Sunday Morning Podcast February 4, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT:ROMANS 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
ROMANS 2:12-15
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
“The just shall live by faith.” Not only the hearers of faith, but more importantly the doers of it. (Romans 2:13) Living, by actually doing what God has shown us by His Word. Living the faith, is what connects us to God. In school, you have mid term and final examinations to be examined, to help pass the test of what you hopefully learned. And so it is also spiritually. The tests of life also examines and reveals where we are in our faith, and grades us. In temporal learning, and spiritually, our grades are very important. All exams count. Don’t prohibit God from examining you. If you don’t willingly allow God to examine you, your life will be more difficult. For your faith must be lived right according to God’s word, to not fail the examination. “The just shall live by faith!” It is by faith we are justified.
The New Testament illustrates a constant exhortation and command to live right. This is crucial, to lead a sinner to the Body of Christ. Your consistent presence with the Body, is really important to demonstrate your belief daily. In the decisions you make. Living by faith means everyday certain things happen. ‘You’ become “smaller” while the Church becomes greater to you. Our human desires and needs should not lessen God’s Work in our life. Attending the house of God, (the collected Church of God worshipers), is a “barometer” of how important God is in your everyday life.
If we wrote the bible by how we live, what would it say? If this is important to you, do you live by it? Be willing to be examined. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139: 23,24 We need God to search and exam us to pass the tests; to reveal the fruits of our soul, even when we don’t like them. Thinking you don’t need them, will bring failure spiritually.
Is your faith in God present in all your decisions and actions? If it is, you always be willing for God to search your heart, and examine it.