Podcast Preview
You have lived your whole life with a thought. It’s a thought that you had as a little kid that made your heart hurt. It’s a thought that as a teenager made you constantly be checking yourself in the mirror. It’s got you always asking yourself- am I likeable enough? It’s the thought that has you curating your online profile- that has you constantly stressing about moving forward career-wise- it’s that heaviness on your heart. The thought that has pushing in your home and family life to be better- because of this thought. The same thought that I think Simon and Garfunkel were singing about when they sang “Hello darkness my old friend.”
You know what the thought is? It’s this. I’m failing. I’m failing, and I can’t fix it.
In the face of this thought, Paul gives us the comfort that is part of the beating heart of Christianity. It’s this comfort- that through faith, God has given you the gift of righteousness. Righteousness!
If you’re struggling with this thought, my prayer is that this Word of God gives you what you need to call it out in yourself when your sins start to bother you and eat at you. Recognize that thought and meet it with the truth of God’s Word. By grace through faith alone- you are forgiven. By faith alone- Jesus’ righteousness is your righteousness. Sola fide right? Through faith alone- Jesus’ righteousness is yours.
Romans 3:21-28
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, m through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
