Something I never posted.

This is something I hadn't posted yet but am no sure why. I haven't read it yet so I am sorry if it isn't finished.

"It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with GOd that comes by faith. So if you claim that GOod's promise is for those who obey God's law and think they are "good enough" in God's sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in the case, the promise is also meaningless. But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

So that's why faith is the key! Good's promise is givento use as a free gift. And we are cerain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when GOd told him, "I have made yo uthe father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the GOd who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't ecist before.

When GOd promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, "Your descendants will be a s numerous as the stoars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of 100 and that SArah, his wife, had never been able to have children.

Abraham never vabered in beleiving Go's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in ths he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous.

Now this wonderful truth--wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was for us too, assuring us that GOd will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead. He was handed over to die becuase of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with GOd.



Therefore, since we have been made right in GOd's sight by faith, we have peace with GOd because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into htis place of hightest privilege where we new stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expecation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.