Saturday, January 7, 2023

THE PROMISE OF GOD

Today’s Reading: Romans 4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

The distant dome is St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. St. Peter’s draws pilgrims from all over the world. Few are disappointed when they enter the intricately decorated basilica beneath Michelangelo’s vast dome (an interior photo is below). A memorial structure was erected on the site of St. Peter’s tomb in the 2nd century, and the first great basilica, ordered by the Emperor Constantine, was completed around AD 349. In the early 1500’s, the German monk Tetzel was raising money to build the present St. Peter’s Basilica by promising salvation by works (money actually), and the reaction to his teaching, which was so contrary to the book of Romans, was a major thrust towards reformation.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Romans 4:20-21

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

 

Romans gives us so much excellent teaching that it is impossible to cover it properly in this 100words.ca blog. However, it might be good to review the first four chapters. Notice that the words “circumcision” and “uncircumcision” are repeated 17 times. They indicate that Paul is addressing both Jews and Gentiles. Key words, such as righteousness, faith, law, all, and sin appear at least 60 times in Romans. Abraham provides the great example of righteousness apart from his works, and apart from the keeping of the Law, which was not given until 500 years later. He is known as the father of righteousness by faith for both the Jew and the non-Jew. Faith is simply believing that God tells the truth. God promised a child to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham believed that God spoke the truth. Isaac was eventually born! Abraham’s faith was stronger than the physical fact of their old age. Abraham’s faith was stronger than the confusion and fear he must have had when God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. That faith was not based on Abraham himself, but on the fact that God cannot lie. God keeps His Word. Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for the same gift of faith You gave Abraham. May I always take You at Your Word and act upon it. May I not stumble in unbelief but, having heard from You, may I simply obey You. In the Name of the One who always obeyed His Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I studied Romans under the teaching of Dr. Charles Ratz. His book on Romans is a classic. Before this blog is posted, I’ll check to see if it’s available for sale online (click here). There are other thorough study guides in Romans which are excellent. I recommend additional resources, like the following online Bible study tools (note the various commentaries at the end of each chapter of Romans…click here).

Jesus, in His humanity, was Jewish. You’ll remember that Jesus was circumcised when He was eight days old (Luke 2:21). The late Dr. Nelles Silverthorne, a research pediatrician at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto, was often a guest on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. He declared that the blood coagulation properties were greater at eight days old than at any time before or after. He said that God’s instructions to His Jewish people were medically accurate. This man of faith raised the first oxygen tent, gave the first civiliian injection of penicillin and, among other firsts, developed the vaccine used around the world for whooping cough. Most of all, he gave a crystal clear testimony to his faith in Jesus Christ.

Yours for the righteousness which is by faith,

David

Here is an interior view of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

 

8 thoughts on “Saturday, January 7, 2023

  1. Lord, I want to have faith like Abraham’s.
    Thank you for Your Word that teaches us all we need to know. You are so gracious and merciful! Your mercies are extend to us, daily. Oh how we need them! Thank you!

  2. Amen Luisa. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10: 17 (and that’s what we are doing by following this blog) – thanks to David’s family! I met Dr Silverthorne at Sick Children’s Hospital when one of my children was sick. He had also treated my sister years earlier. Blessings all.

  3. I was a baby Christian when I wrote this.God bless
    Faith

    We discuss our faith and proclaim it,
    We pray for God to make it stronger
    And we sometimes feel we shame it
    But we should feel that way no longer.

    We speak of faith as a possession
    But it is a fruit we must nurture,
    And never should it be an obsession,
    Like someone waiting on the rapture.

    Now do you ever stop to ponder,
    That Jesus had such grand faith in man,
    For His Father living up yonder,
    Could have removed us all from His plan.

    So praise the faith of our Lord Jesus
    For the easy road would set Him free,
    But He bled the blood that e’er frees us:
    There’s no greater faith than such as He.
    G W(Bill) Marshall /28 June, 2014

  4. I’m always a bit intimidated by the Book of Romans because it is, as David says, so full of excellent teaching. It gives us the opportunity to come and reason with the Lord. Thank You, Father, for the many excellent teachers You have given us. Please keep on giving Your people wisdom and discernment, and help each one to use well the gifts You give, in Jesus’s name, amen

    And, some great photographs of gifts from the past:

    “Photographer Enters Unreal Abandoned Churches With Jaw-Dropping Art, Creepy Soviet Stations, and More”
    https://link.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/photographer-enters-unreal-abandoned-churches-with-jaw-dropping-art-creepy-soviet-stations-and-more_4948986.html?utm_source=andshare

  5. Happy New Year everyone.
    I read the blog everyday and pray wih you.
    Pray for my nephew Allessio he is being taken to CEO because of his
    stools being really dark. He is here with my niece from Calgary.
    He is 14 month and should be going home on the 10tth.
    Thank you and God Bless.

  6. Teresa,
    I was thinking of you a couple of days ago because we had not heard from you in a while.
    I pray for guidance and wisdom for the doctors as they diagnose and treat your little nephew, Allessio. I pray for God to touch him and make him well. I pray that they will be able to travel back home on the 10th. Is he Cassandra’s son?

    God bless you.

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