“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31
Christians do not trust in their works under the law because they fail to keep the law as God requires. For salvation, they rely on Christ’s perfect obedience to the law in His thoughts, desires, words, and actions and upon His atoning sacrifice for all sins, made when He suffered and died on the cross in our stead. Yet, Christians still view God’s law as good and right. And, as God’s redeemed children, they look to His commandments to guide them in living God-pleasing lives.
O Holy Spirit, grant me true faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior, and move me, as a fruit of that faith, to live my life for Him according to Your holy commandments. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” Romans 3:29-30
Whether Jew or Gentile, there is only one way to be just and righteous in God’s eyes, and that is through faith in Christ Jesus, for He fulfilled the righteous demands of the law for us and then suffered the just punishment for the sins of all when He was crucified and died on the cross.
Thank You, dear Lord Jesus, for fulfilling the law in my stead and bearing the full punishment for all my sins. Amen.
[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:27-28
No one can boast of his own sin-tainted works under God’s law as though these contributed to his salvation because we are justified and counted righteous by God through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience to God’s law and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all.
O merciful God, grant that I not trust in my sin-tainted works but in the perfect works of Christ — in His holy life and in His innocent sufferings and death in my stead. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“… Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood …” Romans 3:22-25a
How are believers justified and counted righteous and acceptable in God’s eyes? It’s not by works of the law because all have broken God’s commandments and stand condemned under God’s law. Instead, believers are justified by God’s grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed on the cross to atone for the sins of all.
Have mercy upon me, O God, and graciously forgive my sins for the sake of the shed blood of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” Romans 3:21-22
Though the law of God reveals our sins and condemns us all, there is a way for us, sinful human beings, to be counted righteous and be acceptable in God’s sight. The Bible tells us about this righteousness. It is the righteousness of God that He imputes to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
O gracious and merciful God, forgive my sins and count me righteous in Your eyes through faith in Christ Jesus, Your Son and my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
