ROMANS 3-4: DAY 8 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
January 8, 2023
ROMANS 3-4
DAY 8 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verses for Today: Romans 3: 27-31
During today’s journey, we continue with our study of the book of Romans, we look at faith and righteousness. The theme of faith, as some surmise, is not limited to the New Testament. That’s right, the theme of faith is throughout the Old Testament too. In today’s reading, the Apostle Paul sets forth the distinction between works and faith.
Take a few minutes to ask God to guide you through our study of Romans 3-4. Read Romans 3-4. Let’s journey!
Romans 3-4: As you read through the chapters for today you will learn several things. One of those things is that being obedient to the law, the Ten Commandments, Mosaic law, and ordinances cannot make you righteous in God’s sight. God’s love is a gift given freely to all believers and nonbelievers alike. God’s salvation and promise of eternal life is also a free gift given to the believer alone. The Apostle Paul tells us that righteousness cannot be earned: it is a gift. We are made righteous by loving Him through faith: No other way. The evidence of our faith is shown by obedience to the Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law, and ordinances because we love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is an outward expression of the new creation we become when we live by faith. It is our faith in God that allows Him to see us as righteous. (Romans 3:1-4:25)
The focus verses for today:
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. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 4: 27-31, NIV)
The Roman culture, the Gentile culture, and the Jewish culture had come to a place of comfort in the gods or God respectively, they worshipped. A huge hurdle that both cultures had in their worship systems was justification through works. Faith in God’s promises was challenging for both cultures. Take some time to think, or journal your thoughts on this question: What is righteousness? What is the difference between faith, works, and righteousness? It may be difficult to contrast the three in light of the society in which we are inundated with the principle of earning.
Godspeace!
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