel to the "Greeks", and to multitudes of peoples outside of his own Jewish heritage.

Now, as stated in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, "Jews and Gentiles now stand upon the same level, both equally miserable without a Saviour, and both equally welcome to the Saviour."

Yes, God had a plan...and He made it available to everyone...believe and receive His power for salvation, and then be assured that His promises are true, and that He is faithful. 

Day 3 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Greek."

"The gospel will save the lost.  Nothing else can do it.  Nothing else is doing it.  Nothing else has done it.  Nothing else shall do it.  The gospel convicts of sin, the gospel converts the soul.  It is by the foolishness of preaching the gospel that men, women, and children are brought out of darkness into light, out of damnation into salvation, out of death into life, out of hell into heaven."  Hyman Appelman

Every time I include a quote from a Christian who I have no knowledge of, I have to look them up and read their story.  Such is the case with Hyman Appelman.  Prior to reading the quote above, I had never heard of Dr. Appelman.  But here's his story:

Hyman Appelman was a major evangelist of the 20th century, preaching all over the United States and throughout the world.  Billy Graham has said, "Dr. Appelman is one of the greatest and most powerful preachers of the Gospel I have ever listened to. Twenty years ago I used to listen to him preach night after night and made notes on his sermons. Some of my own knowledge and inspiration concerning mass evangelism came from his ministry. Thousands of names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life because Dr. Appelman passed their way."

But the more astounding details of Dr. Appelman's life include the fact that he was born in Russia in 1902 to Orthodox Jewish parents.  He arrived in the United States in 1914 as a young boy who, although speaking Hebrew, Russian, Polish, German and Yiddish, did not know English.  As a 13 year old, he had to start school as a first-grader, and then proceeded through the next eight grades in two years, and went on to prep school, university, and law school.  A tremendous amount of drive led him to work fervently, to the point of breaking down in 1924.  He felt empty and
discontent.  He went west for a vacation, and while in Denver, was converted to Christianity.  Romans 10:9 was his verse of conversion, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

His new found joy was countered with absolute rejection by his Jewish family back in Chicago and the dissolution of his engagement to a nice Jewish girl back home.

Dr. Appelman refused to be ashamed of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Even at the price of knowing that he would never be welcomed back into his family home as long as he proclaimed the saving work of Jesus in his life.  But proclaim he did, and untold numbers owe their introduction to the saving power of Jesus to him.

It is easy to say, "I am not ashamed" when it costs us nothing...would we be so bold if it cost us our family?  Would we be so bold if  we were to spend years in prison for our proclamation of faith as many Christians do around the world today?  Would we be so bold if our statement of faith cost us our life?  It has for many throughout the years, throughout the world, and still does today.

I pray we will be bold, I pray we will not be ashamed --- no matter the cost.


 

Day 2 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek."

In the middle of pain and dark times, you get little glimpses of light.  Returning to my Bible study group tonight was a ray of light in a dark time of life.  Seeing friends' faces full of sympathy, full of God's love extended toward me, brought His light into my soul.  Much needed and much appreciated...both from God, the source of all love, and from sweet friends who allowed Him to shine through them.

Our study tonight focused on the story of Noah, and the grace of God extended to Noah and his family.  Just as the ark was their vessel of salvation from God's judgment against evil, God has offered to us the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, as our vessel of salvation.  Just as Noah was not ashamed to follow God's instruction and build an ark of gargantuan proportions in a seemingly arid environment, I will not be ashamed to proclaim that I believe, yes I most assuredly believe, in the gospel of Jesus Christ...it is the power of salvation to all who believe...it is our ark, delivering us from judgment to a new beginning. 

When hard times come, beliefs are tested.  I am clinging to the power that God gives to me through faith...a faith that has felt shaken, but then confirmed by reading the words of His eternal plan, from start (Adam and Eve), through the almost-but-not-quite destruction of creation through the flood, but culminated in the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am not ashamed...but I pray to be even less concerned about people's reaction to my statement of faith.  If I truly love them as Christ instructs us to love others, then I truly want them on the boat!

Starting Again....

