"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Standards
At one point in our lives, I'm sure we've all faced some sort of standard.
If you want to get a driver's license, than you must take a drivers test. After performing a series of road tests, the evaluator will either pass or fail us based on our performance to meet the evaluation's standard.
If you want to take a flight somewhere, then you must pass through airport security. Before entering the secure area, we must pass through the metal detector and x-ray. We have to empty our pockets of all metal items and leave behind anything that is banned on the flight. If we set off the alarm for the metal detector, we will not be allowed to pass until everything is removed to meet the standard set forth.
If you've ever wound up in court for breaking the law, then you must pay a fine. Pleading with the judge for forgiveness will not change the situation because the only way a person can be set free is if the penalty is paid for the law that was broken.
In all three illustrations, we see that a standard must be met before being allowed to proceed.
The Bible says God has a standard for those who dwell with Him.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Corinthians 6:9)
That standard is to be righteous.
In comparison, if righteousness were a white cloth, it would be pristine and without blemish.
However, the Bible says all of us have sinned and fall short of being righteous. This is because we have broken God's standard of righteousness, the Ten Commandments.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
A few for example are lying, stealing, coveting, taking God's Name in vain, hatred which the Bible equates with murder and lust which the Bible says is adultery of the heart.
In light of God's Holy Law, the Bible says all of our righteousness are as filthy rags.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
So we have a problem. We do not meet the righteous standard to be right with God. Until the penalty for our sins is paid, nothing can wash away our sins. The Bible says the penalty for sin is death. There's spiritual, physical and then eternal which is separation from God in the lake of fire.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:20)
Thankfully God has made a way for us to be saved. He loves us and does not want us to perish. Two thousand years ago, God's Son came into the world, lived a sinless life, suffered and died in our place on a Roman cross. He then rose from the dead and defeated the penalty of death forever. He is Jesus Christ and He paid the penalty for our sins. By His holy shed blood, we be made righteous in God's sight.
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22)
Thankfully, if we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and made righteous in God's sight. By Christ's finished work, our relationship with God is restored and our sins are washed away. We meet God's standard of being righteous to live and reign with Him in Heaven forever.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
>>BACK TO SHORTS
At one point in our lives, I'm sure we've all faced some sort of standard.
If you want to get a driver's license, than you must take a drivers test. After performing a series of road tests, the evaluator will either pass or fail us based on our performance to meet the evaluation's standard.
If you want to take a flight somewhere, then you must pass through airport security. Before entering the secure area, we must pass through the metal detector and x-ray. We have to empty our pockets of all metal items and leave behind anything that is banned on the flight. If we set off the alarm for the metal detector, we will not be allowed to pass until everything is removed to meet the standard set forth.
If you've ever wound up in court for breaking the law, then you must pay a fine. Pleading with the judge for forgiveness will not change the situation because the only way a person can be set free is if the penalty is paid for the law that was broken.
In all three illustrations, we see that a standard must be met before being allowed to proceed.
The Bible says God has a standard for those who dwell with Him.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Corinthians 6:9)
That standard is to be righteous.
In comparison, if righteousness were a white cloth, it would be pristine and without blemish.
However, the Bible says all of us have sinned and fall short of being righteous. This is because we have broken God's standard of righteousness, the Ten Commandments.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
A few for example are lying, stealing, coveting, taking God's Name in vain, hatred which the Bible equates with murder and lust which the Bible says is adultery of the heart.
In light of God's Holy Law, the Bible says all of our righteousness are as filthy rags.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
So we have a problem. We do not meet the righteous standard to be right with God. Until the penalty for our sins is paid, nothing can wash away our sins. The Bible says the penalty for sin is death. There's spiritual, physical and then eternal which is separation from God in the lake of fire.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:20)
Thankfully God has made a way for us to be saved. He loves us and does not want us to perish. Two thousand years ago, God's Son came into the world, lived a sinless life, suffered and died in our place on a Roman cross. He then rose from the dead and defeated the penalty of death forever. He is Jesus Christ and He paid the penalty for our sins. By His holy shed blood, we be made righteous in God's sight.
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22)
Thankfully, if we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and made righteous in God's sight. By Christ's finished work, our relationship with God is restored and our sins are washed away. We meet God's standard of being righteous to live and reign with Him in Heaven forever.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
>>BACK TO SHORTS
