Romans 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
How do we come to know God and be His child? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! What a simple thing to think and say that even a child can understand it. Yet many a man has faltered at these sayings, for they are difficult and even impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.
There was nothing special about Abraham or anything he did to warrant his position as the patriarch of God’s chosen people. He was not more righteous, he was not wiser, and he was not more perfect than everyone else. He did one thing and one thing only: he believed God at His Word.
The people of God are called to believe Him and walk according to His Word. The righteous shall live by faith! So what is faith? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. So the people of God do not hope in an idea or philosophy; we hope in a risen Savior, a living God. Our hope is in Christ.
As people of God, we are called to believe Him just as Abraham did. We look to God’s Word and trust His promises, knowing that in Christ and His atonement for our sins, we are the people of God. We are called to live victoriously in Christ by grace through faith, knowing God works together all things for His glory and our good. He holds nothing back from us that is for our good. We walk with boldness, knowing nothing can separate us from His love. All of this is the work of God so that no one may boast. Our calling, then, is to believe not in our circumstances or observations but in Christ alone and be saved.
Acts 16:31, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 11:1, Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:35
Father, Your Word says I am to believe and be saved; that if I believe, I am a child of Yours. So many words and things loudly call for my attention to believe in them rather than in You. I long to believe You, Lord. I long to walk in accordance with Your will and to walk in the hope of Christ. I believe, Lord; help my unbelief. Help me to walk in strength and boldness in the assurance of Christ in all circumstances, to reflect His Lordship in all things. In Christ’s name I ask this. Amen