Monthly Archives: October 2025

Alone, Bible, Righteousness, Scripture, Self-righteousness, Vanity

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU

ROMANS 4:23

“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,”

In 1972 Carly Simon released a song entitled “You’re So Vain.” You may have heard it. The chorus says, “You’re so vain; You probably think this song is about you. You’re so vain (you’re so vain). I bet you think this song is about you, don’t you, don’t you?” Vanity is thinking the world revolves around you and that all that happens good in your life is because you deserve it.

Abraham was not vain. He knew the righteousness which was bestowed on him by the Lord was not because of anything he had done or could do. And he knew that God’s promises were not for him alone. They would be passed down to future generations through his son. We will see in tomorrow’s verse the second part of this thought. But just looking at today’s verse, I want you to see that it is not all about you.

APPLICATION

We were saved for a purpose. Our salvation comes with instructions – go share this with someone. Pass it on. Lead someone else to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Take the “Roman Road” and walk with someone to understand those verses and give their life to Christ. Your salvation is not all about you. God has saved you and enlisted you in His army. Stand and fight!

In the July 2025 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump’s life, after he stood up with a bloodied ear, he was surrounded by Secret Service agents. But through the mass of bodies, he shoved up his fist and shouted, “Fight, fight, fight!” He wasn’t giving up because he knew the election wasn’t just about him. Now, I’m not trying to be political here. I’m just giving an example. Things that happen in our lives are not just about us. We can affect hundreds of people by our reaction to events, including our own salvation.

What kind of effect are you having on others? Maybe you’re one of those who think it’s all about you. I have known a few narcissists in my life, none of which were very pleasant to be around. Take an inventory of all that God has done for you. Then find a way to share that with others. Most importantly, find a way to share your faith with someone this week one-on-one. Be honest and share your struggles. But don’t leave out the best part – He is always there.

Lord God, I know it is not about me. You came to give Your life for others, and I should lay down my life for them as well.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Promises, Righteousness, Salvation, Scripture, Therefore

THEREFORE

ROMANS 4:22

“Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

You have probably heard some preacher say, “When you see the word “therefore” in the Bible, always look to see what it is there for.” Well, in today’s verse we have a “therefore.” It is the little Greek conjunction dio which can be translated as “for this reason,” “therefore” or “wherefore.” A conjunction connects at least two thoughts. In our case today, it connects the thoughts of the preceding verses with this thought in verse 22. Because of all Paul just said, this is true.

Once again, Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6, “Then he believed in the LORD; and He credited it to him as righteousness.” We saw this quoted earlier back in 4:3 and 4:9. This is the third time Paul quotes Genesis 15:6. Do you think it is important? Paul is nailing home the point that Abraham didn’t do anything to earn that righteousness. It was given to him before circumcision. God simply chose him and cut covenant with him. God made him righteous and Abraham himself.

APPLICATION

The same holds true for us. If you want to see just how much “therefore” means to us, look at 2 Corinthians 4:16. Paul uses dio again here. “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.” Let me tell you, that verse hit home with me. My old body is wearing down. I have a little pain in my lower back right now, which is new for me. But this verse says that is to be expected. However, my inner man is renewed daily. How sweet!

In our spiritual walk with Christ “therefore” makes a big difference. For instance, Christ died for my sins, and I have acknowledged that and have decided to follow Him. THEREFORE, I am His child and will live with Him in eternity. That’s a big “therefore,” isn’t it? Just like Abraham, I did nothing but step out in faith. Because of that I am reckoned as righteous in God’s eyes.

The next time you are reading through the Word and run across a little conjunction like dio (therefore, for this reason, wherefore), pause and really look what it is pointing you back to. Context is key in any study of Scripture. God’s Word is truth from the first word to the last. Therefore – you can trust it. You can place your faith in that.

Father God, I am grateful Your Word is so rich and so powerful. It gives me the “therefore” I need at the right time.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Assurance, Bible, Faith, Promises, Scripture, Trust

FULLY ASSURED

ROMANS 4:21

“and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

If you have read my devotions very long, you know I am a Georgia Bulldogs fan. I love to watch their football team and do my best to cheer then on to victory. This season, however, I have not been overly confident about any of their games. It seems the team isn’t as dominant as it was a few years ago. They have managed to win all but one of their games this year, but not without their struggles. I wish I could be fully assured of victory in the next game.

