This is not about being perfect and works, it’s about loving God and “seeking after the glory and honor and immorality that God offers.” And that is only through Jesus Christ. In Romans chapter 1 verse 17 it says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
When we understand the Good News that God sent His only Son to take our sins and we open our heart to learn we understand what faith is and how faith leads us to seek and live like Christ. Warren Wiersbe shares this statement on this topic by saying, “True saving faith results in obedience and godly living, even though a person may fall time to time.” It’s not about perfection it is about having your eyes fixed on the prize and growing each day to be like Christ. Look at this phrase that Warren Wiersbe shares about the end of Romans chapter 1, “They had begun knowing God but ended refusing to keep the knowledge of God in their minds and hearts.” As we continue our journey of following Christ we must remember that learning and doing are vital to our walk. This is because when we live out what we learn we cultivate our heart and mind, then our lives begin to change and we die to self and start living for God.
Paul challenges us again in chapter 2 verse 13 when he says, “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in His sight.” I love this because it screams relationship not just learning rules. God wants us to seek and ask so we will go to our knees and talk to Him. That is what Jesus always did, talk to the Father, so we must also. When we can slow down and let the Spirit lead we will be able to transform our hearts and make a difference.
I want you to read chapter 2 verses 28-29 and really think about the meaning as I end this blog post. “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” Amen