How can anyone be saved?

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Romans 3:19-26

Can anyone be saved by doing good works? by living a good life? by obeying God's commandments? What does God say in His Word? Consider Romans 3:9ff. The Bible makes clear the fact that all people have sinned and come short of the glory of God (v.23). Not a single one of us can be saved on the basis of our own life or works.

It is as the Bible tells us: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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."

How then can we be saved? God, in His Word, gives us the answer: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." (v.21-22).

There is a way to be righteous in God's eyes for those who have sinned and do not measure up to God's perfect law. It is a way to be saved apart from obedience to all of God's holy commandments. It is a way described in the Old Testament Scriptures, as well as the New. It is "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." It is a righteousness imputed to those who trust in Christ Jesus and His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead.

And it is a way to be saved available to all people. "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...." All have sinned and all come short, and Christ died and made atonement for all - both those who lived before Christ came into this world and those who live after (Cf. v.23-26).

The only way to be justified, forgiven and accepted of God is through faith in Christ Jesus "whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

Are we righteous before God on the basis of God's law? No, we've all come short and stand guilty and condemned by God's law! Can we still be righteous in God's sight? Yes, through faith in Christ's blood.

God, grant us such faith. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]