Romans 3:21-30 New International Version (NIV)
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Sat. November 14
The story of Ruth and Boaz is inspiring. It highlights real people like Ruth and Naomi suffering from real tragedies that we can relate to. Boaz is an ordinary farmer doing what he can to help others. But the heart of the story is God’s “hidden” work. Will God be faithful? Does God care about the ordinary lives of people who suffer, like Naomi and Ruth? What is God going to do about death? What is God going to do about outsiders, like Ruth? Jesus. All our boasting is gone. We are all in need like Naomi. We are all outsiders like Ruth. There is nothing we can do in order to save ourselves. All that we can “do” now is trust in what Jesus has done for us. This is the “law of faith.” We have a God who has declared His love for us. He has declared that the death and resurrection of Jesus is our death and resurrection. We have been given the promise of eternal life. This is God’s work. It is hidden in the cross of Jesus.