For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,
just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:17
The theme for the book of Romans is righteousness. It is a topic with sobering significance. Our destiny for eternity hinges on being declared right before God. Does that stir up a little (or a lot) of fear? Does the thought of standing before Almighty God bring on concern, trepidation, confidence, anxiety, or peace?
Many of us seldom think about the end of our life – we are too busy pedaling hard to stay
ahead for today! But we are concerned with the future: we buy insurance, lock our doors,
invest in a 401(k), and keep a flashlight in the nightstand.
If we have a plan for future contingencies here on earth, shouldn’t we also plan for eternity?
Are you counting on checking enough “good girl boxes” to get in? Are you determined to earn the proverbial Boy Scout merit badges (volunteer hours, paying it forward, supporting worthy causes, donating your time and money) to impress God?
Here’s the reality: your good will never be good enough. And neither will mine. Even Billy Graham and Mother Theresa would be left out, because even the best of humanity’s good deeds can never satisfy divine righteous requirements.
Our righteousness can ONLY come from God. We receive it as a gift. It is not a reward for good deeds, a “salary” for services rendered. It comes by faith.
Romans has often been referred to as “Christianity 101” because in it, we find foundational truths of Christianity. In a very clear and systematic way, Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) illuminates what we are to believe … and then challenges us to the “obedience that
comes from faith.” (Romans 1:5).
In this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Val Garland, to discuss Romans 2:4 and how God uses His kindness to lead us into repentance instead of punishment. After listening, you can print your copy of this month’s bookmark (as well as other free resources) from our Downloads page.
