I love the Word of God! I love how I can read a part of the Bible that I’ve read many times before and it still impacts me like it did the first time. Sometimes I’ll discover something I hadn’t even noticed before.
The book of Romans is one of my favorites. It summarizes the struggle with sin and obeying the law that we all face. It explains how we can’t be good enough on our own – and how God provided us with a path to salvation.
Jesus came. Jesus died. Jesus rose. When we accept that — God credits us with righteousness. (Not because we are righteous, but because Jesus is – and he paid the price for the fact that we’re not.)
Here are some snippets from my daily reading. (Any emphasis is my own.). Read these verses one at a time and let them soak in. And Be sure to read Romans as a whole for yourself so that you can get the context. (Context is important!)
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Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking… (Romans 1:28 NLT)
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! … (Romans 2:1 NLT)
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4 NLT)
…And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. (Romans 2:29 NLT)
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. (Romans 3:19 NLT)
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. (Romans 3:27 NLT)
…only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. (Romans 3:31 NLT)
If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. …(The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) (Romans 4:14, 15 NLT)
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise…He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. (Romans 4:20, 21 NLT)
[Jesus] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. (Romans 4:25 NLT)Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (Romans 5:2 NLT)
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. (Romans 5:5 NLT)
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5:11 NLT)
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I hope you have accepted this truth as your own. I hope you are resting in the fact that no matter how unworthy you may be, Jesus’ worthiness has been credited to your account. I hope that you live with the confidence that you have the promise of eternity with God.
I humbly thank God every day that he opened my eyes to salvation. I can’t imagine trying to “do life” without that blessed assurance!