...I'm not sure how to start again, because the pain is still so fresh, but I think I must.  I must start again because I must regain my confidence in my God and my Father.  I must because He is my only refuge...He is my only source of strength.  I admit that these past two weeks have been very difficult for me.  There have been times, even now, when I am shaken, when life seems very uncertain.  I am struggling ---torn between knowing that God is good, that He is sovereign, and that He absolutely loves us and feeling abandoned and hurt.  I know that I am vulnerable to the enemy's attacks and I ask for God's fierce protection over me to reject the lies that can come into my mind.  I pray that I do not disillusion anyone by my admissions of this struggle.  I have no doubt that God will bring me through, and that I will grow and learn from it, but right now it's spiritually painful.

Three verses that I am focusing on tonight:

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."
 
Please, Lord, relieve my fears.  Grant me Your peace that surpasses anything that this world can give.  Even through times when I do not understand what is going on within me, remind me that You are my Savior, that You are my salvation.  That nothing on earth is greater than You or Your plans.

Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You."

Please, Lord, keep my mind dependent on You, based on complete trust in You.  You are trustworthy, You are truth.  Let my mind reject all deception and lies.  Take away my anxiety and restore to me Your perfect peace.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

Remind me of Your complete and all encompassing love.  My belief is intact---You are my God, and Jesus is my Savior.  Assure me of my life with You, now and forever.

Thank you, dear Christian friends, for allowing me to be honest.  To share my grief and my struggle...and my faith that God is stronger than all and that He is the One that restores us.  Pray with me, pray for me, and pray for all our family.  Pray that God will draw each one of us closer to Him as we sort through our individual paths of pain.

One more verse tonight...it is our new verse.  Yes, starting again. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16

The Gospel -- God's power for salvation -- thank You Lord for Your plan, Your way, Your truth.  Let me be secure in that.  There is nothing more.

Prayers - Prayers - and more Prayers....Please!

On Sunday, September 16, our lives were changed in the blink of an eye.  Robert and I were traveling home after spending a wonderful weekend with our daughter, Meredith, and her husband, Parrish, in Tulsa.  We were about 50 miles outside of Amarillo when we got "the phone call."  The call that is every parent's worst nightmare, the call that makes your stomach sink into your spine, the call that makes everything else in your world stand still.

Our call came from our daughter-in-law, Dana, who let us know that our son, Michael, had been in a terrible motorcycle accident.  He was in the ambulance as she spoke, and she did not know his status.  The next 40 miles we prayed for God's protection and sped into town, praying for Michael and asking for God to bring him through.  But about the time we approached Amarillo, our other son, Dane, called to say that Michael had not survived...that he was gone.

From that moment to now, we have simply breathed.  We have asked for God's strength to just keep us breathing.  Nothing more, because that's all we can do.  He has granted us breath.  We are still numb...we still don't do much more than breathe, but we do continue to breathe.

For now, I just ask for each continued breath and for His understanding that I don't have many words to say.  I trust Him.  I do.  I love Him.  I do.  But I don't know what to say. 

I ask Him to bring His words to me.  To let me see His grace and His mercy and to feel His peace.  I am beginning to...but I have to be honest, when something this unexpected and this tragic happens, and death invades your previously protected family, you feel completely vulnerable.   There is a sense of fear and dread that the enemy brings to you that God has to replace with the knowledge that HE is on your side.  You have to force yourself to remember that God loves you, that He sees and hears you, and that He cares for you. I know He does. 

Several years ago, my dear friend, Dallas, lost her 16 year-old son, Tyler, in an automobile accident.  At his funeral, she had this song sung and I've never forgotten it...

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why,
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?
I know the answers, I've given them all.
But suddenly now, I feel so small.
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology,
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?
I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain!
You were God before, and You'll never change.
I will trust You.
I will trust You.
I will trust You, Lord.
I will trust You.
 ~ Twila Paris

Pray for us - pray for Dana, Michael's wife, and his children, Kolbi, Cade and Jocelyn.  Pray that all will draw close to God, and that we will all feel His presence around us.

I love You Lord - take away my fear - bring Your complete and unexplainable peace.  I will trust You.