Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 20
Saturday


RUNNING FOR
NOTHING

READ:
Romans 4:4-17
_____________________________

Nor is there salvation in
any other, for there is
no other name under
heaven given among
men by which we must
be saved. __ Act 4:12
_____________________________

As my friend Roger Weber started the 2006 Chicago Marathon, he noticed something on the ground. It was a runner's chip--the device each runner puts on his or her shoe to record progress at various timing stations during the race. Apparently, one poor runner would be traversing the next 26.2 miles on foot with nothing to show for it.

Officially, that runner did not run the race. There would be no record of his participation. Even if he had finished the race in record time, it wouldn't have mattered. The folks who organize the race set the rules, and no matter how well someone runs, if the officials say the runner doesn't qualify, that's the way it is.

In one sense, that's also the way it is with all of us. We can run what appears to be a good race by doing good things for others and obeying lots of rules. But when we arrive at the final checkpoint--heaven--and haven't made sure our name is recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life by putting our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we're disqualified to enter.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Are you trsting in Jesus? If not, you're running for nothing. __ Dave Branon
____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~It's not what I achieve that qualifies,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~It matters not if I gain wealth or fame;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~The only thing I must be certain of~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~Is "Have I put my trust in Jesus' name?" __ Hess~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

If we could earn our salvation,
Christ would not have died to provide it.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 4:4-17***********

4 Now to him who works,
the wages are not counted
as grace but as debt. 5 But
to him who does not work
but believes on Him who
justifies the ungodly, his
faith is accounted for
righteousness, 6 just as
David also describes the
blessedness of the man to
whom God imputes
righteousness apart from
works:

7 "Blessed are those whose
lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man to
whom the LORD shall not
impute sin." ...

13 For the promise that he
would be the heir of the
world was not to Abraham
or to his seed through the
law, but through the
righteiousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of
the law are heirs, faith is
made void and the promise
made of no effect,

15 because the law brings
about wrath; for where
there is no law there is no
transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith
that it might be according
to grace, so that the promise
might be sure to all the
seed, 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, "I have made you a
fathr of many nations") in
the presence of Him whom
he believed--God, who
gives life to the dead and
calls those things which do
not exist as though they did.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and
it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works,
the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Rom. 4:3-4).
A unique teaching of Crhistianity is that God justifies sinners by
faith, apart from works. __ HDF

[realtmg]

I wanted to comment that tis means alot to me in my life I now live today. GBU All. Luv Ya. Real.

"For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and
it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works,
the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Rom. 4:3-4).
A unique teaching of Christianity is that God justifies sinners by
faith, apart from works. __ HDF