Sunday, March 08, 2020
Old Testament: Genesis 12: 1-4a
New Testament: Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17
Gospel: John 3: 1-17
Psalm 121
“For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Romans 4:13-17
“God Keeps His Promise.” I always love reading these headings in the Bible: they kind of tell you the direction you will be going while reading the verses. And these verses make it very clear, or at least for me, that faith has more weight than the law. These lines are about Abraham, but down through the ages, it seems that the battle between “The Law” and “Faith” never ceases, and it was a plague even unto Jesus. How often did he have to address issues concerning the law during his ministry? Well, we know it was a lot. And Jesus was not shy when addressing the lawyers of his time, the Pharisees. They were way more concerned with following the law than with faith.
I like rules and laws, and I am sure they are comforting for most of us when they are not scaring us! So I am joyful when I get to be reminded that my faith rules and trumps The Law. Our Faith is a Journey, and Jesus said, “Your Faith Has Saved You!” Whew! What a relief!!!! Thanks Be To God!
Ty Walling
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