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Thot 4 2 day April

thot 4 2 dayAPRIL

[Romans]

Ronnie Gibson

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Thot 4 2 day April

These devotions are dedicated to the endearing memory of my dear friend and brother-in-Christ Robert Robinson, whom the Lord thought

appropriate to call home to glory on July 18th 2014.

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INTRODUCTION

It had long been my late brother’s desire that I focus on producing a set of daily devotions to encourage God’s dear children on their Christian pathway.While sharing some of these devotions with Robert and his wife Maureen my attention was directed, by the Holy Spirit I believe, to Paul’s letter to the Romans.So, for each month of the year, I intend to systematically go through the first twelve chapters of the book - a chapter for each month. This would entail considering each chapter verse-by-verse on a daily basis. Of course, January would equate to chapter one; February to chapter two, and so on. However, since there are sixteen chapters in Romans and only twelve months in the year, I have added an ‘executive summary’ of the last four chapters as a tailpiece to December.While I set out my analysis of the Roman epistle it is not meant to be construed as a commentary, but a devotional work.Therefore, I pray as we share these devotions you will be drawn closer to our Lord, and experience His blessing both on your own life, and through you, the life of your family members.

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ANALYSIS OF EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

Chapters 1-7……THE REAL GOSPEL……

Ch 1 - and THE POWER OF GODCh 2 - and THE JUDGMENT OF GOD

Ch 3 – and THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD…….and THE ACCOUNTING OF GOD - Ch 4

Chapter 8THE REAL CHRISTIAN

Chapters 9-11THE REAL JEW

Chapters 12-16

THE REAL LIFE

As we come to chapter 4 of Romans and contemplate the ‘real gospel’, we add a new dimension – the ‘accounting’ of God. A strange word I know, but hopefully all will become clear as we go through April.I will endeavour to follow the above analysis throughout the daily devotions, seeking to stress the ‘reality’ which Paul presents in this wonderful and inspiring epistle.Reality, in the realms as outlined above. Teaching, to challenge all of us as to the will of God for this world, and also for your life and mine.So, let’s go, and please God, we will learn together, more of our wonderful, magnanimous, amazing God.

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April 1st4. THE REAL GOSPEL—and

THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v1 “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

A new month, a new chapter of Romans, a new concept on the ‘real gospel’ of Jesus Christ. Throughout this instructive chapter, on nine separate occasions, Paul will refer to a little series of words, which in effect, have the same basic meaning. The root meaning of each of these words is “accounted”. In the AV it is generally translated “imputed”; “counted”; or “reckoned”. And it is this word “accounted” which delicately but accurately conveys another of God’s attributes concerning His real gospel.

So Paul begins to present a positive message from God by taking his readers to the one level from which there can be no argument, debate or discussion, namely, the person and character of Abraham. He commences by anticipating an objection from these Roman Jews, and asks the rhetorical question – “What shall we say then?” [by the way, this is a phrase to which Paul, throughout Romans, is most prone to state]. He refers deliberately and dramatically to the central character of Abraham in his direct response. His second question [or, the second part of his first question] focuses on the crucial principle of Abraham’s personal relationship with God. The concern is this – “…was Abraham justified [ie. made right] by anything which pertained or related to the flesh?” Following devotions will concentrate on Paul’s astute defence of the will and mind of God regarding salvation through the

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real gospel. Today may well be classed as ‘all fool’s day’ but Paul most does not fall into this category with his responses.

April 2nd

4. THE REAL GOSPEL - and

THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v2 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”

Paul approaches the delicate and decisive subject of justification [ie. being made right with God] with genuine sensitivity. He does not wish to be seen as standing in opposition to his readers but rather wishes to be portrayed as being alongside them, drawing them along with him towards the specific conclusion to which he wishes to achieve.

So he considers the thought process that Abraham was made right with his God through his works and good deeds, and subtly asks – “Is this why God accepted him?”

He allows this concept to register in their thinking, before he insists quite firmly that Abraham would have, if this were true, a lot then to personally boast about.

But here comes the key to understanding the whole of chapter 4 – God does not ‘account’/’reckon’ Abraham has any right for pride, and he will demonstrate this comprehensively in our future devotions in this chapter.

