8-4-20   THOUGHTS

One of the greatest ideas in God’s word is how I get from being dirty and sinful to being clean and Holy.  That process is described below using the words IMPUTE and CREDITED.
Other words used by the translations are RECKONED, COUNTED and, ACCOUNTED.
That makes it God’s doing and not ours.  We see the idea best in Rom 4:17b
  ...who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.    

Ps 32:1-5   How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2  How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!  3  When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.  5  I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Rom 4:2-6    For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3  For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 4  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
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Rom 4:20-25    yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22  Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23  Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25  He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

God’s love is truly amazing!  Remember...  “HE LOVED US FIRST”.

My Prayer:
Oh God and Father, hallowed be your name.  Teach us to fathom the greatness of your love.  At every turn Lord, you desire what is good for us.  Help us to yield to your desire for us.  Immerse us in your mind through your word.  We want to live gratefully Oh God.  Help us to live usefully as we serve you in the Church with joy.  Thank you Oh God for the blood bought Church.
In the name of precious Jesus                 Amen