For it is by grace you have been saved,
Summary: Once again, we find ourselves pondering the meaning of “grace.” Paul points out that we are saved by grace, and as we explore this topic, we discover a beautiful picture of a loving God.
In the course of these meditations here at Three Minute Bible, the topic of “grace” comes up now and then (see links below). In today’s passage, Paul points out that we are saved “by grace.”
Why on earth would God bother?
Some theologians paint humanity as totally depraved, but that is not how the Bible portrays us. It is true, as Paul points out, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) But the Bible also says things like, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.” (Psalm 34:15)
There appears to be a mixture of sin and righteousness in all of us. It is true that “all have sinned,” meaning that even in our best efforts at righteousness, we “fall short of the glory of God.” Yet, some people abandon any effort to love their neighbor (what James calls the “royal law” – James 2:8) and become so self-centered that there is no hope for them. Scripture cites an example of this when God caused the Great Flood.
The Bible says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) And then it adds, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8) A similar thing happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abraham is discussing this with the Lord, he asks, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23)
Since the beginning, when Adam and Eve first rebelled against Him, God has been implementing His plan for the redemption of His Creation. Not because we are good but because we are his. Sadly, there are some who cannot be saved. “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.” (Psalm 11:5)
So what is righteousness? Sometimes, it is as simple as believing the Lord (Genesis 15:6). God knows the heart (Acts 15:8). He knows who wants to do good and who doesn’t. Because all of us “fall short” of God’s glory, no one can stand before God completely pure and untainted by the world. Yet, despite this, we are made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27). It is not in God’s nature to throw out the good with the bad.
And so, he saves us. He redeems us. He puts up our bail, pays our fines, gets us out of jail, and sets us on the road to eternal life with him.
Why does God bother?
God is love (1 John 4:8). He loves his creation. He loves us. And, he is full of grace (John 1:14).
Application: Marvel at the love of our Creator and the lengths he has gone to so that we might be with him.
Food for Thought: What is the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous one?
Romans 3: 9 – 20 paints a bleak picture of humanity. Romans 3: 10 specifically states: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” In Philippians 3: 7 – 11; 1 Corinthians 1: 30, Paul points out that what we need is Christ’s righteousness and not our own. And in Romans 1: 17 it says that the righteous live by faith. In Genesis 15: 6, Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
All this to say that the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteousness one is faith in the Lord. The righteous person therefore lives by faith.
Brother Rich,
Thank you! Faith in Jesus is absolutely essential if we are to make our eternal home with him.
I find it interesting that Paul uses different words for “righteousness” in the Greek. For example, the use of “díkaios” in Romans 3:10 points to what we do, while “dikaiosýnē” in 1 Corinthians 1:30 describes our justification in Christ.
Hi brother. Yes, I agree. One reason I mention what I did – is because in every example I could of think in scripture, the person called righteous were also people of faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is full of examples of that. So for me, however you look at it, faith was a common denominator.
That is a GREAT point! Faith and righteousness go hand in hand. Well said!
Jeff, Another wonderful reminder! Why does God bother? Can’t comprehend that….what a lovingGod we have! Why do we (I) bother? Because I can’t comprehend how He can love me, and yet He Does! May I always be faithful! And that my calendar and checkbook show that He is priority #1 in our lives. Thank you Jesus for rising from the death for us and we truly look forward to be with you one say!🙏
Thanks, Jim!
I like your application point: Our faith is reflected in our calendar and our checkbook. 🙂
I enjoyed today’s devotion. I also liked Rich’s comment “All this to say that the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteousness one is faith in the Lord. The righteous person therefore lives by faith.”
I also liked Jim’s comment “Our faith is reflected in our calendar and our checkbook. ” To me that speaks to what James wrote:
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
What is the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous one?
The difference is Jesus Christ in our lives, in faith and in His leading to righteous action.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Thanks, Chris!
Well said! 🙂
Your words bring to mind Romans 1:20 —
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Looked at another way, what I hear Paul saying is that all people are aware of God at some level, so it follows that any “good” we do is a result of this awareness of God. Put another way, any righteousness that we exhibit is an expression of God within us.
Jesus is the physical manifestation of God. In him we have an expression of God’s love in human form. Believing in Jesus unlocks a whole new level of our relationship with God and unleashes the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Thank you Jeff I think everyone covered this one nicely. I kept trying to think of more to add. I’m blessed to be able to smile at everyone’s comments. Chris did a great job.
Hi Tim,
We are blessed to walk with brothers and sisters who love the Lord and have wonderful insights and testimony to share. 🙂
04-05-2023, What is the difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous one?
Great stuff as always!
We are what we are by choice.
God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God breathed life into Adam, confining the spiritual being that connects us with God, in a physical housing. He gave mankind dominion over all the earth as caretakers or stewards of His garden. God tasked Adam with tending the garden and naming the animals, he and Eve recognized the sound of His walk indicates God, in human form had in the past walked with them in His garden. God gave Adam the single command to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And they lived as righteous beings as they lived in His will as demonstrated by their obedience..
Genesis1:26-27, 2:7, 2:15, 2:16-17, 2:19-20, 3:8
God created a righteous person(s) when He created Adam and Eve, but they chose to become unrighteous, disobedient, and were separated from God, unable to undo what they had done.
God has done, through His Son Jesus Christ what mankind cannot do. A righteous person is one who has in faith, rejects living according to their own will and secures their salvation as they accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We have each been empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT, to live righteously, within Gods will, through Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and find growth comes from daily, moment by moment allow the power of God to reject the temptations of the evil one.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
Ron
I like how you tied this topic back to Adam and Eve! That is an elegant example of what we lost when we chose to rebel against our Maker.