Devotional

How could God's Way be Universally Exclusive? 29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then,...

How Grace Shut Out Boasting? 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:27-28 (NIV) Commenting on...

How Can Righteousness Come to Us? 23All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a propitiation [sacrifice of atonement], through faith in his...

How Does Righteousness Come to Us? 22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace...

Where is the Most Important 'But' in the Bible? ...20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known,...

How a Silent Mouth is Needed for You to Be Right with God? 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous...

Why Goodness Isn’t Always Good? "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12 (NIV) In Romans 3:12, Paul makes the astonishing claim that "no one does good." This statement may seem outrageous,...

Why No One Truly Seeks God? 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10–11 (NIV) In Romans 3:11, Paul makes the startling claim that "no one seeks God." This statement may...

How Does Sin Affect Us? 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13“Their...

How could a Moral Person be 'Under Sin'? 1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3What if some were unfaithful? Will their...

How Have Christians Been Circumcised? 25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be...

How Much of Our Faith Identity Depends on What We Do? 25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his...

Why Do We Break the First Commandment by Trying Hard to Keep God's Commandments? 21you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who...

Could Our Spiritual Privileges Lead Us Closer to God or Further Away? 17If you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19and if you are sure that you yourself...

Is Your Faith Grounded in Christ or in Your Own Morality? 17If you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide...

How Can God's Judgment Be Fair to Everyone? 12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey...

How Do We Know We Are Saved By the Evidence of Our Work? 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and...

What Does Being Judged by Our Work Mean? 6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” Romans 2:6 (NIV) Yesterday we looked at 3 characterises of how God would judge us. But the apostle Paul makes a surprising statement in Romans 2:6, he writes that...