Daily Devotions – Justified by faith

Daily Devotions – Justified by faith

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

Romans 3:19-24English Standard Version (ESV)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

This is the most important passage in the Bible about the relationship between God’s law and faith. Verse 19 explains that God uses the law to silence humans, by showing every single person that they have failed to keep God’s commands. Once we admit this, we are ready to receive the good news: God offers us righteousness and life through faith in Christ. God does this because he wants a different kind of relationship with us. Instead of us being good, just so we can earn God’s blessing, God wants us to relate to him like cheerful and grateful children who delight in him because he has already freely given us his blessings.