Romans 1v16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

There are many things to say about these two verses early in Romans, but just dwell for a moment on the term “righteousness that is by faith”. The word righteousness is best understood as meaning “right with God”, and so the phrase is simply telling us that this “right with God” is by faith. Faith is to trust in something, to believe it such that you rely on it and act on it. You do not have to do it yourself, you trust in it.

This is the wonderful truth of the gospel – all that is required is a reliance on Jesus to be made right with God. It seems almost unbelievable, but it is true, faith makes the good news of Jesus effective in our lives. Later in the letter, Paul writes, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We have reason to be extremely thankful for the reality of this gospel message! May we know more of this truth in our hearts.

With much blessing,

Roland