Romans 3:19-28 (NRSV)
Read Romans 3:19-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Verse 20For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. Verse 21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, Verse 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, Verse 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Verse 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Verse 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; Verse 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Verse 27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. Verse 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Devotion
Despite our piety, we are forced to face the difficult truth that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." At the end of the day, if we are honest, we must confess that once again, we have fallen short. We cannot deny our bondage to sin, and we cannot free ourselves. All creation is caught up in the web of sin and death. What hope do we have?
Only this: that through Christ Jesus God redeems us and sets us free from all that separates us from God and each other. Jesus makes it possible for us to become righteous—by enabling us to trust him rather than ourselves—to make us acceptable to God.
Thanks be to the God of grace, who is determined not to abandon us to our destructive ways! Know that you are forgiven, and be at peace.