The verb Paul uses in today’s verse for “being fully assured” is

plērophoréō. According to HELPS Word-studies it “is used of God’s power bringing the believer to maximum potential, ‘matching’ their true knowledge of Him…it properly means ‘bearing (wearing) the work of God to the fullest extent.’ That is, to the full capacity of the individual believer who is ‘fully persuaded’ by Him.” Paul is saying in today’s verse that Abraham was bearing the work of God to the fullest through his faith in His promises. Pretty cool, huh?

APPLICATION

In Colossians 4:15, Paul is telling the church there that Epaphras was praying for them that “you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Here we see plērophoréō used again. We should always pray for others that they will be fully assured, that they can walk in victory over the darkness and see fruit from their labors. We all need to be fully assured, don’t we?

I love Paul’s testimony he shared with Timothy concerning his imprisonment and the defense he gave. 2 Timothy 4:17 says, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.” God used Paul, even in prison to fully accomplish His will. Wow! Are you willing to be used that way?

I just had a conversation with someone who I serve alongside in ministry to men. He is going through some trials right now but told me quickly that he is fully assured of his calling and will do whatever the Lord wants him to do, even if that means stepping aside from full-time ministry. He is literally laying down his pride and ego in order to be obedient and to be used by God. Sacrifice isn’t easy, is it? Are you fully assured?

Father, I have fully assured of Your promises. I am fully assured of my salvation and the calling you have put on my life. 

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Double-minded, Doubts, Faith, Scripture, Trust

NO WAVERING

ROMANS 4:20

“yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,”

Wavering on decisions or being unsure and unsettled about something can be destructive. I have always tried to make decisive decisions. After praying and seeking counsel where necessary, I have made decisions and lived with the consequences. My prayer is always that my decisions will honor the Lord and reflect His glory. That has not always been the case, though. We can all learn to waffle or waver less.

In today’s verse, Paul uses a Greek word that is translated here as “waver.” It’s the Greek word diakrinó, which can be used positively or negatively, depending on the context. In fact, diakrinó is used about half the time in both ways. Here it has a negative connotation. Abraham did not waver in his faith. He believed God when He made the promises to him.

APPLICATION

I want to share something I found in my commentaries. It is from a source I don’t think I have every used. But it gives a great description of today’s verse. “We have here a fuller account than anywhere else of the nature of Faith as essentially Trust; not mere historic belief, nor mental assent, but personal Trust; reposed, with application to self of the consequences, on the Divine Promiser as such. We have also a precious suggestion of some reasons (if we may say so) why God prescribes Faith as the condition of the justification of a sinner. Faith, we see, is an act of the soul which looks wholly away from “self” (as regards both merit and demerit), and honours the Almighty and All-gracious in a way not indeed in the least meritorious (because merely reasonable, after all), but yet such as to ‘touch the hem of His garment.’ It brings His creature to Him in the one right attitude — complete submission and confidence. We thus see, in part, why faith, and only faith, is the way to reach and touch the Merit of the Propitiation.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

I know that was a lot to throw at you. Reread it if you need to. Abraham’s exhibition of faith was remarkable. James gives us something similar to think about in James 1:6-8. “6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” No one wants to be like that. Am I right?

Place your faith in God’s promises. Believe that He will do exactly what He says He will do. Of course, that means we have to trust His timing, not ours. Abraham waited about 14 years to see that promise of a son come true. Do you think he didn’t at some point in those 14 years have a little doubt? Of course, he did. But his faith did not waver. He trusted. Do you?

Lord, I will trust You. Help my unbelief!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Life, Promises, Scripture

AS GOOD AS DEAD

ROMANS 4:19

“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;”

When you hear the phrase, “You’re as good as dead,” what do you think about? I think about as kids when you are out playing and you jokingly say that to a friend who just “one upped you.” Maybe you’re shooting hoops and they just went up on the score. So, you issue that challenge “You’re as good as dead” meaning you are about to take them down. It is never meant that you wish them harm in any way. It’s just a phrase.

But in Abraham’s case, it was true. His chance of siring offspring was pretty much nil. He was “about a hundred years old” and his wife Sarah wasn’t far behind. If he told his buddies he was about to become a father, they would have probably just laughed at him. The Greek word used here is only found two other times in the New Testament (Colossians 3:5 and Hebrews 11:12). The word is nekroó, and it means to view something as a corpse, lifeless. That doesn’t give much hope for a child, does it?

APPLICATION

“The same God who began Israel with a barren couple later raised Jesus Christ from the tomb; in both cases death or deadness only highlights His sovereignty.” (Topical Lexicon) You see, a lifeless corpse doesn’t mean God can’t do something. Think about the miracles in the Bible where someone who was dead was brought back to life. I won’t begin to list them all here. Do a study on your own and you will see that time after time, God intervened and brought life back.

