JAN 28

Romans 1:17
Memorise Romans 1:17
“the just shall live by faith”

Romans 1:17 says “the just shall live by faith”. This means that it is only by faith that we can be justified and thus have eternal life. It is not by good works that we can earn our way into Heaven. There is nothing we can do to achieve salvation. It is only by the grace of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If “thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). This saving faith that allows us to accept Jesus is given to us by the grace of God.

The Roman Catholic Church greatly perverted this fundamental doctrine and basis of the Christian faith. Her leaders taught a religion of works and invented false practices, such as the sale of indulgences where people could buy “merits” to pay for their sins and speed up their journey to heaven! Essentially, this was a revenue-generating practice for the church and it was one of the main practices that the reformers preached against. The reformers called for a return to the Word of God and to the basics of the Christian faith. Their cry was “the just shall live by faith”.

Can this be your cry as well? Examine your heart to see if you have truly believed this. Or are you still trying to earn your way into Heaven through works? Examine your motives for going to Church and doing Christian service. Be honest with yourself for this is the greatest matter that your soul must face. If you are assured of your salvation, praise God! Now seek to emulate the spirit of the reformers - one that has its firm foundation in God’s Word and His promises, and will do everything to protect the Faith by speaking out against false teachings and practices. False doctrines attack God’s character and His Word. They replace faith in God with something else, whether it is another god, another person, an idol, oneself or one’s own works. If we truly realise how important this faith should be to us, we will speak out for our faith.

Thought: What would have happened if the reformers had kept quiet and the Reformation had never occurred? Imagine having God’s truth kept from you. How devastating that would be!

Prayer: Lord, grant me a humble spirit to obey Thy Word and a courageous heart to speak out for it.