ICS Daily Devotions
The Righteousness of God in Him
Romans 3:20-22 (NKJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
The law was given so that man knew what was sin and the fact that we will never be able to be good enough. The deeds of the law were heavy and nobody was able to be justified in God’s sight.
Paul is telling the Israelites that there is a righteousness that is APART from the law and it is REVEALED. That is the righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:16-22 (NKJV) knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Paul is saying to them very clearly that nobody can be justified by the works of the law. He told them not to build upon those things that is not necessary neither does he preach to them the works of the law because it will be contrary to the grace message. In this case, the Jews were trying to ask the Galatians to be circumcised which is no longer necessary because man always wants to add something to salvation through grace.
If we still need to do something (torture our body, unnecessary or never ending rituals, fasting, deception) to add to what Christ has already done then Christ would have died in vain.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Sermon Series: Lengthen the Cords – Our Nation
