Genesis 15:1-6 "Abram Believed!" Word of Grace Devotion by Pastor Joe Marquez.

1/7/2020

The Word of Grace Devotion for January 6, 2020
Abram Believed!
Genesis 15:1-6, “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Beloved, there are two types of righteousness: self-righteousness, which is accomplished by our own effort and strength, and God’s righteousness accounted to us through faith in God. When Abram believed in God’s promise and placed his trust in God, God credited this belief to Abram’s account as righteousness.
Beloved none of us can be good enough to accomplish the righteousness necessary to reach heaven; we must have God’s righteousness accounted to us. Like Abram, we also must come to the place of trusting in God’s promises for our lives.
What happened to Abram is one of the clearest examples of salvation by grace, through faith. This is the first time believe is used in the Bible and the first time righteousness is used in the Bible. This is the NT gospel in the Hebrew Scriptures, later quoted four times in the NT.
For example, Romans 4:1-3 says, “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found 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 accounted to him for righteousness.”
Also Romans 4:9-10 says, “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.” It is also mentioned in Romans 4:19-24 and Galatians 3:5-7.
Beloved, we must learn to rest on God’s righteousness and not on our own! Trust in the completed work of God for you! I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!
Trusting in Him!
Pastor Joe

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Senior Pastor
Joe Marquez

Beloved, we are soon to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the human Son of man and the divine Son of God. He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God.

While there were many people instrumental in the birth of Christ, this morning we will look at His birth through the eyes of Joseph, His legal father. There is not too much known about the man who would care for Christ as He grew up. We know that Joseph was possibly a carpenter but most importantly we know that he was a righteous man who did the right thing.

When others would have ran away from a responsibility that was not even their own, Joseph stood steadfast and remained faithful to the end. We can learn much from his character and apply his attributes of faithfulness, purity, and perseverance to our own lives.

May you have a Blessed Christmas week and may Christ always be at the center of your lives!

P.S. Come back this evening as we look at the birth of Christ through the Gospel of Luke!