RIGHTEOUSNESS CREDITED What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” —Romans 4:3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” —Romans 4:5-8 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will…

NO EXCUSE NOT TO BELIEVE IN GOD The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. —Romans 1:18-20 People all over this world are without excuse. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being…

HARD HEARTS ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God…

TRUST GOD & DON’T BE PARALYZED BY FEAR When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 Fear… when was the last time you experienced it? What did you do with it? Did it cause you to be paralyzed? Did you flee from what was causing the fear? Or… did you trust the Lord God Almighty to not be afraid? Fear not dealt with will hold us back from being and doing what God desires. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever…

GOD’S ASSESSMENT OF THIS WORLD The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? —Psalm 53:1 The earth’s people are filled with corruption and before the Holy Almighty God they are vile. No one seeks to do good, nor do they understand and seek God. All people have turned after…

REDEEMED! No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay… But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. —Psalm 49:7-9, 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.…

RIGHTEOUSNESS, SELF-CONTROL AND THE JUDGMENT TO COME! Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you. —Acts 24:24-25 How sad when people hear the truth and like Felix say, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Felix heard the truth about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come…

LIFE IS SHORT! “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. —Psalm 39:4-7 Have you seen your life’s end? What will happen? I have visited my elderly neighbor in the hospital a few times…

BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART! Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. —Psalm 31:24 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. —Joshua 1:7-8 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world…

THE LORD IS LOVING AND FAITHFUL All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. —Psalm 25:10 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. —Acts 20:24 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. —Hebrews 12:1-2 As followers of Jesus there is a “race marked out for us.” For we who believe “All the ways…