I believe that we are vindicated by faith. It is not by works because if it were so, then man has something to boast about. Needless to say, we could never brag it before the Lord for we know that we all fall short of His glory. It is not through following the law because law in itself brings wrath. Why? Well, let’s say that we may have obeyed 90% of the law but at some point we have been a law breaker. So, we must be punished. Be it considered as “small sins” (e.g. hoarding a bond paper from the office for personal use, grumbling over a long queue, etc.) but then again we are still being held accountable to God. How then will we be justified by our works? We will never be made righteous by our own works! Salvation is received not by doing good but by believing. Truly it is man’s nature to work hard in order to gain something. Say, a student studies hard in order to have high grades; an employee works 8 hours a day in order to receive salary; a suitor makes every effort possible to win favor from the girl he likes. But God’s way of salvation is totally different. He has taken care of it through Jesus Christ.
Only when we believe in Jesus will God see us righteous. Why? Because our faith shows that we acknowledge God’s ability to blot out our sins. By the cross, we can live a new life – clean slate! No fret! Isn’t that great?
*devotions on Romans 4
blacktoes