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April 3rd


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v3 “For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Quoting Genesis 15v6 Paul reminds his avid readers that Abraham “believed” God, and God ‘accounted’ or reckoned’ or’ counted’ this for “righteousness”.

God accounting process was this – He cancelled Abraham’s sins and reckoned him ‘not guilty’, because of his belief, not because of his behaviour.

The AV uses the delightful word “counted”, which conjures up magically within each older mind the abacus or counting frame. For every single sin attributable to Abraham’s life, God has an abacus on which He counts all of these misdemeanours and tallies them against the faith that Abraham has in Almighty God and ‘reckons’ that Abraham – on that concrete basis of faith – is ‘right’ in His sight.

A fundamental datum line has been established here by Paul. The readers of his day [and our day] must unmistakably grasp this nettle or the whole plan of God is grievously misunderstood.

Getting ‘right’ with God is and must be man’s chief occupation, and if it is clouded in any way, the resultant quandary sets a worldwide catastrophe in motion.

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April 4th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

So here is the eternal crunch, insists Paul. When an individual ‘works’ he receives the due reward for his endeavours – his salary. That is only but right. Should such an employee not receive his appropriate remuneration then a “debt” is incurred by the employer. He owes his worker! His labour must receive the due “reward”.

But that process, although physically correct, does not meet and can never meet the spiritual ‘accounting’ process of the Lord because it omits the one calculation of the work of Jesus Christ which saves an individual by “grace”

These Roman Jews considered their monumental forefather to have gained his acceptance with Jehovah because of his industrious deeds in God’s name and in God’s cause. Their accounting system reckoned that God owed Abraham justification because of his personal and god-like efforts. The salutary thrust is this – “grace” is out of the question when wages (“debt”) are in the question.

This is the most condemnatory verse, I believe, in the whole of the Bible, for it lays bare the trap into which Satan has ensnared many, many dear and genuine people – ‘god-like attitudes and behaviour automatically embrace salvation in Jesus Christ’. Not so! A thousand, million times – “not so”.

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If you know of anyone heading this direction towards eternity, please, in the name of Christ, tell them the truth.

April 5th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v5

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

If an individual could earn salvation by working deeds of quality and goodness, then salvation would not be free – but salvation is free!

Paul insists that God bestows salvation on those who do not work to earn it.

Rather, God’s accounting system counts sinners to be ‘right’ in His sight, on the basis of their faith in Jesus Christ. That faith eternally saves them from God’s wrath and condemnation.

That is, faith is accounted, reckoned, counted for “righteousness”.

The deep problem then and today is that man will not accept he is a sinner. And he does not feel this to be true because, in essence, he endeavours throughout his earthly experience to live an honest and upright existence.

Sure, such agree, there are many personages whose lifestyles reflect absolute and total rejection of the issues of life after death and this crucial concept of ‘faith’ in Jesus Christ, but they regard themselves to be separate from such people, they are not like that and thereby somehow curry favour with God.

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April 6th



“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”

Now Paul pulls in King David alongside Abraham to bolster his case. He quotes the writing of Psalm 32 verses 1 and 2 to affirm his presentation to those in Rome.

The consideration of both verses follow on the 7th and 8th April in our devotions, but today let us home-in on the outstanding phrase used by David. He describes the man or woman whose eternity rests on faith in Jesus Christ as being “blessed” – “the blessedness of the man” – he is “not guilty”!

Paul is being very astute here in pairing two giants of the Jewish tradition together. The character and fatherhood of Abraham is coupled with the regal monarchy of David. No self-respecting Jew, or even Gentile, could possibly turn away from the esteem of these two men of God and their beliefs and commendations. And please notice also how again Paul squeezes in the ‘accounting’ method of the Lord in his use of the word “imputeth”, implying the same concept as ‘counting’; and ‘reckoning’.

Our problem today is that as we seek to reach others for Christ we have no such earthly figureheads – but, and it is the all-important ‘but’ - we do have our blessed Redeemer.

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April 7th



“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

So now today Paul begins his rendering of Psalm 32 verse 1 to fortify his argument of salvation by faith alone.

