Read Romans 3:22
Within the world, even within the Christian world, there are many erroneous teachings and beliefs about faith. The most common and widely held untruth is that having faith will save you. (This is not a printing error). Now don’t chop off my head just yet. Don’t throw this booklet away just yet!
Faith cannot and exist by itself as some kind of independent entity. You cannot have faith by itself! Faith in and of itself cannot save you because it doesn’t exist in and of itself! You have to have faith in something or someone. Having faith is like having belief - you have to believe or have faith in something. The question is what or in whom do you have faith? The question is what do you really
A Christian should be able to give a hearty AMEN (ie I truly believe) to the following statements:
I am guilty before God and cannot take away that guilt by myself.
I deserve God’s condemnation
God provided the solution for my guilt.
That solution meant Jesus, God’s only Son, came into our world and died on the cross accursed by God for my guilt.
Jesus died upon the cross but rose on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God the Father.
Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for me was accepted by God the Father.
God transfers Jesus’ perfection to my account and treats me as though I had never sinned.
The Good News from God means that He doesn’t pretend that my sin is ok. He doesn't sweep it under the heavenly carpet and He doesn’t just say, ‘It’s ok, don’t sweat it’. Nor does God simply give us a pin code to open the pearly gates. God deals justly with my sin through the death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus. When I turn and believe this in my heart and head God stamps my record with the word ‘JUSTIFIED’. He treats me ‘just if I’d’ never sinned because full payment has been made by Jesus. He paid the fine and did the time on my behalf. Even more so, Jesus makes it possible for God to adopt us into His family as beloved sons and daughters.
It’s humbling to realise that even if I were the only person in the world Jesus would still have to come into our world and die on the cross for my sins. When I can accept this truth I am well on the way to having faith in Jesus and what he did for me at the cross! If I find that a hard pill to swallow I may still be outside the Kingdom of Grace.
Prayer:
Given today’s reading jot down your own prayer points:
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks
Supplication:
¥ Playpals meets every alternate Wednesday to minister to mums and their children. Pray that this ministry would be effective and useful to the mums/children but also that it would bring the good news to many of these mums/children. Pray that we would see many come into the Kingdom of Grace through this ministry.
¥ Pray that the state schools in your area would have chaplains who are Jesus focused and R.I classes that boldly and fearlessly preach the good news. Ask God to bring in the harvest in these schools.
Witness Moment:
In Romans 1:16-17 we are told not to be ashamed of the gospel because it’s the power of God to save all who believe. If you share the gospel with your friends/ family/mates etc and if they believe they will be saved! That’s nothing to be ashamed of!
1. Is it fair that God chooses to justify those who have faith in Jesus rather than expecting everyone to do enough good works to merit their own salvation? Please explain your answer.
2. Someone says to you that it’s not fair that Jesus died on the cross in the place of others. How do you respond biblically?
Discipleship Moment For Girls
Intro: Most girls think that they are not pretty enough, slim enough or outgoing enough. Many young girls dislike themselves intensely. When we are tempted to hate ourselves, we need to meditate on how much God loves us.
Share: if possible, your own struggles with your self image and how you learned to trust God.
Read: 1 Samuel 16:7
What does God look at when He looks at us?
What does God see when He looks at you?
How much do you think God loves you?
How did God prove His love for you?
Pray: for a loving heart towards yourself and to be able to accept yourself and to be happy with who you are.
Discipleship Moment For Boys
Intro: Some guys think that having big muscles and being a super fit athlete makes us real men. Other guys think that having lots of toys (cars, boats etc) makes them real me. God doesn’t look at our outsides He looks at our insides. It’s on the inside where a real man is made.
Share: if possible, your own struggles with your self image and how you learned to trust God.
Read: 1 Samuel 16:7
What does God look at when He looks at us?
What does God see when He looks at you?
How much do you think God loves you?
How did God prove His love for you?
Pray: for a loving heart towards yourself and to be able to accept yourself and to be happy with who you are.
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