The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading: Numbers 30-31, Romans 3-5, and Proverbs 26.
Today’s Passage: Romans 3:20
What is your perceived definition of legalism? Some may think that it would be keeping the law instead of faith alone for salvation. On the other extreme it is something to avoid: I can do anything I want because I am under grace, and not the law. The first group looks down their Pharisaical noses at the second group. The second group looks back and cries out, “Legalist!” whenever they are criticized for doing their liberal thing. Me? I like what the Bible says…
To both groups: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20).
You cannot work your way to heaven. Going to church, eating a cookie, being baptized, being good, will not get you into heaven. Faith alone, in Christ will. The ‘good works’ will follow. Once you receive Jesus, and you are no longer under the law, but grace, does that give you license to sin? No. You need the law to show you when you’re sinning.
Let’s say you are over in Germany driving on the Autobahn. You’re cruising along nice at 70mph. All of a sudden someone blasts past you doing 95mph. Who is speeding? Neither of you: there is no speed limit on the Autobahn. Now you come home to New Jersey. You’re driving on the Garden State Parkway. All of a sudden someone blasts past you doing 95mph. Who is speeding? Both of you. The GSP has a 65mph speed limit. “Yeah, but at least I’m not going as fat as he was.” It doesn’t matter, you need the law to show you what you should be doing. One law, 65 mph. One law to show you when you are breaking that law (sinning), and the same law to set the standard (our teacher).
Right here in chapter 3 are the two verses we start the Romans Road with…
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10).
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)
Everybody has broken the law: we all have sinned. And because of the sin nature that is still in us, there is no way we can keep the law. But Jesus died for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the world. That’s what really matters.
Peace (Romans 5:1)
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