Two slight adjustments appear in Paul’s writing as opposed to the Hebrew of Psalm 32 – where “transgressions” is used, and the singular “sin” is stipulated.

These slight amendments cause no concern as on many occasions the word “transgressions” is translated “iniquities”, either word meaning ‘lawlessness’.

The word “sin” – used by David – and pluralised by Paul to “sins” is justifiable under the argument which Paul presents here. “Sin” generally conveys the ‘root’ of the trouble, whereas “sins” represents the spreading branches from that root. So Paul uses the plural word deliberately to draw earnest attention to the practical outworking in these Jewish and Gentiles lives. He desires to draw their attention to their ‘deeds’ whilst hoping they will discern that these result from an inner failure to have faith in God.

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April 8th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v8 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

Today Paul steps forward into verse 2 of Psalm 32 pinpointing the inner concept of ‘sin’.

He insists once more that the right relationship with Almighty God through faith in Jesus Christ brings the most dynamic and crucial element of life to such, namely, “blessedness”.

This word is definitely not mine, it arrives tenderly and placidly into every believer’s heart when faith in Christ is exercised. Question – are you the recipient of such an experience? If not, please do seek such from the Giver Himself.

Then Paul gets back to this clinical and irrefutable aspect of God’s ‘book-keeping’ - the Lord will NOT account, reckon, impute any sin, whatsoever its size or colour, against the one who believes in the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus Christ.

A slight, perhaps hesitant, ‘Hallelujah’ may just escape from your lips today following this devotion. Go ahead, shout it out!

There is no deeper, fuller, eternal blessing to fall on mankind than this – knowing your sin, ALL your sin is covered by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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April 9th



“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”

Now comes Paul’s question to his readers – is this blessing given only to those who are circumcised, or does it involve and include those who are not circumcised?

Is this blessedness exclusive to those who have, by faith, believed on Jesus Christ AND have obeyed the Jewish ritual of circumcision? Or, does this blessedness include those who have exercised faith in Christ only, but have NOT been circumcised?

This conundrum is central to the presentation of Paul. That is why he has already surrounded the whole matter by his astute use of their father Abraham.

Well, what about Abraham? If we say he received these blessings through his faith – was it by faith alone, or because he kept the Jewish rituals and ceremonies.

The discussion becomes brilliantly subtle as Paul delves deeply into the matter, but let us today ask the parallel question in our day. How many dear people we know are resting and depending on their religious affiliations as their hope for eternity?

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April 10th



“How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.”

The issue is highlighted in neon-flashing lights – ‘how did God do His accounting in order to achieve such a dramatic and eternal decision of faith alone’?

Did he use the ‘circumcision’ method of balancing the books? Or, did He rather use the ‘uncircumcision’ concept?

Paul, with great accuracy and astuteness, presents the ‘closing balance’ to God’s accounting – Abraham came into these blessings through his belief and faith whilst he was UNcircumcised! That is, before he went through the Jewish initiation ceremony of circumcision.

Oh that today men and women would personally grasp the utter folly of attributing the salvation offered by God in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ to any act of religious ritual. His gospel is being shrouded in all manner of verbiage and elaborate ceremony that men today are being handed a set of Accounts which have not been properly audited. (Sorry for using the terminology from my financial background here but I pray the message is clear.)

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April 11th



“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”

Paul recites the timescale today to handle the fundamental issue concerning being right with God. He puts forward the truth that Abraham received the blessing of God in his life because of his faith which preceded his act of circumcision. The circumcision was merely a ‘seal’ or a ‘sign’ on Abraham’s faith which God had already accepted him and accounted him right. Circumcision came later.

So the reckoning of Paul to these Romans is that Abraham is the spiritual father of those who believe in Christ and are saved, without obeying Jewish laws.

Therefore, those who do not keep these rituals and rules are made right (‘justified’) by God through faith.

There is no avoiding the accountancy process of Almighty God. He has made right with Himself all those, be they Jew or Gentile, who have exercised believing faith in the work and Person of Jesus Christ.

