GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 2

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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THE BLESSED GIFT+

Acts 3:16

“and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

D.L. MOODY

Faith is the hand that takes the blessing.  But don’t look too much at the hand.  Suppose I ask a man who has just received a thousand dollars from a friend:  “did he give it to you with his right hand?”  He would reply:  “what do I care about  which hand?  I’ve got the money.”

ERWIN LUTZER

Faith takes the gift of salvation from the hands of Christ.  Our problem is that our sin is so great and God is so holy, we can do nothing to bridge the gap.  Martin Luther, a Germon monk from over 500 years ago, began his quest for perfection by taking advantage of all the means of grace that were afforded him in the monastery.  He lived a life of strict discipline.  He wore coarse clothing, hoping this discomfort would help mortify the flesh.  He sometimes fasted so long that some of his friends saw his emaciated body and worried that he might die.

Then Luther saw something in the Bible he hadn’t realized before.  There was  not only righteousness of God, but there was a gift of righteousness given to needy sinners.  When we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior and believe that God raised Him from the dead, God places upon Christ all of our iniquities and all of our sins and, in return, we receive Christ’s righteousness to stand before God.

So, we receive salvation freely from the hand of God.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for the blessed gift of Christ’s righteousness purchased by the wounded hands of Christ.

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Romans 3:20-22 (Amplified version for understanding)

For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].

 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets.  This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,

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Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for all who believe.

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Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

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Psalm 11:7

For the Lord is [absolutely] righteous, He loves righteousness (virtue, morality, justice); The upright shall see His face.

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2 Corinthians 5:21

    “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

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Philippians 3:9

    “And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

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Romans 1:17

    “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”

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