Romans 1:17 AMP
[17] For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith".
As we know from the chapter from where the verse above is taken, both the speaker/writer and the audience have had experiences. Paul was a man who had walked in the paths of death and destruction, before Jesus stepped in and saved his soul, setting him apart to bring the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles of his days. We also know that the church in Rome was a mix too: there were Jews and Gentiles alike, people who were bound by a common denominator, which was the call of God upon them to live holy and sanctified lives. Paul referred to them as 'the beloved of God', which means the love of God did not consider the weights we would have linked them to today.
It did not matter what they had done in the past up to this time; what mattered was who they were now, and where they were going. That is the power in the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation for all men. It is the message of God, His love, His display of mercy on all mankind, and the constant open door of grace for all, until the door is shut and the offer is permanently withdrawn. It calls for sober and thoughtful reflection by all of us: what would a God who gave so much demand from me? Would God not expect me to surrender all to Him, in full appreciation of what I had received from Him in the first place?
The gospel reveals the righteousness of God, in which all men come from the same point to the supply of God's grace. It has nothing to do with my circle of influence, my network or networth, my bank account balance, or anything else that the world considers important. We all were born in sin, so there was no merit to hold on to. We all were born as people in need of help that we could not manufacture by ourselves, but God stepped in and gave us a way back to Himself. The offer was made at the same place and time that sin came in, and that offer is still valid till today. He waits for all of us to take hold of that offer and come to Him. This is the basis of faith. This is why labour and striving do not work.
I reach out because I know that He can save me. As always, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. This is what faith means: I reach out because I believe He is able to save. Everything about this walk is faith from first to last. I have not seen heaven but the One who promised eternity with Him lives inside of me, and gives me an assurance that all is well. Even when the reality around me bites hard, I hold on because I have been told where it all ends and by faith, I know that God does not lie. It is a journey of faith. There is no room for self-promotion. The offer is still open; I take hold of it, lay hold of it to the end, and wait for the reward of faith. What about you? God's time of favour is here.
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