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April 12th



“And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

Paul further asserts today in our devotional consideration that Abraham is also the spiritual father of all those Jews who have been circumcised but now have taken up the stance of faith in Christ.

These Romans of yesteryear, and religions across the world today, must see from this example that salvation is not found in ceremonies – no matter how elaborate or eloquent – but in Christ alone, through faith.

Abraham found ‘rightness’ with God by faith alone BEFORE he was circumcised.

I make this plea again today to all dear believers in Christ, that this accounting method of God, regarding salvation and Jesus Christ, will stand all scrutiny and all critical analysis by each and any religion; by each and any theory; by each and any scholar.

Look at the audited ‘books’ of any Company in the world, you will find at the bottom of the Accounts a double black line indicating completion – so it is with God’s accountancy.

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April 13th



“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

Paul clearly indicates that God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was NOT because he obeyed God’s laws BUT because he trusted God to keep His promises.

The faith exercised by Abraham was the stamp of approval by God. God made the promises; Abraham believed the promises; God’s accountancy package kicked in and stamped Abraham’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Just so with all men, either of Paul’s day or our day. There is no escaping the logic and wisdom and accounting of God – salvation is by faith and not by works.

And subsequently all the fullness of blessings heaped on any believer is the result of such dynamic faith and not through the deeds of the body or mind.

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April 14th



“For if they which of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:”

Paul continues today to handle the definitive ramifications of God’s unblemished and unalterable method of accountancy in today’s devotion.

He reckons that if any man continues to claim that God’s blessings go to those who are “good enough”, then that is tantamount to saying that God’s promises to those who exercise faith in Him are meaningless, and thereby faith is redundant and foolish.

What a dramatic challenge to all of us who are believers is foisted upon us here. We must not nor dare not offer anything less than the ‘original’ to our family and friends and colleagues. Salvation, as Peter insisted, is to be found in none other. We must not stray one iota from this datum line; from this plumb-line – Jesus Christ and faith in Him is the exclusive message for the 21st century.

On another occasion in his writings Paul utters this heart-cry: “Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel”. This is similarly so to you and me as we endeavour to reach those we love for Christ.

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April 15th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v15 “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Paul asserts that the fact of the matter is this – when we try to gain God’s salvation and the resulting blessings through keeping the laws, we do nothing more than invoke the wrath of God. We do so because no matter how ‘perfect’ we feel or think we are, we invariably end up breaking the laws and then incur God’s wrath.The conclusion then being that the only way to avoid breaking laws is not to have any laws to break.I recall, as a much younger believer, being in a gathering of Christians and one dear brother was advocating that he could live at least one full day without breaking God’s laws. His reckoning was this – if I can keep the law for five minutes I can keep it for one hour, then why not for twenty-four hours.Perhaps it was my youthful enthusiasm which challenged this concept when I asked the brother – ‘would you agree I could, with great determination, hold my breathe for five minutes? If you do, on your premise then I can hold my breathe for one hour and further one day’.Man may endeavour to hold the straight line for a moment but his nature is anti-God and will crash headlong in disaster. Christ alone is the answer, and our faith in Him.

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April 16th



“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.”

Paul lifts the conclusion to yesterday’s devotional and adds to the “faith” the amazing quality of “grace”. How often will he do so throughout all his writings!

And the result of such a combination, according to Paul, is that the promise of God makes this “sure”. Sure; stable; valid; something realised!

And this security embraces alike the circumcised, who are of the law, and the uncircumcised, who never sheltered under the law.

Being a recipient of all these aforementioned blessings flows from the replication of the faith that father Abraham had in Almighty Jehovah.

Personally, I marvel at the Holy Spirit’s guidance of Paul to these Romans for he seems to be able to remove every other piece of concrete from their foundations and unmistakably guide them to the “chief Corner-stone”, Jesus Christ.

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April 17th



“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as they were.”

Paul affirms that the Scriptures mean what they say when they decree that God made Abraham the father of many nations. For God will wonderfully accept all people in all nations who trust Him just as Abraham did.

And it is a promise made by Almighty God.

And that promise made by God Himself Who, Paul insists, makes the dead live again and speaks with as much clarity and certainty as if the event had already occurred.

