Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 10:9-13   "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"   A person can only be saved through confessing with the mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead.  One is external, and the other is internal.  First, one must believe the redemption of the Lord in the heart.  The Lord died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day, proving that He is the Son of eternal God and also showing us that He has paced a new and living way.  This new way can help us to overcome sin and authority of death.  Next, one must confess in the mouth.  It is not enough to just keeping the faith in our heart, because that makes the faith a secret.  A faith that is not openly declared is known by no one and cannot bring out power in life.  The Lord really values declared faith, for it is written in Matthew 10:32: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."   Some people like to ask, isn't it good enough to just believe?  Why do we need to be baptized?  Is a person saved if he just believes but not baptized?  Theoretical yes, because the thief on the cross next to Jesus never had a chance to be baptized before he died, but he was saved.  Some people who live in remote areas might not ever have the chance to be baptized, and they are saved by accepting the Lord by faith.  But these are just exceptions; the Lord's command in Mark 16:16 was very clear though: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."  It is clear that believing and getting baptized is one simple event, not two events.  A person who truly believes the Lord will follow the Lord's command to be baptized.  I must suspect that those who insist on not getting baptized may not be true believers, because they can't even follow the most straight-forward command from the Lord.     Baptism has two effects.  First, it affirms the faith of the believers.  A person who believes but not baptized are always like those in the wilderness.  They are somewhat like Christians but aren't true Christians.  Why do they even go to church every week?  They spirituality often stalls, but they often experience spiritual breakthrough after they are baptized.  Second, you can become a witness before people.  As soon you decide to be baptized, everyone around you including family and non-believing friends will realize that you are taking the faith seriously and not just seeking to be blessed by going to church.  Baptism in itself is the best testimony.  What is the condition of your faith life?  Do you only have faith inside, or are you willing to be a witness for the Lord?                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please grant more strength to the brothers and sisters so that not only will they have faith in their life, they would also dare to witness for you in front of people.  May your Holy Spirit be with them always.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 10:5-8   Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)  "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: Paul emphasized here that the righteousness that is by faith triumphs over the righteousness that is by the law. The law was emphasized during the Old Testament era. Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them." And we would all agree. But the problem is that it is a mission impossible, for no one can completely achieve the righteousness that is by the law, and the righteousness that is by the law cannot be achieved by anyone alone. So Paul mentioned a different kind of righteousness, the righteousness that is by faith. He used a rhetorical question to explain that the righteousness that is by the law would not work. Verse 6 says: "Do not say in your heart", meaning the subsequent sentence is not true, which is "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the deep?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). In other words, who can ascend into heaven to bring down Christ? Who else can descend into the deep to bring Christ up from the dead? No one. No one can either incarnate Christ or bring Christ up from the dead. Nor can anyone save himself. The incarnation and resurrection of Jesus Christ are only achieved by the love of our Heavenly Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise the salvation came to us. Therefore, those who believe in the Lord can be justified by faith, for the Lord has already become the atonement for our sins. We don't have to work hard to earn the salvation any more. Nor do we have to work hard to fulfill God's salvation, for God's salvation has been fulfilled. Our faith is only to acknowledge what has been done. Once we accept this truth by faith, the Lord has promised to us: "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart." Our faith is not just knowledge or doctrines. The Lord that has fulfilled the salvation will live inside us and become our strength and help. How precious this grace is. Do you know that the Lord is living inside your life, to whom you can bring everything in prayer? He will become your wisdom, holiness and satisfaction in your life.                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank you for living inside our heart and help us understand our real spiritual needs. You are willing to bring strength and satisfaction into our life. May you fill us again. We thank you and we pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 10:1-4 "Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."   Another mistake the Jews made Paul mentioned here is that they were zealous for God, but their zeal was not based on knowledge. The knowledge referred to here stands for God's Words and the biblical truth. The Jews were zealous for God. But their zeal was not based on God's Words. What was it based on then? Firstly, it was based on tradition. Many rituals in the temple were passed down and followed from generation to generation without the understanding of their meanings. Just like in church, we would always pray with closed eyes and folded hands. But the Bible never teaches us to pray like that. In fact, the Bible asks us to lift up our hands and pray instead. But in order to help people quiet down and draw near to God, for over a thousand years traditionally the church has been teaching like this. Many people don't know why. They think they are supposed to pray like that. So when they see other people pray with their eyes open, they would deem it disrespectful. This is an example that the zeal for God is not based on knowledge. Secondly, it was based on common sense and common practice. Many common senses and common practices enter into our faith through culture. For example, many people regard prayer as casting lots by non-believers. They would think God is