God gave Abraham and Sarah a child, one born from parents who should not have able to be parents. Life belongs to God. He determines who has life. Every breath we take is a gift from God. He gives us life. Don’t ever think someone is without hope if God wants to give them life. Now, He doesn’t always give life here. Sometimes He wants to give life eternal. Isn’t that better anyway? For a believer, it is.

I want you to take a minute and give God thanks for the life He has given you. It may not be the life you had planned for yourself, but it is still life. God has a plan for this life. He has a plan for a future life also, if we will accept it. Have you? Have you taken ahold of the life that is truly life? Only God can give that. One is awaiting you.

Father of life, thank You for giving me life here and the promise of life eternal.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Promises, Scripture

HOPE AGAINST HOPE

ROMANS 4:18

“In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, ‘SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.’”

Have you ever held on to hope for something or someone even though everything in your mind told you to give up? I have. In fact, right now my wife and I are doing that about a family member. There’s been a separation now of almost two and a half years. All efforts to reconcile have been rebuffed or simply ignored. But…we still hold out hope that our God will move hearts to forgive and come back together.

Abraham exhibited that kind of hope when he believed God’s promises to him. Matthew Poole explains the phrase “hope against hope” well. “Abraham, when he had no natural or rational grounds of hope, either in respect of himself or Sarah his wife, did yet believe and hope he should have a son; and so be a root or stock, from whence many nations should spring: and this faith and hope of his was grounded upon the power and faithfulness of God.”

APPLICATION

What do you hope in? In whom do you place your hope? The Greek word for “hope” is elpis which means an expectation or a confidence in what is certain. There is no guess work with our hope as believers. We’ve got a sure thing in Jesus. Nothing nor anyone can take away that hope we have in Him. That should give us all confidence.

Paul says later in Romans 5:2, “through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.” The hope of the glory of God! Woohoo! God’s glory is certain. We can be sure of one day experiencing His glory in its fullness. We are told that we too will be glorified. I believe His light will glorify us instantly the moment we see Him face-to-face.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul comforts the Thessalonian believers with these words. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.” That’s a happy and sad verse – happy for us but sad for the unbeliever. They have no hope. Thanks be to God that He has given us the supreme hope, the supreme confidence. He loves us with an everlasting love. Give Him praise today.

Lord, You have promised us eternal life with You through Your Son Jesus. Our hope is in that, and it is certain!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Life, Salvation, Scripture

LIFE TO THE DEAD

ROMANS 4:17

“(as it is written: ‘I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS’) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist.”

Some people have a super green thumb. What do I mean by that? They can take a plant that looks completely dead and can bring it back to life again. They feed it and water it and nurture it back to life. Those are plants that I toss in the garbage can, but to the eye of the trained green thumb, they see life where there is no life. They don’t give up on it.

Today’s verse has a phrase that we need to look at. It’s towards the end of the verse. It says, “who gives life to the dead.” What in the world was Paul referring to? We will see more about this in verse 4:19, but to put it bluntly, there was no way Abraham and Sarah were going to have a child at their age. You may know someone who got pregnant in their 40’s or even 50’s. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? But nothing is too difficult for God.

APPLICATION

And we were dead before Christ. Ephesians 2:1 and 5 tell us that pretty clearly, “1 And you were dead in your offenses and sins,…5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” God took us off of death row when we gave our lives to Christ. We were doomed, damned to an eternal hell (and yes, it is real).

We are told in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. It goes on to say that no one will get to heaven unless they believe in Him and follow His commands. Death to life! It’s hard for our finite minds to comprehend. How can He do that? Because He created us in the first place. He knows every single molecule of our bodies. He can refire us into brand new creatures in Christ.

In John 5:24 Christ says, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.’” From the very mouth of God the Son. We have to hear. We have to believe, and we have to follow. Where are you right now? Are you still dead to Christ? Turn to Him today and gain new life in Him.

Father, I am so thankful for my new life in Jesus. Praise Your name.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, Guarantee, Promises, Scripture

I’M SURE

ROMANS 4:16

“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,”

I have bought a lot of stuff in my lifetime. Many of those products came with guarantees. Some were for one year while others came with a lifetime guarantee. I like that. I have a pair of sunglasses that are protected for life. If they get scratched or broken, I simply send a picture to the company, and they send me a new pair. I am guaranteed that in writing.

Today’s verse gives us a guarantee also. If we trust in faith we are guaranteed the promise of salvation. The word “guaranteed” is the Greek word bebaios which is only used nine times in the New Testament. It can be translated as “firm, steadfast, sure.” It has the word picture of walking on solid ground. We know Who that firm foundation is, don’t we?

