Friday, June 21, 2013
Abraham Justified by Faith
Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans (4:1-12):
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.
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Praise the Lord for the beautiful day we had yesterday. It went pass the 20 degrees Celsius and many people were sitting outside admiring the beautiful weather.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“It is extremely important to believe in Me, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who live in the world today. Abraham was justified by faith. Because of his faith, he became a friend of God the Father and he was freed of all his sins. Because of his faith, God the Father walked with him and gave him many gifts and graces. He was justified before he was circumcised, which shows that it is not necessary to be circumcised in order to be justified by the Father. What is most important is to have faith and to believe with all your heart.
“If you do not have faith in Me, your Savior, you cannot be saved. You will never enter heaven unless you believe in Me. I am ready to give you all the gift of faith if you open your heart to Me. You who believe in Me, it is very important that you pray for those who do not believe that they will accept the gift of faith I desire to give them. Pray for these people every day. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin