For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (20-22)
We call these truths the gospel or the “good news” but it is the very best news imaginable. In short, we can never do enough to pay for our sins; no one is perfect and we are incapable of keeping the law of God. Thankfully, we don’t have to perfectly keep the law to be made right with God—there is a better way. We simply have to have faith in Jesus Christ. The law shows us how sinful we are and helps us to see that we cannot save ourselves. The perfect and sinless Son of God, Jesus, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and suffer the wrath of God for our sins. When we stop trying to be right with God based on our own merit and instead place our faith in Jesus and come to God by faith in His merit, that is when we are made right with God. As the song goes, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”
This is the very best news imaginable for several reasons. First, because my standing with God has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Jesus. What a relief! I can rest assured that Christ is my Lord and Savior and that He is in control. I don’t have to save myself, Jesus has already done all of the work for me. That is an invitation to genuine peace and security if you will truly embrace it. Second, it is now possible (through Christ) to actually please God and live the kind of life that brings Him glory and honor. It doesn’t depend on me, but on my surrender to Jesus in me. As He controls me, I become the man He intends me to be. Finally, this is true for everyone who believes no matter who we are. This great news is not just for “some,” but it is for everyone who would believe. No matter who you are, you can’t be right with God without coming through Jesus… yet, no matter who you are you can be right with God if you will come through Jesus.
