ESOCS Devotional 21 May 2024 – The Just Shall Live By Faith
MEMORY VERSE: “For 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.” Romans 1:17 NIV
TEXT: ROMANS 1:1-17
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
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The Lord God Almighty, our heavenly Father, is without doubt wholly righteous. Out of His benevolence, He extends this righteousness to us when we believe. However, as it is written in the Bible Book of Hebrews 10:38, “… the just shall live by faith.” Also in Romans 4:3, we see that: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Before now, the Old Testament law and the prophets spoke extensively of righteousness obtained through faith. This is affirmed by the cases of such Old Testament saints as Abraham, David, Isaiah, to mention but three. In the New Covenant, the core of this saving faith lies in Jesus Christ, who through His death and resurrection, restores to us life of holiness and righteousness.
By our sanctification and justification through the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, God now accepts us as holy, and qualified to be in His presence (Romans 3:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). As a result of the Father’s acceptance of us as righteous, every true believer is now set free to tread the path of righteousness and holy living. This has also manifested in us lives of fruitfulness, poured out in gratitude to the Father.
If I may ask, how can a righteous God freely give righteousness to sinful humanity, who don’t deserve it? The answer lies in His love and mercy revealed in the cross of Christ. This practical love is so strong that nothing can tear us away from it. It follows therefore that all humanity can become righteous in God’s sight, if we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (v 17).
Through the gospel, God has offered to humanity the opportunity by which to escape eternal condemnation (Romans 3:21). The righteousness of God is revealed through the gospel, being God’s offering of hope to sinful humanity, who could not escape from the law of sin and death (Romans 3:9, 10, 23). As God has offered this free grace to us through the gospel, men must respond by obedient faith as a way of acknowledging the atoning sacrifice by immersion (Romans 6:3-5). This faith response leads to a life of faith in God for saving grace through the gospel. Let’s all tap into this free grace through absolute faith in Christ our Redeemer.
- Through Christ’s imputed righteousness, we are now fully reconciled to God. Do you believe?
- God, may the atoning sacrifice of your Son continue to justify us to the end.
Further Reading: Exodus 12:1-13; 2 Kings 2:1-15; Mark 5:35-43
ESOCS Devotional 21 May 2024
