Category Archives: Faith

Access, Bible, Faith, Grace, Jesus, Justification, Scripture

FULL ACCESS

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.”

I have stayed in a few Airbnb rentals and have for the most part thoroughly enjoyed them. It so different than staying in a hotel. Sure, you don’t have housekeeping dropping by to make your bed or freshen your towels, but you have a lot more room and privacy. But to get in that Airbnb you have to have either a key or a code. Without that, you will not reap the benefits of your reservation.

Paul tells us we have access to our eternal home in today’s verse. The word translated “introduction” is prosagōgḗ which comes “from prós, ‘with, towards’ and ágō, ‘come’ – properly, come towards (near); have access (approach), with intimate (face-to-face) interaction (note the prefix pros). All three occasions of prosagōgḗ (‘interactive access’) refer to ‘having audience (direct access) with God’ (J. B. Lightfoot, MM).” (HELPS Word-studies)

APPLICATION

Prosagōgḗ is only used two other times, both in Ephesians, where it is translated “access.” Personally, I like that translation better. In Ephesians 2:18 Paul writes, “for through Him (speaking of Jesus) we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” Christ called Himself the door, didn’t He? He opens the door for us to come to the Father. He is the only door to Him. There is no back or side entrance.

We see prosagōgḗ used again in Ephesians 3:12, “in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” Did you catch that? Paul writes “confident access.” We can approach the throne boldly because of our justification through Jesus. That is worthy of a shout of praise, isn’t it?

We have access by faith into grace. We have access to the Father because of Jesus. And we have confident access through faith in Him. So, why do we tiptoe around acting so unsure of our salvation. You have been given the key. You have the code to unlock the access. You can enter into the place that Jesus has secured for you. It is so much better than an Airbnb. It will never be closed to you. Hallelujah!

Father, I thank You for the access I have to my eternal home through Jesus Christ by Savior and Lord.

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

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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). 

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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). 

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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). 

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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). 

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Bible, Faith, Righteousness, Scripture, Sealed

THE SIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

ROMANS 4:11

“and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,”

Seals, not the slippery kind that swim (lol), are used all over the world to make documents official. Some are raised seals like the old notary stamps. Others are just an ink stamp from the officiating party. I have official seals in my passport from all over the world. It’s kind of fun to go back and look at the seals I have received. Last year I had to get a new passport because my “seals runneth over.” I was out of pages. I got a bigger one this time.

Paul isn’t talking about a notary or a passport. He is referring to the seal we all receive when we place our faith in the Lord. Abraham’s seal of circumcision upon his flesh was a visible sign of a spiritual seal of faith. Paul has already told us that Abraham received the righteousness of God BEFORE he was physically circumcised. This made him “the father of all who believe without being circumcised.” This, of course, would infuriate the Jews since they put such pride in their physical circumcision.

APPLICATION

In John 3:33 we read the words of John the Baptist during his last testimony. “‘He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.’” John knew that Jesus was the reason for this seal upon our lives. He stamped us with His seal of righteousness upon our act of faith in His saving grace. I can’t wait to have long conversation with John in heaven one day.

That seal, of course, is the Holy Spirit given to us by Jesus upon our salvation. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and told them this in Ephesians 1:13. “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,” I don’t know about you but those are shouting words. God did the sealing, not me, not a preacher. And what God seals, we cannot unseal. Hallelujah!

The next time you open a jar and hear it pop or remove a paraffin wax seal from a jar of homemade jelly, remember God’s seal upon your soul. He has sealed you with a promise. He has sealed you and imputed to you His righteousness. Walk like that. Don’t doubt what you have. You are preserved forever.

O Father, I praise You for the seal upon my heart today.

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

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Bible, Faith, Lifestyles, Repetition, Scripture, Skills, Testimony

REPETITION

ROMANS 4:9

“Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, ‘FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”

In our ministry to men, Every Man A Warrior uses a set of books to teach men how to walk with God, succeed in life and multiply spiritually. This is done through repetitive skills we build into the men. We know that repetition helps drive home a point so that men make it a daily part of their life. One of those skills is doing a daily Quiet Time and journaling their thoughts and insights from the passage.

Paul is a master of repetition. In this chapter, he is continually circling back around to his main point to make sure the readers get it. He wants to cover this truth from all angles so there is no doubt what he is teaching them. Today’s verse is no exception. Once again, Paul brings up the matter of circumcision. Verse 9 and 10 are tied into the same thought. Paul gets his readers thinking once again how Abraham was counted as righteous in God’s eyes. How does his circumcision play a part in this?

APPLICATION

Paul’s heart for the Gentiles is bleeding through every thought. He asks that question – “Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?” That really is what he has been discussing for the past verses going back to chapter 2. Are Jews the only ones considered righteous because they keep the law or is this righteousness made available to all men through faith in Jesus?

You and I have the benefit of over two thousand years of history and insight from dozens of theologians who have discussed this issue of faith. You and I may have all the right “Sunday School” answers to this. Of course, it comes through faith! Right? Then why do so many people think they have to perform and do something for God to receive this? Because we are a works mentality culture.

Free stuff is often seen as cheap or not worth much. People who have great intelligence cannot wrap their heads around the simplicity of the Gospel. But it really is that simple and it really is free. What is preventing the masses from storming the doors of the church? I believe it is Christians’ lifestyles that do not match up to what God expects from His children. Don’t let your lifestyle keep someone from pursuing this blessing. I believe it was Bonhoeffer who said we should live our lives as Christians so that it causes the unbeliever to question their unbelief. Do that today.

