The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Thursday, January 26, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You today for the gift of faith. So many times in my life, I want to “earn” my way into Your favor, but as I read the Scriptures I find over and over again that it is only through faith that we are made right with You. Thank You for Paul’s words in Romans 1:17 that make me aware once again that righteousness is by faith from start to finish. Increase my faith, O God! Increase my ability to love and trust You enough to obey You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit including faithfulness. I ask that as I go about this day that You will keep me centered on and in You. Let every thought, every word, every action have its origin in You, and may all that I think, say and do, spring from my faith in You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:16-17
Romans 1:16-17 NLT
16For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—Jews first and also Gentiles. 17This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Romans 1:16-17 NIV*
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For 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.”
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Romans 1:16-17 MOT**
16For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and to the Greek. 12For a righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, as it has been written: Now the righteous shall live by faith.
**MOT is a literal translation of the Greek New Testament by Dr. Chris E. Marshall
Reflecting on God’s Word
Righteousness is a word that is used frequently in the Bible, but which isn’t used much in our daily lives. Take some time right now to reflect on righteousness and what it means. What help does today’s Scripture give you with its meaning?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Look at Romans 1:17 in the NLT. According to this text what is the source of righteousness?
What does that tell you about our role in being righteous or “being right in His sight"?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
In looking at Romans 1:17 and seeing the prominent role of being right in God’s sight, what do we find out about God’s purpose for us regarding righteousness?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Take a moment and right your definition of righteousness or being right in God’s sight below:
Take some time right now to pray and ask God to give you a deeper and fuller faith, that you may live in righteousness.
Thoughts - ... by Faith!
The Apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 1:17 that righteousness or being right in God’s sight is a result of faith from “start to finish.” In other words, we cannot work our way, or earn our way, or pray our way, or do anything to gain our way into God’s favor and presence. This concept is so pivotal that we cannot overstate its importance. Righteousness comes by faith! Let me write that again—Righteousness comes by faith! In other words, if we want to live right, be right, have right relationships with God and others, it is not a matter of what we DO, but of what Jesus Christ has already DONE! It is by faith in Jesus Christ that we receive salvation, and by faith in Him that we receive righteousness. We live in righteousness only through faith, or by means of faith. Simply put, that means that nothing we do impresses God—NOTHING! We can save a dozen people from a burning building, and while the world will be impressed, and the newspapers may put us on the front page, the action in and of itself does not make us right with God, and is not necessarily an act of righteousness. Righteousness comes BY MEANS OF faith. God acts in us first—ALWAYS. When we want to live a good life we have two main options: we can make our best effort, or we can ask God to increase our faith. If we make our best effort, we may succeed to some degree in being good people. We may even look really good when compared with others. The problem is God’s standard of goodness is JESUS! Perfection is God’s standard. That’s why all of our goodness isn’t enough to impress God. On the other hand if we want to live in righteousness, if we want to be right in God’s sight, all we have to do is live by faith—by trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As we do that acts of righteousness result. God’s goodness and righteousness is imputed to us—His righteousness is put in us. The world may see no difference, but to God the difference is major. (More on this TOMORROW!)
This Week’s Memory Verse:
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work. Romans 1:16a