July 15
Romans 2:25-3:8
If salvation is by grace through faith, why do anything at all? Why not just sit back, sin a bunch, or be apathetic toward God when you have placed your trust in Jesus? If you have ever thought these things, then Romans 2-3 is for you.
As Paul points the church in Rome toward the truth that they are saved by grace through faith, he addresses the purpose of religious activities Paul uses the test case of circumcision to make his point. This is not an issue we are concerned with today, but it was an essential issue for the Jewish people Paul was writing. As we work our way through his argument, it may be helpful to substitute Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, obedience, etc. Paul makes the point that external activities only have value when they are connected to the heart.
When we have life in Christ, this life should be revealed through our behavior. For Old Testament Jews physical circumcision had no value by itself, but it had value as an act of obedience in response to salvation. If we do things to earn God's love or our salvation, then they are empty and vain, while anything we do as an act of love and obedience to God has value. So, let us walk in transformed lives flowing out of new hearts instead of just dry external deeds.
Father God, help me to follow you with all that I do. May all I do be a response to the grace and love I have received from you. Amen.
Why do we often think that we must earn God's love and thus live never knowing if we are good enough?
If salvation is by grace through faith, why do anything at all? Why not just sit back, sin a bunch, or be apathetic toward God when you have placed your trust in Jesus? If you have ever thought these things, then Romans 2-3 is for you.
As Paul points the church in Rome toward the truth that they are saved by grace through faith, he addresses the purpose of religious activities Paul uses the test case of circumcision to make his point. This is not an issue we are concerned with today, but it was an essential issue for the Jewish people Paul was writing. As we work our way through his argument, it may be helpful to substitute Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, obedience, etc. Paul makes the point that external activities only have value when they are connected to the heart.
When we have life in Christ, this life should be revealed through our behavior. For Old Testament Jews physical circumcision had no value by itself, but it had value as an act of obedience in response to salvation. If we do things to earn God's love or our salvation, then they are empty and vain, while anything we do as an act of love and obedience to God has value. So, let us walk in transformed lives flowing out of new hearts instead of just dry external deeds.
Father God, help me to follow you with all that I do. May all I do be a response to the grace and love I have received from you. Amen.
Why do we often think that we must earn God's love and thus live never knowing if we are good enough?
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