Our scripture today is Romans 1:16-17 (ESV).
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 for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Paul begins his outline of salvation through Jesus with a quote from the prophet Habakkuk: “the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Isaiah 51:6 tells us “my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.” Being saved by our faith is God’s gift to us. In John 3:16 we read “whoever believes shall not perish” and this is the foundation we build upon. Without our confession and faith in Christ, nothing else matters.
Gracious God, we are ashamed of our sin, but amazed at the mercy You offer us through faith in our Lord Jesus. Help us to share this wonderful gift everywhere. Amen.