Father God, keep me from being a barrier for others to see Jesus. Let me lead them by my example in how to trust You.

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

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Bible, Faith, Righteousness, Scripture, Works

NOTHING OF ME

ROMANS 4:6

“just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:”

I don’t know why I thought of Numbers 35:30 when I read today’s verse. I guess because Paul is calling on his second witness to prove that our works are futile in achieving righteousness. In Numbers, we read, “‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.’” More than one witness was needed. Perhaps this was on Paul’s heart as he wrote today’s verse.

If anyone knew the futility of works, it was David. Just look back at all the things he had accomplished for God. Most of David’s testimony was good until…that one night. You know the story of David and Bathsheba. Not only did he commit adultery (some say by force), but he also lied and then had her husband killed to try to cover up his sin. It’s no wonder we read in Psalm 32:1-2 these words, “1 How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is a person whose guilt the LORD does not take into account, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!”

APPLICATION

Let me encourage you to read the rest of Psalm 32. There are only eleven verses. You can really feel David’s heart in this psalm. He confesses and praises. He gives advice. David had learned via the School of Hard Knocks. He had trusted the Lord as a young shepherd boy to protect him from the bears and lions who came after his flock. He fled from Saul all those years he had sought to kill him. He even fled from his own son, Absalom, who tried to usurp the throne. But David’s worst enemy was himself, his flesh. He knew he couldn’t do it on his own.

Have you reached that point? I pray it doesn’t take some great moral failure to wake you up. Stop right where you are this morning and examine your motives for doing what you are doing. Are you trying to achieve some kind of spiritual high that will not last? No amount of screaming, yelling, jumping up and down or fasting will bring about righteousness. You are made holy through Jesus.

I probably sound like a broken record these past few verses, but Paul is trying to drive a point home. It’s like I’ve quoted before, “You can’t, God never said you could. He can and He always said He would.” Amen? Believe! Trust! Follow! Obey! And watch the holiness of God roll in and cover you.

O Lord, I am nothing in Your sight and could never accomplish what You can do in one blink of Your eye.

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

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Bible, Faith, Jesus, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Scripture

CREDITED

ROMANS 4:3

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”

When I was a young boy, my dad took me to the Credit Union that was part of his workplace, Coats and Clark Thread Mill, in Pelham, Ga. I took in the money I had saved and gave it to my Aunt LaGrande who was the bookkeeper there. In exchange, she gave me this little book that showed my deposit. That little book was my proof of the money that was credited to me. It was mine and no one else. I could come get it whenever I wanted.

I just love today’s verse and the quotation from Genesis 15:6. The full story is found in the previous five verses. After God promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, we read that he believed God (Yahweh), and God gave him his little credit union book full of righteousness. Well, that’s not exactly what it says, but close. God credited righteousness to him. His righteousness became Abraham’s because of his faith.

APPLICATION

Barnes says this about today’s verse. “The faith which Abraham exercised was, that his posterity should be like the stars of heaven in number. This promise was made to him when he had no child, and of course when he had no prospect of such a posterity. The reason why it was counted to him for righteousness was, that it was such a strong, direct, and unwavering act of confidence in the promise of God.”

Let me ask you a question today. Has God counted you as righteous? Now, He’s probably not going to build a nation out of your descendants. But through His Son, Jesus, and your faith in Him, He counts you as righteous. It’s not because of anything you’ve done. It’s solely on your faith in Jesus. Just like Abraham had to blindly trust the Lord, we have to step out in faith and believe He will do what He says He will do.

To be counted as righteous is a supreme thing. It means we are right in His eyes. When God looks down from heaven, He doesn’t see our sinful self. He sees the blood of His Son covering those sins. Any righteousness in us is there only because of the righteousness of Christ in us. It is through our faith in Jesus that we are made righteous in the sight of God. Isn’t it time we all start living that way?

Lord, help me walk in the righteousness which You have given me through Jesus.

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

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Abraham, Bible, Faith, Justified, Scripture, Works

WAS HE LOOKING?

ROMANS 4:1

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?”

How many times have you lost your keys lately? Mine mysteriously disappear all the time. I usually blame my wife (lol) but it’s always my fault. They are lying exactly where I put them. I just forget where I put them. I need to get one of those “clapper” thingies so I can just clap my hands and hear the beep. What do you think?

When I first read this verse, I mistakenly thought Paul was saying Abraham “found” something. The Greek word translated “has found” is heuriskó which can mean find, get or obtain. What is important is that is in the Perfect tense which means it happened in the past but has lasting results. Whatever Abraham got, it stuck. That applies to us also. When we get it, we don’t lose it.

APPLICATION

Keeping with the theme of the past couple of chapters, Paul uses Abraham to show that all men are justified through faith, not works. You need to remember that Abraham was where Jews kind of “hung their hat.” They all pointed back to him to try to prove their validity as God’s people. However, as Paul will show shortly, Abraham was counted as righteous long before any works. In fact, the topic of circumcision comes up again in later verses. I don’t want to steal my own thunder on those verses, so we will save that for later.

What have we obtained? How did we obtain it? Don’t you just love Matthew 11:28-30? “28 ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.’” In verse 29 we see we “will find rest.” That’s the same word we are looking at in Romans 4:1. We have obtained rest. How? By simply coming to Jesus.

In Philippians 3:9 we find the perfect companion verse for today’s word. “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,” There you are – our righteousness is His, not ours. And we are “found in Him.” What else do you need? Nothing! He is all we need to find or obtain. Have you found Him?

Lord God, I thank You that everything I will ever need I have found in Christ.

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

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