It's All About Faith

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Romans 1:16-17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith[fullness] to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”

What is righteousness? Who is righteous? And what does faith have to do with it all?

Righteousness is being aligned with someone or something that is right according to a set standard or law. Righteousness with God, having a good and perfect relationship with Him is based on one of two things. If it is based upon the Law, also known as the 10 Commandments, then righteousness with God is based upon our obeying the 10 Commandments perfectly by thoughts, words, and actions 24/7 every day of our natural lives. Righteousness by means of obedience is impossible for people. We will never measure up. If our righteousness is based upon Jesus, the Son of God, His perfect obedience to the 10 Commandments, His sacrifice of Himself so our sins are forgiven by the breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood, and His resurrection that gave to us a new life, the righteousness with God is based upon the work and life of Jesus and not ours. And we believe in what Jesus did on our behalf...

We are righteous because of Jesus and Jesus only. When we believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose for us, we are righteous.

And what does faith have to do with it? Faith is the glue that binds God to us and us to God. It is God's faithfulness to us that led Him to send Jesus is the first place. The faithfulness of God gave to us the freedom of the Gospel. And our faith binds ourselves to God. Our belief in God's promises connects us to life with Him both now as well as forever.

And we will, and do, live by means of faith. Dear God, lead us by Your Spirit to live by and with faith in You, Amen!