LOOK TO JESUS!

In Romans 4:1, the Apostle Paul asked the question, “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” What he means by “the flesh” is anything that man relies upon in the matter of his salvation, such things as nationality, circumcision, baptism, confirmation, church membership, born to Christian parents, good person, etc.

What about you? Are you trusting in something other than or besides Jesus Christ to save you? Are you looking to your baptismal certificate or your church membership? Maybe you think you are a good person, you do not steal, murder, or commit adultery, and you deal fairly with your neighbor. Maybe you think God is going to save you because you attend church every Sunday and read your Bible a few times a week or put a few dollars into the offering plate? Are you trusting in the flesh, or do you trust in Jesus Christ? Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:23).

Dear friend, there’s no work you or I can do that will make us righteous in the sight of God. Not baptism, not catechism, not confirmation, not church membership, not church attendance, or Bible reading, nothing we do can save us! The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 62 states, “But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God? Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment seat of God must be perfect throughout and entirely conformable to the divine law, but even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.”
  
Paul demonstrates in Romans 4:9-12 that even Abraham’s circumcision merited him nothing. Man will never be declared righteous before God by what he does, and anyone who attempts to make himself righteous before God by their efforts is under the curse. Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”  There is only one hope, and His name is Jesus. The name Jesus is a transliteration from the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “Jehovah salvation.” Therefore, look to Jesus! “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).

Tuesday Encouragement: July 21, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry