week of 09/21/11 2nd recorded HighQuest Romans 3:10-20

The passage I read was Romans 3:10-20

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A10-20&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

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.

As I reflect:

Pretty simply put in my opinion. We can’t do it ourselves. The word says the greatest gifts we can offer God are as filthy rags. I mean there’s just nothing at all we can do to impress God. We may please Him through our faith, but it’s not like He’s not sitting on a throne watching us and thinking to Himself, “wow! That’s amazing. That Joseph Guy really surprises me with how much effort he puts into serving me. I think that because he tried so hard, I’m going to let him come to heaven when his earthly body passes away because he is obviously righteous.” Nope… That’s just not how it works. If it were by our own merit that we were saved, then this passage makes pretty clear that we wouldn’t be getting anywhere close to Heaven. We would still be eternally separated from God and dead in our sins. Thankfully that’s not the case. Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb merit our relationship with Him. We don’t deserve it and we can’t do it ourselves because we are in the flesh and are full of sinful ways, but thanks be to God who because of His great love saves and redeems us from our sin and fate. This passage also clarifies the purpose of that same law which we fail to uphold. It says in verse 20 that “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.” Our very inability to uphold the law is what allows us to see that we are sinners and are thus in need of the Messiah. The law is like a spot light and we are like a person sitting in a pitch black room covered in sin. When we inspect ourselves by the law, it becomes painfully obvious how unable we are to earn our way into Heaven.

My response to the Lord:

I have seen my sin Lord. I have seen how incapable I am of earning righteousness or in anyway becoming worthy of what you offer. I am however eternally grateful that salvation is a gift. I thank you that your mercy and grace are free and that my debt has been paid. Father forgive me for my sins and as I turn away from them in repentance, I pray that you would deliver me from evil and guide me instead to do your will. I am eternally grateful for the blood of your Son Jesus Christ in Whose name I pray, and the righteous covering I have been provided by it.