Our scripture this morning is Romans 1:16-17 (NASB1995).
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Paul continually preached that God’s salvation is offered to all people, regardless of our lineage, present position or history. As “the apostle to the Gentiles” Paul is 180 degrees from where he began as a legalistic Pharisee and persecutor. Now he carries the Gospel to places that need to know God’s love.
Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 where we read “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.” Our pride and our selfishness lead us to sin and separate us from God. Jesus came to show us the way to be forgiven and reconnected to God through Him.
We can’t save ourselves, but we can put our faith in Jesus and know that we are saved by Him. This is the blessing God has given us, all we need to do is repent and accept it!
Gracious God, You made a way for us to be redeemed from our sin and restored as Your children. May we go boldly in Your name to share the Good News with the world. Amen.
