◄ What Does Romans 3:10 Mean? ►

Whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, young or old, rich or poor, most people delight to think of themselves as worthy in the sight of God and of greater merit than other people. Most consider themselves deserving of heaven and that they are a little more principled, and a little more virtuous than the rest of humanity.

But Paul outlines God's condemnation of the intent of man's heart. He details in sober terms the inner thoughts of man's mind and he records in stark language what God thinks of man's actions, man's attitudes, man's words, and fallen man's sinful state: "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not even one."

God's declaration of the whole of humanity is GUILTY. Guilty before God. Measured against the goodness of God, humanity stands condemned. When compared with the righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord, the whole world is guilty before God.

Imputed sin and inherited sin is the birthright of all mankind, for sin has affected the warp and woof of the genetic make-up of every man and woman born into this human race. We are not sinners because we sin - we sin because we are sinners by birth, guilty before God: "For as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not even one."

As believers, we rejoice that we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. As Christians, we celebrate that there is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, and as forgiven sinners we glory in the Cross of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God.

But faith is not a meritorious work that we have performed which makes us deserving of our salvation. Trusting Christ as Saviour, must never be viewed as an undertaking on our account, which has rendered us deserving of the righteous covering of Christ: "For there is none righteous, no not one," not you nor me.

Faith must never ever be viewed as a ticket that has earned us a right to salvation... NEVER. Salvation is simply God's gracious, unmerited, glorious, free gift to all who simply trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Salvation is a gift of God's grace alone, through faith alone, in our Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heavenly Father, I stand amazed at the saving grace that has been extended to guilty sinners. There is none righteous in Your sight, and yet You have offered the free gift of salvation to all who simply trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God. To Him be all honour and glory, forever and ever, AMEN.