The fundamental principle of ‘faith’ as the exclusive means of acceptance with God is set in the bedrock of God’s inert ability to raise from the dead.

In chapter ten [October for us] Paul issues the double standard for salvation when he wrote – “If we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and ……BELIEVE IN OUR HEART that God has raised Him from the dead we will be saved.”

The believing with the heart is purely – “faith”.

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April 18th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v18 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.”

Please read once more the first six words of today’s text – “who against hope believed in hope”. In Genesis 15 verses 3 to 6 the Lord God holds an in-depth discussion with Abraham, in which Abraham exclaims – “Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed.”Abraham almost becomes defiant in his side of the discussion, claiming that he is an old man, and worse still, his dear wife is well beyond the age of child-bearing – how can I possibly be the father of many nations?Yet, the Lord God responded with delightful clarity and insisted that the statement – “Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them; …..so shall thy seed be” – demanded nothing more than ‘faith’. Faith to be believe God even though such a promise could not possibly come to pass humanly speaking.As children of the same God, here in April, we can grasp excitedly the personal dimension within God’s fervently declared promises and exercise open and transparent faith in Him.

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April 19th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v19 “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:”Paul’s commendation of Abraham here is most gratifying, when he uses the phrase – “not weak in faith”. But when I read Genesis 17v17 I find that on hearing firstly about God’s plan Abraham “fell upon his face and laughed”. First reactions are not always final reactions.Because Abraham’s faith grew during his debate with the Lord God his faith became strong, just as Paul stipulates here, and in so doing he made a startling deduction. He considered his own body now being as good as dead, and did not become concerned about the fact that he was far too old to become a father at the age of 100, and that Sarah, his wife, was also too old to have a child.Again the reckoning of Abraham regarded his wife, now aged 90, was that her body was also as good as dead, just as his was.But, in faith, Abraham set these imponderables aside and focused on the Lord to provide just exactly as He had promised.What is the Lord’s promise to you today – towards you; towards your family? Hold on tightly! He will come good in His time, for He “makes everything beautiful in His own time”.

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April 20th


THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v20 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.”

Paul deftly produces a couple of stirring words here regarding Abraham’s journey of faith. He mentions the ‘staggering’ – and the word implies a mental struggle.Am I the only child of God who faces the onslaught of the enemy during the night hours, or do you also have those sleepless hours when not even the clock seems to move on. (As a little aside I suggest you commence a practice that when you wake at unearthly hours you gaze at the digital alarm clock – note the time, perhaps 3.16 – and think of a scriptural verse of that number; it works, honestly).Abraham struggled with the concepts associated with this extraordinary promise, but he did not falter, rather unbelief was shattered, and he remained intrinsically enveloped in his faith in his God.His faith grew in his God and his praise glorified in his God. Oh, did I forget to mention it, but all this occurred BEFORE the event happened.What a challenge to you and me!

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April 21st

4. THE REAL GOSPEL -and

THE ACCOUNTING OF GODRomans 4v21 “And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised He was able also to perform.”

Note the “P’s”! Paul was definitely a great preacher in that same verse he made most easy for the like of me to grasp and explain.[1] “Persuaded”!How brilliant of Paul to guide these doubtful believers in Rome along a smooth pathway towards exclusive faith. He insists quite dramatically that Abraham’s faith was complete, absolute, total and entire. Nothing lacking – and that, he tells the Romans – is, the datum line, the plumb-line, the fundamental criteria for salvation in Jesus Christ. Faith alone in God’s redeeming Son. Abraham is ‘fully Persuaded’.[2] “Promised”God promised Abraham. Abraham had intensive and extensive faith in God and what He had promised.[3] “Perform”What God promised, God was capably equipped to deliver and perform it.Now, dear reader, where do we stand here? I am an ardent believer that – “without faith it is impossible to please God” – what about you? In the home; in the business; in the fellowship – without faith…..it is impossible …..to please God!

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April 22nd



“And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Here again today we come face to face with one of the famous texts in Romans.

