Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Romans 3:27-28
27 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. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
27 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. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
3:27 Since salvation is accomplished through Christ’s atoning death, all human boasting … is excluded. The word law in this verse probably means principle, though some think that a reference to the OT law is intended. If righteousness came through works, then human beings could brag about what they have done. But since salvation is through faith, no one can boast before God.
3:28 apart from. Justification is by faith alone and does not depend at all on doing any works of the law.
3:28 apart from. Justification is by faith alone and does not depend at all on doing any works of the law.
Study Questions:
- As flawed human beings that are doing our best to follow Jesus, it is always our tendency to drift into a works-based, religious way of thinking, behaving and relating to God. It's just our nature. We feel good and loved and accepted by God when we're doing good things, we feel rejected and unloved when we mess up. We can start to feel like our standing with God and our salvation is dependent upon our behaviors. What are the dangers of this type of thinking? Do you sometimes fall into this trap? How does it affect your relationship with God?
- There is a delicate balance at play here. We can't earn our salvation by doing good things and sinning less. We can't behave our way into earning it, so it stands to reason we can't behave our way into losing it. Also, even though we are believers, yes, we still sin. Yes, God hates sin. Yes, there are consequences for our sin. But at the same time we are fully justified. Because of Jesus' atoning work on the cross, we stand before God perfect and blameless, without a single fault. Fully justified, but not fully sanctified. Sanctification is a life-long process by which we surrender ourselves to God as he molds and shapes us, making us more like Jesus. He does this as we study his Word, pray, and through the conviction of sin through the Holy Spirit. As you look at your life and your behaviors, is there evidence that you are allowing God's sanctifying work into your life? Are you engaged in the process? Do you see growth? If not, what needs to change?
Pray:
- That you would remember that you stand before God fully justified.
- That you would continue to repent of your sin and grow in your relationship with God.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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