Often when we hear
those words it is usually used disparagingly in that we are unable to do it, we
can’t get it done and we have failed.
Well, when it comes to making yourself approved before God that is
exactly right. I have a fun moment at
our latest BYOB (bring your own Bible…lol) and I was teaching on Romans 3. I
looked at Bob who was sitting next to me and I told him that I was give him or
anyone of our Manor Church peeps a good slap if I heard them trying to start a
list of the reasons they would be accepted into God’s presence in eternity if
it was a list of the things they personally did.
I want to make it
sooooo clear. There is absolutely nothing
that you can do to make yourself acceptable before God.
10 10 As it is written
and forever remains written, “There is none righteous [none that meets God’s
standard], not even one.
11 “There is none who
understands, There is none who seeks for God.
12 “All have turned
aside, together they have become useless;There is none who does good, no, not
one.”
Paul was of course
stating what already was clear from David in the OT in Psalm 14 and in Psalm 53
We don’t have any
defense, we don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to our own
righteousness. We are spiritually dead
without an awakening from God through the awareness that comes from the Holy
Spirit.
So, don’t tell me that
you are going to have a conversation with God about why you are worthy, why you
are good enough, because you aren’t and I’m certainly not. All of our eggs so to speak are in one
basket, and our hope rests in Jesus and Christ alone! He is our righteousness, He is our only hope
and only way and He is our LIFE period!
If we were good enough
then there would be no reason for Jesus to die.
So it was soooo good
to come to the end of the chapter and read the gospel in all its fullness.
21 But now the
righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely]
apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words
and writings of the] Prophets. 22 This righteousness of God comes through faith
in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him
and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, 23 since all have
sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are being
justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and
granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment
for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
Let’s review:
Being made good in His
sight has nothing to do with keeping a list of religious rules, rites and
passages.
Righteousness, being
clothed in the person of Jesus, standing only because of what He did for me on
the cross is by FAITH. I rest in HIM
alone. There is nothing that I need to
add to the perfect white clothing He has placed on me as a garment of
salvation. I stand because of His purity
and perfection and it completely overwhelms me.
I didn’t do anything to deserve it and it doesn’t matter how many Bible
studies I attended, how and when I was baptized as important as that is. I couldn’t do enough generous deeds to get
His attention. I always have and will
always fall soooo short of His expectations and thanks be to God for His rich
and undeserving gift, His one and only Son, Jesus. He is sooooo good and in Him I am made
absolutely acceptable before God. I have
been granted eternity in His presence and that makes me want to SING and get my
worship ON!
