“To preach the Gospel of the unconditional grace of God in that unconditional way is to set before people the astonishingly good news of what God has freely provided for us in the vicarious humanity of Jesus. To repent and believe in Jesus Christ and commit myself to him on that basis means that I do not need to look over my shoulder all the time to see whether I have really given myself personally to him, whether I really believe and trust him, whether my faith is at all adequate, for in faith it is not upon my faith, my believing or my personal commitment that I rely, but solely upon what Jesus Christ has done for me, in my place and on my behalf, and what he is and always will be as he stands in for me before the face of the Father. That means that I am completely liberated from all ulterior motives in believing or following Jesus Christ, for on the ground of his vicarious human response for me, I am free for spontaneous joyful response and worship and service as I could not otherwise be.”
- TF Torrance
(HT: Of First Importance)
Filed under: Christ our Mediator, Christ our righteousness, Christ our treasure, Discipleship, Doctrine, Evangelical, God's grace, Jesus Christ, Union with Christ, Worship
“It is NOT those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who OBEY the law who will be declared righteous.” Rom 2:13
It is eveidient that Paul thinks it is necessary that you obey a particular law to be declared righteous. Do you have any idea what this law is?
Thanks for the comment Theodore.
Taken on its own (and out of context) this verse would suggest law-keeping was a requirement for righteousness. But seen in context, within Paul’s flow of argument, we see that here Paul is saying, ‘it’s not hearers of the law that are righteous but doers.’ The point is on doing over hearing. But his argument proves the impossibility of works-righteousness by us. No one can be considered righteous by keeping the law because sin prevents us from keeping the law – thus upholding God’s righteous judgement against sin. God, however, has provided a righteousness for us in the perfection of his Son. By faith in Christ’s substitutionary life and death God counts us righteous. That’s the good news! Keep reading. Especially chapter 3:21-26. God does require literal obedience, works-righteousness, and it is perfectly accomplished by Christ and reckoned to us by faith.
Peter