"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
In 1515 while preparing to lecture at the University of Wittenberg on the book of Romans the truth of this verse shook the life of the devout monk, priest, and professor Martin Luther. Luther had struggled to earn God's favor and secure his salvation through amassing good works but had the haunting feeling that he could never measure up to God's righteousness and could only expect God's wrath. He was right. Our works will never achieve God's righteousness or earn His favor. What this verse says is that righteousness comes from God through the gospel and it is received by faith. It is by faith from first to last, in other words our works have nothing to do with it. It's all God's work and we receive righteousness as His gift through faith in Christ who died for our sins. When Luther grasped this truth he began to preach it with the result that the church and the world were shaken (the protestant reformation) by the rediscovery of the ancient and true gospel.
Father, I thank you for the righteousness that You have given to me through Christ and I trust in Him alone for my salvation. Help me to never lose sight of the true gospel and to faithfully share it with others so that they may made right with You through faith in Christ.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thank you again for your insight and encouragement from the word of God. I know I sometimes get discouraged when I see the unregenerated man act the way they do. Then I'm reminded that if we're not changed by the Spirit of God when we are born again, then this is the way our sin-nature carry us. I pray that God will give me compassion to see the lost as he does(sheep without a shepherd, blind and in slave to sin). They, much like us so desperately need the righteous that come from God alone. Let's keep praising God for His righteous work in us and in turn not grow weary in sharing the gospel to those whose heart seem cold to the gospel. Love in Christ Francie
ReplyDelete