"I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
Dear Friends,
Our Girls Chrysalis just finished and as I considered what to say here, the words that came were "Live in Faith." Let us affirm that it is through Faith we have access to God's salvation. In Romans 1:1-17, Paul talks about being set apart for the Gospel of God concerning God's Son, Jesus Christ. He tells us that it is through Jesus Christ's resurrection we have received grace and discipleship so we may share our faith with others.
As I thought about Faith, it reminded me of when my children were small and we would sit them up on something tall. Then we would tell them "jump to me!" Now our children had to believe that we would catch them before they would jump. They had to have Faith that they would be caught by someone who loved them and would catch them every time. As Christians, it is a similar process when we put aside our reservations and fears to believe in God's mercy and to have Faith that we can trust God to always save us and to always love us. It is through Faith that we will experience the power of God's mighty saving love. St. Paul's letters stressed that the key to salvation is Faith in Jesus Christ. The Grace God offers us is expressed in different ways as we learn on the walk. God's prevenient (or preventing) grace keeps us from going too far away from God. God's justifying grace – that is, being right with God – by Faith alone is what is at the center of St. Paul's understanding of the Gospel. So, as Christians, we want to continue to grow in grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. St. Paul had the gift of knowing how to make people know that others feelings were important to him.
How about us? Do we seek to listen and seek to let others know that their feelings are important to us as well as to God? This consideration is an important part of conversations between Christians, especially knowing how we differ from one another. If we fail to make known our love and respect for each other, who will?
On the other side of Faith, we also need to refrain from spiritual pride (you know – "the holier-than-thou" attitude) and being judgmental about the motives of others. Some may not like what others do or how they do it, but we must remember we are all on God's side even if we think or do things differently.
In the book "Good News for God's People" by William Carter, he talks about how St. Paul expresses his confidence in the gospel: "It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has Faith...For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through Faith for Faith." (Romans 1:16-17) In this scripture, St. Paul states the role of Faith in the process of justification. Only through Faith do we discover the Love of God who is the source of our salvation. "Faith brings us into contact with the power of the Gospel. This is the way the Grace of God can descend to prepare the mind and heart for the greater glories of Faith that Grace can finally bring – (by Faith for Faith). Salvation is from God, by God's Grace alone. We have done nothing to deserve it, and we can do nothing to guarantee it. Our Faith enables us to participate in God's salvation; we are justified by God's Grace as we believe God's Word. Faith is the source of our response to God's act in salvation through Grace.
When we experience Faith in Jesus Christ, we discover the power of God's saving love.
In closing here is a prayer "God, cure our unbelief, that we may share Your salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
May God's Grace be upon each of you as we share in our Faith and the joy of our salvation.
Love, Joy, and Peace to all,
Carol Crumpton, S.D.
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