Wed., 3/15/17 Devotion (Jn. 5:24)

Today's encouragement comes from John 5:24, where our Lord Jesus Christ said this:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has pass-ed from death into life."

Is it not amazing that it is in believing the gospel that we *hear* Christ's mini-sters preaching, and not in what we *do*, that secures the righteousness of Jesus to our souls? This is because we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8); and faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17)—and not by doing.

The simplicity of this good news is a real stumbling block to many—especially to pharisaical religious people, who imagine themselves to put God into their debt, by their deeds.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Inasmuch as the righteousness of the second Adam [Christ] exceeds the first [Adam], so are you more happy, more holy in the second Adam than ever the first in himself was.” —Thomas Shepard, in, "The Sincere Convert"]