October 13, 2014
Abraham Justified by Faith
A reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans 4, 1 – 17:
What then can we say that Abraham found our ancestor according to the flesh? Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast, but this was not so in the sight of God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” A worker’s wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.”
Does this blessedness apply only to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? Now we assert that “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or not? He was not circumcised, but uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe, so that to them also righteousness might be credited, as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised.
There is a huge difference between a person who believes and one who does not believe. One who has no faith is often depressed and the whole world means nothing to him or her. That person feels always tired and does not know where he or she is going. The person will often tell you that he or she is lost.
While one who has faith will live in a world that is very beautiful. Just to see the moon or the sun brings great joy to that person. He or she sees everything so wonderfully created by God for us. There are the birds of the air, the animals in the woods and the fish in the sea. In the fall the crops are ripe and taken in and there is plenty to eat and this makes every believer happy and joyful. He or she will thank the Lord every day for all that He does for them. They love to pray and offer themselves to the Lord to do all that He asks of them.
Below you will see the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Come and believe in Me, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters, who live in a world created for you. The Father created you and you were born as a baby in the world to grow and come to know Me and to follow Me.
God the Father selected Abraham to be the founder of the Jewish Nation. He is the first person to believe in the One God and Creator of everything. Because of his great faith in the Father, it was credited to him as righteousness. Faith, therefore, is of great importance before Our Heavenly Father. Abraham because of his faith, believed everything that the Father told him and he did everything that the Father asked of him. The Father asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the mountain and Abraham did not refuse what he was asked to do. He brought his son Isaac up the mountain with everything needed to sacrifice him but when everything was ready, the Father told Abraham not to touch his son and a lamb was nearby and this is what he sacrificed to the Father. It is by what he did, that you know that Abraham had great faith. For example, he left home at the command of the Father and traveled to an unknown country and there he was to start the work the Father had asked him to do.
See how great faith is! It is a tremendous gift from God and you are to put your faith into practice every day by praying, going to church and by following the commandments. In this way your faith will grow. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. Monday, October 13th, is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. All Canadians should give thanks to God for another great year. Let us praise the Lord.