Daily Journal: 16 August

Justified and Blessed

By Faith

Galatians 3:9 (NIV)

So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of earth.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, the son of God, my belief is established by faith. The promise of the gospel from God to Abraham and Abraham’s obedience and expressed faith made him righteous. The promise of grace and life by faith came before the law was handed down to Moses. The law revealed what sin is so we would know. But the promise of the gospel offered a life of hope that the law couldn't fulfill on its own.

I cannot rely on following the law (i.e. the ten commandments) to justify me because that alone doesn’t make me righteous; it just makes me aware of my sin and my need to be made righteous. The law is not based on faith (Galatians 3:10-14); our faith is based on Jesus Christ who brought the good news of the kingdom of God, who took on the curse of sin, which was revealed to Abraham through his test of faith with his son Isaac. He believed by faith and was counted as righteous.

Genesis 24:7 (NIV)

 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath….

Abraham believed (had faith in) God’s promise on oath because Abraham believed in who God is.

Without first believing in who God is we cannot live by faith.

When we open our hearts and minds to who God is, we can open our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and the new covenant God promised to Abraham that would come, and be established in Him by faith.

Because I rely on faith through Jesus Christ, and believe by faith God’s word is true, I receive by faith Galatians 3:9; that I am blessed and my household is blessed.

You, too, are blessed if you believe that you are made righteous through Jesus Christ, by faith.

We are justified by Christ and blessed by faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

How will you live out your faith today, sincerely seeking God for something that you can't provide on your own merit?

I pray that our faith will be active and peaceful as we trust in God's goodness because of what He provided for us through Jesus Christ.