From today's devotional
For the past three chapters of Romans, the Apostle Paul has conducted a systematic demolition of our inclination to justify ourselves before God. He's shown how sinful, wicked, and unjust all of us are. In other words, he's been very thorough in spelling out the bad news for us.
Now, as we get to the fourth chapter of Romans, Paul introduces a true game-changer into the equation. Here comes something that literally changes everything; it's the pivot-point on which the whole message of the gospel hinges. "Faith is accounted for righteousness."
Check out the flow up to this point. Paul has given reason after reason why man is incapable of justifying himself in God's sight. Your circumcision doesn't matter, your strict adherence to the Law can't cut it, no amount of tradition or effort or merit can ever reconcile you to God. But now Paul goes on record to declare that there's one thing, and only one thing that can ever fully justify us before God: faith.
When we respond to what God has said by believing, when we simply trust His Word to be true, we are instantly justified in His eyes. Faith accomplishes what nothing else can. That's an astounding truth! When it comes to the determination of our eternal destinies, when it comes to receiving Heaven or Hell, when it comes to entering the Kingdom of God or suffering under the wrath of God, it all hinges on one thing...faith.
Just faith. Nothing else ever will or ever can make us right before God. He doesn't accept human work, effort, or merit when it comes to salvation. The only currency that counts in Heaven is trust, trust in what God has promised.
Just faith. Nothing else ever will or ever can make us right before God. He doesn't accept human work, effort, or merit when it comes to salvation. The only currency that counts in Heaven is trust, trust in what God has promised.
Think about it...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
