Righteousness by Grace 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 morning, 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. It is a common question for those confronted with their sinfulness (which is everyone), and prompted by our sinful nature that thinks it may somehow be able to earn God's favor. God plainly confirms what we sense when looking into his perfect law. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God still wants us to obey His law perfectly, but knowing that we can't and because he loves us SO much, He sent Jesus to live perfectly for us and die on the cross to fully pay the penalty for our sins. 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!
These verses from Romans are very useful 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 out of love for Jesus, in the full knowledge of God's good news that “man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”
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.