Of course, the word “imputed” catches perfectly the title for the whole of chapter 4 – “accounting”. God’s perfect accounting system examines the intimate detail of Abraham’s faith to ascertain its true value. He misses no twist or turn within the forensic process – there must not be nor can be any flaw in the mighty concept of faith. The reasons for such microscopically examination will follow in the closing three verses of the chapter, but meanwhile we need to grasp the eternal concepts being presented here.

I fear we live today in an era of easy-believism, when a prospective convert is lead by a church leader to repeat a child-like prayer and now feels he is born again of the Spirit of God. When I was engaged in ‘child evangelism’ I instructed all counsellors for a number of weeks before the mission, and insisted that the child MUST produce evidence that, even in their childlike way, they should exhibit an adequate understanding of faith and the work of Jesus Christ. Obtaining a “Yes” from a child is a most simple exercise and a most unpalatable one.

The result of correct faith is the position of ‘rightness’ before God, nothing less is acceptable.

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April 23rd



“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him.”

Paul is delicately moving towards the ultimate conclusion in verse 25, and launches his readers back to the purpose of divine Scriptures – they were written “not…for his sake alone”.

The Romans have been carried most tenderly and without offence to the climax of Paul’s reckoning of God’s eternal plan for salvation. He shifts, again with much delicacy, their thought processes via the forefather Abraham, the royal throne of David, through to the body of believers sitting beside and with them each Lord’s Day.

What gloriously happened to Abraham has been deliberately chronicled by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of succeeding generations. And what happened to Abraham was the outstanding and marvellous transaction which occurs between one human being and Almighty God.

God does the promising, man does the believing – this unbreakable nutshell is the fulcrum of God’s accountancy package. There is no other way to God other than faith in Jesus Christ. Other accounting systems, however ecclesiastically conceived and expeditiously executed fall tragically short of the heavenly requirement.

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April 24th



“But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;”

The faith of Abraham was written in Scripture also for our eternal benefit. If we but exercise direct and personal faith in this same God – not any other – we too shall be ‘accounted’ as right before Him and worthy of acceptance into His family and into His glory.

The culmination of this exercising of faith reaches its pinnacle with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We must, if we are to be genuinely born again, hold and believe tenaciously in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead.

There are no shortcuts here; there are no side-roads here; there are no alternative systems or solutions here – Jesus Christ’s resurrection is the sole pivot to our Christian beliefs and faith.

What an earth-shattering blow to the religious fervour of these Romans and their adherence and observance of rituals and legalisms.

Surely this is not striking you with the same dynamic – your salvation is not depending on rituals and regulations? Is it?

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April 25th



“Who hath delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

The wonderful and conclusive application by Paul is quite engaging and informative.

Engaging because it highlights two wonderful aspects of God’s redemptive work in our lives as believers – His ‘deliverance’ of us, and His ‘raising’ of His Son from the grave.

Informative because it highlights two amazing strands of God’s redemptive work in our lives – our ‘offences’ have been dealt with, and the glorious fact of our individual and personal ‘justification’.

The ‘deliverance’ was achieved expensively by the removing of all the stench of our offences from our bodies into, yes, into, the body of the spotless and sinless Son of God and setting us free from any and all guilt.

The justifying of both you and me was achieved by the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who, having carried away that filth and stench and sin from our bodies and souls – having appeased Almighty and Holy God that He carried all this through His suffering on the cross. God being satisfied with His wrath against sin being assuaged now beautifully and dutifully declares us – accounts us – justified in His sight.

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April 26th

4. THE REAL GOSPEL

Since there are only 25 verses in chapter 4 of Romans it is my intention to hold devotions on a review of the first 4 chapters and then a preview of chapter 5 to complete the last five days of April.

Chapter 1 – JanuaryUsing verse 16 of this opening chapter as the ‘key’ to discovering the first aspect of the real gospel of Jesus Christ we read: “for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”

Here is the “POWER” of His gospel.

It imbibes the ‘power’ of God; the exclusive procedure of God’s planning for eternal salvation; the platform on which each and all preachers stand throughout each and all generations; the only ‘authority’ given by God Himself to reach the lost world.

How delightful of Paul to exclaim to these dilatory Romans that this gospel was something of which he was “not ashamed”. The reason for this forthright stand was that the personal power of this gospel had eternally transformed his life.

