A GOOD MAN

A GOOD MAN

READ:
Romans 3:10-18

By grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God.
-Ephesians 2:8

Jerry was a good man,"  the pastor said at Jerald Stevens memorial services.  "He loved his family.  He was faithful to his wife.  He served his country in the armed services.  He was an excellent dad and grandfather.  He was a great friend."

But then the pastor went on to tell the friends and family gathered that Jerry's good life and good deeds were not enough to assure him a place in heaven.  And that Jerry himself would have been the first to tell them that!

Jerry believed these words from the Bible:  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and "the wages of sin is death" (6:23).  Jerry's final and eternal destination in life's journey was not determined by whether he lived a really good life but entirely by Jesus dying in his place to pay sin's penalty.  He believed that each of us must personally accept the free gift of God, which is "eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (6:23).

Jerry was a good man, but he could never be "good enough."  and neither can we.  It is only by grace that we can be saved through faith.  And that has absolutely nothing to do with our human efforts.  "It is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15). -Cindy Hess Kasper

Christ's work for my salvation is complete!
No work of mine can add to what He's done;
I bow to worship at the Master's feet,
And honor God the Father's only Son. -Hess
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We are not saved by good works, but by God's work.

INSIGHT
Paul's letter to the Romans begins by describing the sorry state of the human condition.  Because of sin, we are separated from the God who created and loves us.  This condition is clearly seen in today's reading, which shows how far we have fallen from who God created us to be.  Paul delivers the bad news to emphasize the good news.  He is concerned that we understand our lost condition, but he also wants us to see that God has provided rescue through Christ.  As Romans 6:23 affirms, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Have a blessed day and weekend.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace