Earned Salvation Isn't God's Plan

Romans 3:23 is one of those verses you may have memorized: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It's certainly short, sweet and to the point, isn't it? If you're looking for loopholes in terms of getting around the 'hard stuff' in the Christian faith, this isn't the verse for you.

ALL have sinned. Not just 'bad' people, like murderers, or rapists, or robbers. People like me. People like you. People who gossip. People who are envious of others' success. People who bully others. Yes, people who sin. ALL of us have sinned.

Thanks be to God that verse 23 isn't the only verse in scripture! Take a look at what Paul says next:

ALL are justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (emphasis added).

So let's review:

1. All of us have sinned.

2. No amount of good works can earn our salvation.

3. Jesus paid the price for our sin.

4. Jesus bids us to lay down our life, take up our cross and follow him.

I follow Pastor Tim Keller on Instagram. Keller is the founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, a church that has brought many to faith in a city that is not well known for pious living. Keller has written many books on faith and living the Christian life in a post-christian world. He posted this on Instagram, and I am struck by the truth of these words and how they connect to Romans 3:23-26:

"God invites you to come as you are, not stay as you are."

Yes, I'm a broken sinner, and I can never "out-good" God. But he longs for me to experience wholeness and forgiveness, and the only way I can do that is to come to the foot of the cross, acknowledge my sin, and ask him to change me. What an adventure it is when we follow Jesus! While your life as a Christ follower will not be pain free, it will be an adventure of a lifetime as you grow into the person who will sing God's praises for all eternity!

Romans 3:23-26