Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story! Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for a rich conversation in Romans 4:1-12, exploring the difference between wages and gifts, and what it means to be justified by faith rather than works.

Scripture Focus: Romans 4:1-12 - Paul defends the doctrine of justification by faith, using Abraham as his central example. He shows that Abraham was credited righteousness through faith before he was circumcised, proving that God's grace has never depended on religious ritual or performance, for Jew or Gentile alike.

In This Episode:

How our cultural "bootstraps" work ethic distorts our understanding of grace
Why viewing God as an employer instead of a Father leads us astray
The shocking truth that God "justifies the ungodly" and what that phrase means across Bible translations
Wrestling honestly with which sins we struggle to believe are truly forgivable
What justification really means: "just as if you had never done it"
Why Abraham's circumcision timeline matters for both Jews and Gentiles
How faith always comes before outward signs, in the Old Testament and the New

Key Quote: "Justification means just as if you had never done it. You have been made right, or righteous. And whether it is pride or greed or lying or adultery... the same act of forgiveness and justification happens."

One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast walking through the One Year Bible reading plan, offering brief, honest, and thought-provoking conversations around God's Word. Each weekday, our hosts break down a passage from the current reading to help you grow in faith, one story at a time.

Join us at Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com.

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