‘Religion’ with all its rules, regulations and demands could never change a life – this was Paul’s considered persuasion.

Do I enjoy such confidence that I am diligently embroiled in the pursuit of souls for Christ?

April 27th

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4. THE REAL GOSPEL

Chapter 2 – FebruaryToday we continue our review of Romans 1 to 4 and reconsider chapter 2 and its presentation of another aspect of ‘the real gospel’.

Having established the ‘authority’ of His gospel in chapter 1, the Lord God presents the rather obvious “JUDGMENT” as outlined in verse 16 - “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel”.

Men are confronted with the unmistakable conclusion that they cannot live their lives as if God does not exist. The world and its leaders will spend huge percentages of their annual budgets expanding their space adventures. Their stated object is that this is predominately for the future benefit of mankind and the welfare of all nations.

Nowhere does any such exploration ever fail to confess their agenda to ascertain the ‘meaning of life’ or, as they prefer to entitle it, the ‘origins of life’. For Christians this is antithesis of all they hold dear and believe, we tenaciously hold to the creation account as detailed in the opening chapters of Genesis.

By affirming that God will judge all men and all of their secrets, Paul stresses the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

April 28th

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4. THE REAL GOSPEL

Chapter 3 – MarchPaul continues his unfolding of the ‘real gospel’. Having outlined both the ‘authority’ and ‘affirmation’ of this gospel, he launches, in chapter 3, into the “CONDEMNATION” of God as to why such a powerful gospel is required.

Paul defines God’s assessment on the spiritual condition of men in verses 10 and 11 – “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

The phenomenon behind the need for the gospel is pointedly and plainly highlighted. God’s assessment is that all men have sinned and fallen short of His glory. No exceptions; no exclusions; the entire human race – we are all infected with a DNA whose default setting is anti-God.

This real gospel is designed with you and me in mind. We are initially and finally and totally within the spectrum of God’s eternal vision.

Please bask in this truly remarkable provision today, and, indeed, each day – for Paul is headlining the wondrous expansiveness of God’s love and planning. This real gospel – not to be confused with the ‘non-real’ gospels of the world’s media and social websites – is man’s one and only avenue to Almighty God.

April 29th

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4. THE REAL GOSPEL

Chapter 4 – AprilOn reviewing chapter 4 Paul feels the deep desire to elaborate God’s assessment by presenting, in intimate detail, the process of God’s “ACCOUNTING”.His oft repetition of words like ‘reckoning’; ‘imputed’; and ‘counted’ throughout the chapter, funnel into the pinpointing of God’s accounting system.

God has astutely measured each potential response of ancient man and also current thinking to His exclusive offer of His Son Jesus Christ. Man must be left without excuse, either on the basis of their perceived self-importance or self-righteousness.

It is crucial for Paul to clarify to these Romans, God’s reckoning and accounting as to His requirements and conditions for a personal and eternal relationship. Their privileged and professed standing with Yahweh must not be expanded, in their thinking, to the realm of absolute acceptance by Him.

So delicately and deliberately and determinedly Paul sets out God’s “Audited Accounts” for their close inspection and scrutiny. They will find no discrepancies and no loopholes. The Balance Sheet defies all contradictions and all amendments. And the signature under the double-lined figures in none other than the “Lord Jesus Christ”.

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April 30th

4. THE REAL GOSPEL

Chapter 5 – MayThe review of chapters 1 to 4 is hopefully completed and understandable. The real gospel has been ‘authorised’; ‘affirmed’; ‘assessed’ and ‘accounted’.

So, in chapter 5 Paul will deal with the “ACQUITTAL” of the real gospel, using the key verse (v8) – “But God commended His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

A truly remarkable juncture has been reached. Man’s aspect of salvation has been totally negated; there is one solitary entrance to ‘rightness’ with a holy God, and that is by the One Who openly declared – “I am the door, by Me, if any man enter in he shall be saved.”

This method of salvation, the elite method, alone receives the Divine ‘acquittal’.

Dear child of God, please do rest assuredly in the truly wonderful understanding that your God loves you and has beautifully designed eternity with you in mind.

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