Remnant: A Daily Verse-by-Verse Devotional

Paul writes that law brings wrath. We unpack that and insert sin into that equation. And then we unpack the second half of the verse about there being no transgression without law.

Paul flips the script in verse 14 and imagines a world where we could adhere to the law and achieve right-standing before God. It nullifies some central pillars of our faith and God's word, and we talk about this great point made by Paul.

Paul starts a new section by turning to the Law itself, writing that Abraham's promise did not come through the Law but through Abraham's faith.

Paul writes that righteousness is open to anyone who follows in Abraham's footsteps of faith. We talk about faith and footsteps.

Paul writes in verse 11 that Abraham's circumcision was a sign of his faith. We talk about signs of faith and how sometimes we allow the external signs to become more important than the internal faith.

Paul answers his question from verse nine by pointing out the basic timeline of Abraham's life from Genesis: Abraham's righteousness came from his belief in God, which all came before God established His covenant with Abraham. In other words, righteousness came from faith, and not from works, in Abraham's life.

Paul asks in verse 9 whether this blessing--the blessing David wrote about in Psalm 32 of righteousness and the ability to have our sins "covered"--is available to everyone. The answer comes in verse 10, but today we talk about what it means to be blessed and to bless.

Paul quotes a second verse from Psalm 32 in support of his argument that David's life proves that we are made right through faith, rather than works. We talk about the greatness of David's faith.

Paul quotes David from Psalm 32 in today's verse. We talk about what it means to be forgiven, and how Jesus rose from the dead and overcame death as a gift of forgiveness for you.

Paul invokes a second example of his statement that we are justified by faith: David. We talk about who David was--the good and the bad.

Paul gives the counter to verse 4's explanation of wages, writing that the faith of the one who does not work but just believes is counted or credited as righteousness.

Paul follows up the brilliant use of Genesis 15:6 in verse three with a great analogy in verse four: that if works earned salvation, then God's provision of righteousness is no longer a gift, but just transferring something earned or owed.

Paul cites a key verse from Genesis that had long been misinterpreted by Jewish leaders. We unpack the major implication: that Abraham's belief was counted to him as righteousness.

Paul answers his question from verse 1, saying that if Abraham could been justified by his works, then he would have boasted about it, right? As the church in Rome knew, Abraham certain did not boast in his works, and so it fits Paul's point. We talk about how our "works" impact our lives today too.

Paul begins chapter four with a question that shows he's going to consider Abraham as a test case, or as proof of his point that we are saved by faith instead of works. We talk about Abraham's background.

Paul concludes chapter 3 by clarifying that the Law is still of value, a necessary clarification given how he hammered home how great faith is over the law in preceding verses. We talk about why the law is of critical importance.

Paul writes that God is one. That was specially written for the Jewish members of the church in Rome as a central line in a daily Jewish prayer. We talk about how one true God means he's everyone's God, and not just those who value the works of God.

Paul makes what I think is a brilliant logical argument in verse 29, that if the promise that Abraham would bless all nations is true, then God must be the God of all nations, which means that works of the law cannot be the vehicle of salvation. We talk about how God is an also God.

Paul announces a holding--a pivotal decision for the church--that we are justified by faith alone, apart from our works. We talk about what it means to be justified, and how we can receive that justification from God. (Spoiler alert: it's faith, and only faith.)

Paul circles back to the problem of the Jewish converts in the church in Rome valuing works over faith, and boasting in their works. Paul writes that boasting is out.

Paul writes what might be the central verse of the Bible here in verse 26: that at the cross God's justice met God's love. God is both just and the justifier. He is justice and love. He judges us and provides the means to gain right standing before him. And it's offered to those who have faith in Jesus.

Paul writes that God sent Jesus to turn aside God's wrath--not to lessen the wrath or compromise the wrath, but to turn it away from us and toward Himself. And it's turned away by the blood of Jesus, which is yours to receive. We talk about the difference between receiving and taking.

Paul writes that we are justified by God's grace, and that that grace comes free to us as a gift. It's not something that needs to be earned, but comes freely. 

Paul has a way with words. He sums up pretty much the first three chapters of his letter in this one verse: that all of us sin and that all of us fall short of the glory of God.

Paul went chapters without identifying the fix to the problems of this world that he's spent great efforts to lay out. Now he reveals the fix: faith in Jesus Christ.