ROMANS & I CORINTHIANS

Yesterday, I did not get to write my blog.  I got up early to go to the radio station at FBC of Hammond and be on 90.5 FM the KEY.  It is a wonderful radio station and programing.  I wish our people could listen to it each day as well.  Then I went straight to the college to start teaching and then preach chapel, and then teach for two more hours and then have lunch with the president of the college, Dr. Ray Young, and some of his key staff.  It was a very full day.  Today will be again, and I'm looking forward to it as well.   In reading today, I have a few thoughts that came to me out of the book of Romans.  Here they are:  1) HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY- Romans 4:5 says:  "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."  Now, this verse clearly teaches that it is not works that save us, but the part that jumped out at me was the phrase:  "justifieth the ungodly".  We think of ungodly as who we were before Christ, but ungodly is who we are still.  We have been made righteous in Christ, as far as our standing before God, but not as far as our living on earth.  We are still ungodly, and therein lies the conflict int the Christian Life.  We condemn ourselves for being who we are as God's creatures.... ungodly!  Now, don't get me wrong... we are to strive to be godly in all that we do, but we will fail.  And when we do fail, don't quit, but realize that Jesus "justifieth the ungodly".... me and you! 2) THE CALL OF FAITH- Romans 4:17 reads in part: "...even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."  God calls those things that be not as though they were!  This is the call of faith.  This is also the faith that God wants us to possess.  By faith, we pray for things and trust God for things we cannot see.  We do not see the end of a matter, but by faith.... we trust Him for the end of the matter to come out well!  By faith, we speak it as coming out well.  I tell my people all of the time.... don't worry, it is going to work out fine in the end.  Now I cannot see that by sight, but by faith I announce that to them.  By faith, I know God will take care of us!  By faith, I know that God will provide for our Church!  By faith, I know the end will be marvelous!  This is the "CALL OF FAITH". 3) THE WILL BUT NOT THE WAY- Rom. 7:18 says:  For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."  So, the will is there.... but not the way to perform it.  The Christian life is not self sufficient.  It is totally dependency on Christ.  Of Christ in us it is said:  both to will and to do of his good will.  He has the will and He has the way, but we just have the will, but not the way.  We must trust Him for both!  I have so much more to write, but my time is gone.  Have a blessed day dear friend.  Hope these truths help you better understand God's workings in our lives.  May God bless you!   Pastor Mike Mutchler