The Just Shall Live By Faith
Romans 1:15-17 - “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
The Book of Romans offers insights into the nature of God, His character, and His actions. It reveals the truth about Jesus Christ, His death, and the redemption that He provided for us. Moreover, it clearly explains who we are, what we were like before trusting in Christ, and who we become after embracing Him.
Paul emphasizes that God did not require us to have our lives in perfect order before coming to Christ. Instead, while we were still sinners, Christ died on the cross for our sins. This shows the depth of God's love and grace towards us, despite our unworthiness.
Paul further explains that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Even our best deeds are insufficient in the eyes of God. Our sinfulness is so profound that only the grace and mercy of God can save us. God demonstrated His love and compassion by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place. This act of sacrificial love provides us salvation and eternal life.
When we turn our lives over to Christ, we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature but by the Spirit. If we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe He is raised from the dead, we are saved. We need to live our lives offered to God as a living sacrifice to Him. Worship of the God who saved us should be our highest desire.
The best application of Romans would be not to be ashamed of the gospel and to be faithful in proclaiming it! The letter is the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all the Scriptures. Paul began by discussing the most easily observable in the world—the sinfulness of all humanity. All people have been condemned due to our rebellion against God.
However, God offers us justification by faith in His Son, Jesus. When we are justified by God, we receive redemption or salvation because Christ’s blood covers our sins. Also, Paul made it clear that the believer’s pursuit of God doesn’t stop with salvation; it continues as we are sanctified—made holy—as we persist in following and obeying Him. This union between doctrine and life illustrates the absolute importance of what we believe and how we live out those beliefs.
Do you feel like your actions and daily life align with the beliefs and faith that you profess to have? Or do you struggle to reconcile your professed faith with your actual behavior, leading to a sense of inner conflict and hypocrisy? It's important to not just read and understand the teachings of the Bible, but to also apply them in our everyday lives. The book of Romans offers valuable guidance on this topic, stressing the importance of both faith and good works. So, let us strive to live out the principles we believe in, and let our actions speak louder than our words.
Our Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, You have saved us, not only to be saved from sin and go to heaven but to live the gospel in life daily. Please help us to be consistent with what we believe by making the truth alive in us. We cannot do it alone, but You have enabled us with the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!