Saving Faith

Scripture:
Romans 3:23-24 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:27-28 — “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”

Observation:
Paul was not trying to be “politically correct” when he said that “all have sinned.” This does not leave anybody out, yet even when you say it, it is easy for your back to “bow up” with pride and rejection of the truth. It is just a fact. You have a perfect God and an imperfect people. My best five seconds of life is still not worthy to be in His presence. Isaiah 64:6 states that, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” In just the same way as an ice cube will not exist in the middle of a fire, my best is not good enough to match up with God’s perfection and holiness.

But here is another absolute. Nobody is excluded from saving faith, if they only will receive it. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Nothing I could do could change the fact that His love and grace can (and will) cover it all.

The last part of Romans 3:28 today says that it is “faith apart from works of the Law.” It is not faith plus good works, or faith plus church attendance, or faith plus a righteous grandmother….

Application:
I must receive the free gift of life in Christ. I must realize that even though in this world I am tempted to please others, to conform to their expectations, to have an “approval addiction,” this is never the case with Christ. I will never have to prove myself with Him. Receiving is all I need to do. It is done, finished and complete.

I think where I have to be careful is in the boasting of this gift (vs 27). I hate it when a self-righteousness creeps in on my mind and I feel superior—as if the King wants me at His table and He does not want somebody else. This free gift of life is intended for my worst enemy as well. There is no room for me to boast about it because I did not do anything to merit it.

Prayer:
God, thank you for saving me. Thank you for the free gift of salvation that I know, cherish and live in each day. Help me to boast only in You. Now, I realize that you want to use me to take this message to everyone—not just the people I like and love, but those that I don’t. In fact, this is not an option—You’ve told me to go and do it. So give me the opportunity today to praise you for the gift of salvation and to share it with somebody that You put in my path.

— Jeff Askew, worship pastor, director of choirs