Romans 3:19-28 (NRSV)
Read Romans 3:19-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Verse 20For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. Verse 21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, Verse 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, Verse 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Verse 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Verse 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; Verse 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Verse 27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. Verse 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Devotion
Ever since the Apostle Paul, the message of salvation by grace through faith has echoed throughout the Christian world. Yet it is so contrary to human thinking that it has to be rediscovered ever and again, as it was by Martin Luther. Those who try to please God enough to earn a passport to heaven are never sure they have done enough. Why? Because none of us can ever do enough, and God's demands tell us that. Faith holds onto this wonderful promise of God's grace. Today, for some, a new perversion of Paul removes the need for faith asserting that, apart from trusting in Jesus our Savior, everyone is going to make it to heaven. And that is not what Paul said!
Prayer
Lord, I trust that you on the cross earned what I could never deserve. I long to see you face to face and thank you. Amen.