real if their prayers are always answered. But they have no idea at all that the Lord says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Prayer is by no means the same as casting lots in a Buddhist temple, for one is self-centered when he seeks blessing in a Buddhist temple, while others are God-centered when they pray. What matters is not whether every prayer is answered, but whether God's will is done. But for many believers with the background of other religions, they still try to pursue God with their original thoughts and practices, which means their zeal is not based on knowledge. What is worse, when the zeal that is not based on knowledge is applied to other people, it becomes their legalistic bondage that brings in judgments and accusations. Due to their zeal, they would try to put their own knowledge and experience above God's truth. This is why those religious wars broke out in the past. This is also why there are many disputes between denominations. This is another example that the zeal is not based on the knowledge. Brothers and sisters, are you willing to humble before God by laying down your thoughts, practices and tradition, and seek God's righteousness instead of your own?                                          Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, forgive us for putting our own thoughts and tradition above your truth very often. May you help us humble ourselves. May your Spirit shine on us to set our spirits free. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 9:30-33    "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble    and a rock that makes them fall,    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.'" As for the Jews, their problem was that they relied on their status and works. By status, they were God's chosen people. God's salvation came from them. By works, they had the law from God, by which they lived their everyday life, unlike the Gentiles who were completely living in the darkness. So at that time the Jews were very proud of themselves. Here Paul said with groans that they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works, therefore they stumbled instead.   You and I may or may not be one of the Jews, but we are still like the Jews sometimes who are so self-complacent and self-righteous that they don't think they need the gospel of the Lord. Chinese Christians in North America especially tend to rely on their fortune and circumstances. If everything goes well, they would think that God's favor is on them. So they are more engaged in the worldly activities while getting further away from God. In church we also tend to rely on formalities and outward rules, such as reading the whole Bible once a year, tithing, joining cell groups, etc. Once we have made achievement in these areas, we would think that we are fairly holy. Actually all we do is to pursue the law as the way of righteousness. We fail to pursue God's righteousness instead. In verse 33, the Lord is both the stone of stumbling and the rock to rely on. Why is He both the stone of stumbling and the rock that never puts people to shame at the same time? Actually the Lord never changes. For those who want to rely on themselves, due to the fact they are unable to receive the salvation of the Lord, and they don't think they need to do so, they are unwilling to follow the Lord. From this perspective, the way of the Lord becomes their stumbling stone instead to keep them from the salvation. On the other hand, for those who trust in the Lord, due to their faith and humility, they are saved. And they will never be put in shame by the never-changing God.   How are you responding to the Lord? Are you willing to be faithful and humble, and follow God with all your heart? The Lord has promised that the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank you, for you are the rock in our life. Even the circumstances keep changing, people around us keep changing, those who believe in you will never be put to shame. May the Lord help us not to rely on ourselves any more, but to trust in you and follow you. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 9:25-29   "As he says in Hosea: 'I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,' and, It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," they will be called 'sons of the living God.'  Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.  For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.'"   Ever since the Old Testament time, God has put you in His heart, as He already predestined the gentiles to be saved.  Book of Hosea says that "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one."   In other word, we the gentiles were not chosen just because the Israelites were disobedient, but we were clearly chosen and predestined for salvation by God.   Ephesians 1:4 says that "for He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy."  We didn't think we were loved, but now we know we are loved by God.  Have you ever been loved and do you know that God still loves you?  So many times you encounter challenges and difficulties in life and feel that no one cares and helps you, but God wants to tell you that you are His beloved.  Because we believe and accept the Lord, we have become the children of eternal God and our loving Father God is taking care of us.  Just like what a hymn says, "Father God will care for you, at any time and in every way."  His will for us is always good, for He never changes and there's no revolving shadows in him.  We may also enjoy the abundance of salvation in Christ and in the precious blood of the Lord we have tremendous power.  Not only can such power release us from the bondage of sin, it can also protect us from any attack by Satan.  The Bible tells us that because of the salvation of Jesus, God has turned Christ into our wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Jesus Christ is the Lord who can meet all our needs.  Not only that, we also have the presence of Holy Spirit inside us so that we may have the joy of deliverance and power to serve.  We don't deserve all these blessings, but God is gracious to us.  It is God who chose us, not we chose God.   Do you know that you are loved by God?  May the Spirit of God open your eyes today so that you may understand the love of God and joyfully run into His arms.                                     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you for your love, because you have not only chosen unworthy people like us, you also love us so much.  May your Spirit open our eyes to understand you immense love in your selection, and let us run into your arms to enjoy the blessings we are predestined for.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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