Just as we are – or maybe not!

Scripture Read: Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist

Application: Two issues jump out at me – first the fact that God began with Abraham right where he was. He did not have to become something first (works) He was required to have a change of heart and mind. He had to agree that God was the One to be trusted and rely solely on Him for his future (faith) This is obviously how salvation works – but isn’t that the principle for how it all works. Do we work too hard trying to change ourselves?  Instead we need to trust Him and believe He will change us (practical sanctification)  What about “work out your own salvation” ? That does not change this principle – change takes sweat – but it must first begin with trust. The other issue is that the same word is used in describing how God makes us His own.  Being & Exist: “even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist:  εἰμί eimí; In Rom. 4:17, “those that are not as those that were” (a.t.), meaning things existing and things not existing. Whatever combination of what we are and what God adds – He calls it into existence. It is what He wants us to be from what we could not be without Him.  Thank You Father for Your great love – Call us into the saints You desire us to be. We want to be that saint Lord but only You can create it – Help us to follow willingly.