Salvation

Righteous Through Faith - July 2019

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In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he highlights one of the most precious Gospel truths when he talks about “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Rom 3:22). He goes on to say that while “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), those who believe in Jesus Christ by faith are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom 3:24-25). Amazing!

It is by no act of our own that we can stand righteous before a holy God. But in His mercy, God sent His Son to bear the full wrath of the punishment we deserved, so that His children, could be made clean by Jesus’ blood. In this beautiful act of divine love and justice at the cross, God reveals Himself “as just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). Praise be to our great God who has impressed these truths upon our hearts by His Spirit and made us righteous and alive in Christ.

Last year in Australia, some friends and I wrote this song during our church’s Romans preaching series to help us celebrate together what God has done and pray for His help to live in light of these wonderful truths. It’s a joy to share it with our church here as we dig into the book of Romans. Listen and download below!

Righteous Through Faith

Lyrics:

You’re the Father, Creator of all (Rom 1:7, 1:25)
You are faultless, You have never done wrong (Ps 18:30, Job 34:12)
But we have fallen short of Your righteous law (Rom 3:23)

We’re Your children, no good on our own (Rom 3:10-11, 8:16)
We are helpless without You as our hope (Rom 3:12, 5:2, 5:6)
You are the answer to all of our deepest flaws (Rom 7:25a)

We are rescued by grace (Rom 1:5, 3:2, 4:16, 5:2)
Counted righteous through faith (Rom 3:22, 4:16, 5:2,9)
In the work of Christ for our sake (Rom 5:6, 2 Cor 5:21)

You are just in Your ways (Rom 3:26)
And Your Name will be praised (Rom 1:5,25)
For the righteous live by faith (Rom 1:17)
Lord, help us live by faith

While we were sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8)
To make us righteous, washed by his blood (Rom 5:9)
Now we are spotless, the evidence of Your love (Col 1:22, Rom 5:8)

Your love and Your justice unite (Rom 1:7, 3:26)
In the redemption that’s found in Christ (Rom 3:24)
In him we are justified (Rom 3:24)

© 2018 Daniel Nitschke, Jono Fryga, & Jonathan Wisdom


Rom 1:16-17 (Scripture Memory) - June 2019

Scripture Memory is a huge way to “hide God’s Word in our hearts” (Ps 119:11). This helps us not only meditate and chew on God’s Word over and over again, but it’s also a fruitful way to put Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8 into practice. What is more pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise than God’s Word itself?! When this life stretches us, when sin tempts us, and even when we’re enjoying God’s joyful blessings, we want Scripture to be on the top of our minds and the tip of our tongues.

Below is a song written to put Romans 1:16-17 to memory. These verses have and continue to play a major role in evangelical Christian faith as we understand the doctrine of justification by faith. While the recording features a kids ensemble arrangement, I’ve found that even “kids songs” are helpful for adults too! Listen and enjoy, but better yet - memorize!

Romans 1:16-17

Memory song written by Wilfred Mak & Jonathan Wisdom, featuring a NCC kids ensemble! Translation based on ESV with minor adjustments for poetic meter while retaining the essence and truth of the passage.

Lyrics:

Verse 16
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel
For it’s the power of God for Salvation
To everyone who believes
To the Jew first, then the Greek

Verse 17
For in it God’s righteousness
Is revealed from faith for faith
As it is written:
The righteous shall live by faith!
The righteous shall live by faith!
The righteous shall live by fa-a-a-a-aith!

© 2018 Wilfred Mak & Jonathan Wisdom