Day 17
Have you ever wondered how you can become righteous?
Have you ever wondered if following the rules is good enough for God?
Read: Romans 3:19-26
This passage highlights the inability of the Law to make people righteous, the universal nature of sin, and the provision of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ as the means for justification and redemption.
Personal Application:
Read: 1 John 2:1-2
In these verses, John addresses his readers with affection and concern, referring to them as "my dear children." His purpose in writing is to encourage them to avoid sin. However, he acknowledges that if anyone does sin, they have an advocate - Jesus Christ, who is righteous and stands before the Father on their behalf.
Read: Proverbs 2:7-8
Overall, these verses emphasize that God rewards and protects those who live righteously and follow His ways, providing them with wisdom, success, and security.
Try to think of someone righteous, someone who never did anything wrong. Mother Teresa? No. The Apostle Paul? Hardly. The Pope, Joan of Arc, or John the Baptist? None of these characters were righteous of their own accord and neither are you. There’s nothing you can do to make up for your foul behavior.
Sin stinks, and God hates it. Face it: Flowers will not appease him. Gifts and apology cards will not cut it. The grander tributes - an afternoon serving at the city mission, a fat check in the offering plate - will not make you look any better or any more righteous. We always want to do what is right, but somehow, it just does not happen.
God’s not surprised. Reading Romans chapter three may help you breathe a little easier. Deeds are not the way to righteousness - Jesus is. He frees you from your sin when you hand over your life to him. Righteousness is a free gift. Take it. Wear it confidently by obeying God’s Word. Then you willl receive all the positive things that God wants to give you along with it.
But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what the heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy - James 1:25
Additional Reading: Matthew 5:6; Hosea 10:12