John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

2 Thessalonians 3:3-4 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

It seems right to me that faithfulness and righteousness are in Christ Jesus and I only have access to them because I am in Christ. Apart from him I can do nothing. (I read that somewhere)

Yet when we speak we often assume the mantle of faithfulness without remembering where that mantle came from, to whom it belongs, and give glory to the One who allows us to wear it.

All this is possible because of the Cross of Christ, the single most impactful event in history, the game changer. It ended the law as the only means to righteousness, initiated faith as the standard for access to forgiveness, mercy, grace and a personal relationship with our Creator.

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

I can understand why you might love someone who listens to you and provides for you, but I see this as a selfish type of love. Eros is a selfish type of love, it certainly isn’t agape love. Then I remembered that at the time of this psalm Christ had not died for our sins. The Cross of Christ is the game changer.

Only because of the Cross of Christ do we have access to all the promises made to us. Up until that day everything related to God’s promises towards mankind was performance based. All those promises are predicated on the if factor. “If you will I will, if you do not….”

Deuteronomy 7:12-14  Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

And did they hear them, keep them and do those commandments?

Isaiah 65:12  Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.