All Have Sinned

In Rom 3:21-23, Is one of the most pointed scriptures in the Bible, Paul now begins his expose or essay on righteousness and faith.  There is a righteousness that comes through faith.  It does not come through the law.  This was something both the law and the prophets would testify of.  The foundation of the Jewish faith testified of righteousness apart from the law.  This righteousness comes from God.  It comes through faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe and put their trust in His finished work on the cross.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.  Sin is universal.  All have sinned.  All have fallen short of the glory of God.  The character and essence of God has been missed by all.  What we have to do today is come to God through Jesus Christ alone.  Today tell those in your world that they have missed it but that they can come to God through Christ.  Share this good news and give hope to all you meet.  Be His ambassador of truth and hope.  In your own life, keep a close watch on your soul and stay right with God.

Universal Accountability

In Rom 3:19-21, Paul again points of that the law says that those who are under the law are going to have two things happen to them.  First, every mouth will be silenced.  Secondly, the whole world is accountable to God.  There is universal accountability.  Paul says that no one can be declared righteous by the law.  The law was designed to help us become conscious of sin.  The law was God's method to bring us to Christ and the light.  Moses brought the law and Christ fulfilled it.  No one will be able to stand before the Lord and list their accomplishments, success stories or special circumstances.  God will look at only one thing, did we give our lives to Christ or not?  All our righteousness is as filthy rags.  Remember God keeps the books make sure yours are up to date. 

Life with Christ

In Rom 16-18, Paul says the sinners life is mark by two things.  Ruin and misery.  Only the Lord can reverse this downward trend.  The way of peace they do not know.  How can you know the way of peace when you reject the author and finisher of peace?  Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.  There is no fear of God before their eyes.  When a person is a sinner they have neither respect or reverence for God.  "They do not know they are sinners in the hands of an angry God," as Jonathan Edwards puts it.  What a way to live, without peace and heading to a lost eternity.  Ruin and misery is no way to live but the wonderful thing is that they can come to Christ.  Today tell those in your world the good news of salvation and redemption and see a life restored.  True peace and life come through Jesus Christ.  He alone is the way, the truth and the life.  Life with Christ is so much better than life without Him.

Lifestyle without God.

In Rom 3:13-15, Paul points out three results of a lifestyle without God.  The Tongue becomes an open grave.  It is used to lie and deceive.  Their speech is useless.  No real value comes from it.  Their mouth and speech is full of cursing and bitterness,  A condition of the heart expressed.  Their feet are swift to shed innocent blood.  They not only speak of what they will do but they follow it with action.  So sad when a person follows what is in the heart through action especially when it is evil and selfish.  Our mouths should be used to glorify God.  Solomon reminded us in the book of Proverbs that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silvers.  Let it be your aim today to speak words of encouragement to others for the glory of God.  Follow your words with acts of love.

Universal Guilt

In Rom 3:8-9, Paul reports here that some have slandered him and his party by accusing Paul of saying. "Let us do evil that good may result."  Paul denies this and says those who have said this will be condemned and their condemnation is well deserved.  Paul points out in Vs 9, that both Jew and Gentile are alike under sin.  All men are sinners and are universally guilty.  God does not want any one to go to a lost eternity and He has done everything possible to help mankind to avoid this.  The choice is ours however.  Free will is both a privilege and responsibility.  If someone ends us in hell as Mike Warnke says, "They paddled their own canoe to get there."  Make sure you tell everyone you can and stay close to the Lord.

Believe in Christ

Jesus was asked a question in John 6:28-29 and this question was, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"  In the minds of Jesus' audience their faith was about works.  Jesus told them that they were to believe in the one whom God sent.  Jesus said the greatest work we can do for God is to believe in Him.  Jesus equated work for faith.   Faith is the beginning of work.  Faith is the foundation to which we start.  You have to believe in God first, then go from there.  Religion is telling us that through works of charity, kindness and love we will earn our way to God.  Jesus said, it was in simple belief in Him that righteousness and right standing with God comes.  When you believe and love God first, then good works will follow.  You do service for the Lord because you love Him.  James said that our works is an out growth of our faith.  Jesus' audience wanted to work out their salvation without Christ.  Jesus put everything into perspective when He said that we are to believe in Him first, then the works will follow.  In Matt 6:33, we are to seek the Kingdom of God first and then all these things will be added unto us.  So today make this you starting point of faith and then as you love Him you will want to do the things that please Him.  

Let Your Light

In Matt 5:16, Jesus was teaching the Sermon on the Mount and here He tells his audience and us to let our light shine among all men so that they would see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.  In ancient Israel light was the symbol for God and darkness was a symbol for the devil.  Jesus wanted those who knew the Lord to be a light in this dark world.  As a light we show the love, grace, power and love.  Years ago I was in Israel and one night while on the Sea of Galilee it was late and it was dark.  Walking by the sea I saw all the communities around the area brightly lit and it reminded me of this scripture.  Jesus said the outgrowth of this relationship with God is that we would do good works and in turn these works would glorify our Father.  Good works show that we love God because God is good.  James wrote that many people say they have faith but faith must be shown not just talked about.  He said that people would see His faith by what he did.  Today let your light shine for Jesus, do good works and acts of kindness and in this way people will see you have a genuine faith.  This in turn will glorify God.