Meditation

10/22/2021

“God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who b persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 2:6-9)

At first reading these verses appear to teach salvation by works instead of by faith. Paul was revealing the Jews their laws and legalistic system did not provide salvation. Any person with or without the law will be rewarded for persistently doing good. Any person with or without the law who does evil will perish. Paul’s final conclusion is that no one does good. All to evil. All need justification by faith. Eternal life is the free gift of God based on faith in Christ Jesus and cannot be earned by Jew or Gentile through good works.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, You know that human beings will fail from time to time, but it is our faith, that you have given to us for believing in Your Son Jesus, that leads us to repent of our sins; thus restoring our relationship with You, that allows us to accept and depend on Your promise of eternal life with You and all fellow believers. Let our worship then flow out of grateful hearts. This we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“An early walk and talk with the Lord will last all day.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Then Paul and Barnabas, answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46, 48)

At the risk of losing favor with fellow Christians, Paul and Barnabas still followed the higher plane of taking the gospel to all people; this is a model that we ought to follow in our own lives. Faith leads to eternal life. Rejecting Christ forfeits hope for eternal life.

I AM:

“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus mighty display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1^st Timothy 1:16)

All who commit themselves to Christ in faith receive eternal life. All sinners still have a chance if they will repent and believe.

SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the dessert, so he Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believers in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Whoever in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.’” (John 3:14-16, 36)

Eternal life is another term for the kingdom of God and the new birth in the fourth Gospel. It is the present possession, as well as a future hope, for all persons who believe in the Son of God. God loves the world so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross to give eternal life to those who place their trust in Him. He does not want anyone to perish in sin, but those who reject His Son are already living under the wrath of God. They need to believe and know eternal life.