Romans 1:17
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.”
I love today’s passage! It is both deeply theological and boots-on-the-ground practical. It speaks of that which only God can do, and that which I must do. Let’s break it down. We’ll start with the theological.
To be “righteous” means to be blameless. This is something we cannot achieve on our own. It is found in the message of the Gospel. Jesus came to do for me what I could not do for myself. Jesus, the Righteous One, paid the penalty for my sins by dying for them on the cross. When I place my faith in him, two things happen. First, I am forgiven of my sins (past, present, and future). Second, the righteousness of Jesus is “imputed” (accredited) to me by God. Because of Christ, I stand blameless before the Holy God! Amazing!!
This righteousness is very practical as well. Having been declared blameless by God, I must, with his help (always with his help), “live by faith.” Every day I must be about growing in this blameless standing. Will I ever be perfect? No. Not until I get to heaven. But is it my purpose and desire to grow spiritually, by God’s strength (always by God’s strength), resisting the temptations and disabling the sins that meet me around every corner? Yes! All the way to heaven.
Father, thank you for the full and finished work of Jesus Christ. Thank you for awakening me when I was spiritually dead; allowing me to place my faith in Christ. Thank you for declaring me righteous. By your strength, empower me to live by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Tags: blameless, Christ, corner, desire, Devotional, God's, grow, growing, Hello my name is God, Holy God, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, purpose, resisting, righteous, Romans 1, Ron Moore, Sermon Series, sins, spiritually, stand, standing, strength, temptations, The Bible Chapel