APPLICATION

For context I want to give you Hebrews 2:1-3a but look at verse 2 particularly regarding the words of the angels. “1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” The word “unalterable” is bebaios.

In the first part of Hebrews 6:19, we have a phrase that should “light your fire” and lead you to praise the Lord. It says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable…” It is reliable. There’s our word again. But I especially like that it says it is “an anchor of the soul.”

God’s guarantee of your salvation will never expire. It’s not one of those limited one year warranties. It’s not even a lifetime guarantee. It’s an eternal guarantee. I challenge you to find one better. Once you are His you are His forever. There is a no return policy attached. He won’t give you back to destruction. He has you firmly in the hollow of His hand. So, rest in Him. He’s got you.

O God, I am so thankful that my faith is guaranteed in grace.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Danger, Protection, Scripture, Sin, Transgressions

GUARDRAILS

ROMANS 4:15

“for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”

I live in Tennessee and often drive on roads that have guardrails that protect cars from steering into a gulley or drop off. Those guardrails are meant to protect, but you can still go over them if you are driving recklessly or at a high rate of speed. The best guardrails can’t protect you from your own stupidity. Pay attention to them.

Paul points out in today’s verse that the law played the role much like a guardrail. The word translated as “violation” is “parábasis (from pará, ‘contrary’ and bainō, ‘go) – properly, an ‘overstepping’; a deliberate going over ‘the line.’ parábasis  (‘a stepping over the line’) in the NT refers to the willful disregard (breaking) of God’s law which defies His drawn-lines (boundaries); an arrogant ‘over-stepping.’” (HELPS Word-studies)

APPLICATION

That’s the same picture as going over the guardrail. Listen, God gave the law to guide men towards Him, knowing they would buck against it. What happens when you tell a two-year-old not to touch something? He touches it, right? The guardrails of the law pointed us towards God, but since it was given to Moses men have rebelled against it.

Now, you can go over the guardrails accidentally. You may get knocked over by someone else. That’s where my analogy ends. (By the way, no analogy is perfect) But with the law, men have deliberately chosen to jump the rail. They have chosen the pathway of sin. Instead of staying on the road prepared by the Lord, they decide to take the route most traveled by other sinners, one in which there are major potholes and pitfalls.

1 Timothy 6:9 warns us of one particular problem men face. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction.” The guardrail of reliance on God for our provision instead of chasing wealth is there for a reason. God knows what lies on the other side – ruin and destruction. He is protecting us against such transgressions.

The next time you see a guardrail on the highway, think about this verse and thank God for His guardrails He has given us to walk in. Thank Him for Jesus.

O Father, keep me inside the guardrails and away from danger.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Empty, Power, Powerless, Righteousness, Scripture, Useless

EMPTIED

ROMANS 4:14

“For if those who are of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified;”

As I read this verse today, a picture came into my mind of a car. I just got back yesterday from a day of driving to and from another city. It was about a two hour drive each way. Did you know that the speed of my truck had nothing to do with how hard I pressed the gas pedal? That’s right. How fast I went was determined by the fuel that was in the tank. If my truck did not have any fuel, I could press that pedal through the floorboard and it would not go anywhere. But when the source of the power is present, the engine fires, the transmission kicks in and the tires turn. Fuel is the key, not the pedal.

That is a very rough analogy for today’s verse. Our justification goes nowhere without faith in Jesus. All the works we accomplish (pressing the pedal) will get us nowhere. But when the power source (faith in Jesus) is present, we have the righteousness of God upon us. We reach our destination (heaven) because of the source that is in us.

APPLICATION

“Paul warns that reliance on Torah observance would kekenotai (“render empty”) both faith and promise. The term stresses how human works cannot coexist as instrumental causes of justification; introducing law-keeping would drain the gospel of its power and make God’s covenantal word ineffective. This verse undergirds the Reformation emphasis on sola fide, demonstrating that grace and law-merit are mutually exclusive avenues to inheritance.” (Topical Lexicon) Pretty clear explanation of the word “void” in today’s verse.

This word for “void” is found in four other locations in the New Testament (all by Paul). In 1 Corinthians 1:17 we read, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.” There’s the word again, this time translated as “no effect.”

My favorite use of the word, however, is found in Philippians 2:7. Look at the verse in context in verses 5-7. “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.”  He “emptied” Himself. He gave up His glory to become man for us. Wow! What can you empty yourself of today?

More of You and less of me, dear Lord. Help me empty myself of my own power and allow Your power to flow through me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard