DAY 333 Read Romans 5 through 7.
Today's reading: We penetrate to the heart of Paul's theology. It will help us to keep in mind that Paul's purpose is to overthrow confidence in works, not to destroy the moral law.
Memory gem: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).
Thought for today:
If faith establishes the law, it does not abolish it. The law of God points out sin. "I had not known sin, but by the law" (Romans 7:7). In fact, if there were no law there would be no sin. "Where no law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15).
Numerous cults now deny the reality of sin. They claim we have but to free our minds from the idea of sin. One writer expresses a popular idea that "there is no law save that which he himself imposes."
When we look at the terrible increase of crime and violence today, we are convinced that many have accepted this theory. They have rejected the law of God and are depending upon mere unsanctified human will to impose a check upon the downward rush to destruction.
The Bible tells us that sin is the transgression of God's law. The wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23), and all have sinned (see Romans 3:23). Man cannot be justified by his own works, because the penalty of sin is not works but death. Christ died for our sins (see 1 Corinthians 15:3). He paid the penalty demanded by the law. Christ took the sinner's place--our place. He died for us. We accept, by faith, His vicarious death for our sins. God has already accepted it. God's holy law is satisfied. We stand justified before it--not by our works nor our righteousness, but by Christ's righteousness imputed to us. Thus Christ's death upon the cross, to meet the death penalty for transgression of the law, forever vindicates the law as the righteousness of God.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain:
He washed it white as snow.
--Mrs. E.M. Hall
Today's reading: We penetrate to the heart of Paul's theology. It will help us to keep in mind that Paul's purpose is to overthrow confidence in works, not to destroy the moral law.
Memory gem: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).
Thought for today:
If faith establishes the law, it does not abolish it. The law of God points out sin. "I had not known sin, but by the law" (Romans 7:7). In fact, if there were no law there would be no sin. "Where no law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15).
Numerous cults now deny the reality of sin. They claim we have but to free our minds from the idea of sin. One writer expresses a popular idea that "there is no law save that which he himself imposes."
When we look at the terrible increase of crime and violence today, we are convinced that many have accepted this theory. They have rejected the law of God and are depending upon mere unsanctified human will to impose a check upon the downward rush to destruction.
The Bible tells us that sin is the transgression of God's law. The wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23), and all have sinned (see Romans 3:23). Man cannot be justified by his own works, because the penalty of sin is not works but death. Christ died for our sins (see 1 Corinthians 15:3). He paid the penalty demanded by the law. Christ took the sinner's place--our place. He died for us. We accept, by faith, His vicarious death for our sins. God has already accepted it. God's holy law is satisfied. We stand justified before it--not by our works nor our righteousness, but by Christ's righteousness imputed to us. Thus Christ's death upon the cross, to meet the death penalty for transgression of the law, forever vindicates the law as the righteousness of God.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain:
He washed it white as snow.
--Mrs. E.M. Hall
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