Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 27, 2025: SOAP #5654: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8

SCRIPTURE: and OBSERVATION:   
Romans (NIV) 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Here is the summation.  Here is the heart of the matter.  Here is where we have security.  The promise given to us by grace is received by faith.  It comes from the gracious hand of a loving Heavenly Father.  It is received as a gift by the children of Abraham.  They receive this gift through the hands of faith.  They are assured of their possession because they have confidence in the One who made the promise!  They are justified freely by His grace!  It is guaranteed to them.

For a gift to fulfill its purpose it must be both given and received.  God, the Giver, in grace gives His Word.  Man, the receiver, in faith receives the gift.

Heaven’s righteousness is only available from heaven.  It is only given through God’s grace.  It is only received through faith.  That is the way Abraham received justification.  That is the way his children receive justification.  Both those born under the law, and those born outside the law (of Moses), must come the same way.  They must come in faith.  Although Abraham is the physical father of the Jewish nation, he is the father of those who believe.

APPLICATION:   When a person received Jesus as Lord, it is very common for them to experience great joy and peace.  But it is not the joy and peace that saves us.  They are common and logical responses to the presence of Jesus living within.  What saves us is our faith in accepting the grace offered to us through the death and resurrection of God’s Son Jesus.  We have faith that God accepts the death of Jesus as the payment for our sins.  It is not that He will, but that He has!   We are free from the burden of sin!  

PRAYER:   Lord, just the thought of what you have done for me makes my heart rejoice!   The more I understand what you have done for me, the more I rejoice.  May my life today be an expression of my gratefulness.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 23, 2025: SOAP #5650: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

Note: A continuation from Romans 4. 

SCRIPTURE: and OBSERVATION:   
Romans (NIV) 4  Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.

Abraham did not work to earn his standing before God; he simply received it, and held on to it with the “hands” of faith.  This was not something earned, but given.  It is not a reward for services rendered, but a gift to one loved.  God was not obligated to Abraham.  God was gracious to Abraham!

5  However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Here is a good place to insert a thought about works.  Works are not unimportant.  God is very interested in our works.  He rewards our works.  However, works can never be the basis of our expectation as though God must pay us what we have earned.  Works do not precede faith; they come as a response to faith.  Works are what we do out of appreciation for the grace we have already received by faith.

Faith must have a sure foundation.  When our faith is in God and His work for our salvation, we receive the blessings of God’s righteousness credited to our account.  In God’s eyes, we become righteous.  Our sins are forgiven; our lives are cleansed.  We are justified!  We are made “just as if I’d” never sinned!  Amazing!  It is only through faith that I possess what I could never earn.

APPLICATION:   Sometimes it seems that it is too good to be true.  Salvation is a gift!  We could never earn it, but we can receive it by faith.  And the more we understand how hopelessly we were lost; the more we understand that Jesus is the sinless Son of God; the more we understand how much He left to die on a cross as payment for our sins; the more we understand what He is preparing for us—then the more we appreciate our salvation. 

If you love Him today, just wait until you know Him better; you will love Him more!  Indeed, He is worthy of all my love and service!  

PRAYER:  Lord, my heart overflows with appreciation as I reconsider the truth above.  My eyes overflow with tears.  I love you, Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 23, 2025: SOAP #5650: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

NOTE:  For the next few SOAPs, I believe the Lord would have me change the format.  I am concerned about the many new believers who have committed their lives to Jesus but have no copy of the Bible and may not have a knowledgeable leader from which to learn.  So, I will be using a longer passage of scripture, with each verse followed by an observation from a commentary I wrote years ago.  I will continue with more verses from the same passage for several consecutive days.  Below is Romans 4:2&3.

SCRIPTURE: and OBSERVATION:   Romans (NIV) 4:2  If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.

If it had been possible that Abraham could have worked hard enough to stand before God completely righteous, then he would indeed have had something about which to boast.  He would have been able to do what no man had ever done before or has ever since been able to do.  Ever since sin entered the picture it has been impossible for man to stand by himself before God.  The best we can offer is like dirty rags in comparison to God’s perfect holiness.

Abraham would not have been able to boast before God, because God judges perfectly and knows how far short our works come in purchasing the righteousness needed to stand before a holy God.  He would have never been able to boast before God!

3  What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

How was Abraham able to be the “friend of God?”  How did Abraham become the father of the nation, he who had no children of his own? It was simply by faith.  Abraham believed.  He believed what God said.

APPLICATION:   Forgiveness and salvation have been provided by the death of Jesus on the cross. In grace, they are offered to us.  We reach out with arms of faith to acknowledge that we receive them. (Ephesians 2:8-9)   Believing in our heart and confessing with our mouth!  Becoming God’s child is as simple as that!  (Romans 10: 9-10)  Now I begin to live like it is true, because it is!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins.  I receive Jesus to be my LORD.  I receive His forgiveness.  I now set my life to live in honor of what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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