Righteousness by Faith Alone
READ: Romans 3:19-28
Every Sunday morning Sarah helps her mom out with teaching Sunday School for the fifth and sixth graders. One Sunday Sarah was asked a difficult question by one of the students. The child was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to go to heaven because she knows that she can not possibly obey God’s law perfectly. Unless she does that, she won’t be saved on Judgment Day.
How would you respond if faced with a question like this? This is a common question, but not a difficult one to answer. God deals with this question in Romans 3:19-28. Verse 23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God still wants us to obey His law perfectly, but He died on the cross for our sins because we are sinful. He says in Romans 3:22, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” True faith in God is all we need to get into heaven, and God is the one who works faith in our hearts!
Romans 3:19-28 is a very useful passage to deal with the question of God’s righteousness and His law. Now this doesn’t mean that we should just ignore God’s law. We observe His law as much as possible by the help of the Spirit, knowing that “man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” (Verse 28)
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: If you were faced with a similar question, how would you now respond? What are some ways you can better follow God’s law? How could you better explain this to a friend in doubt?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to help us have a better understanding of His grace. Thank God for having compassion on us and dying on the cross to take away our sins. Ask for help to obey His law as often as we possibly can.