“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” – Romans 3:21-22
God’s righteousness, as revealed in Romans 3:21–22, comes not through the Law, not through ritual, and certainly not through human effort. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Our justification begins with what it is not: it is not Christ plus sacraments, works, or philosophical ideas. But that doesn’t mean confession, repentance, and surrender to Christ’s lordship are optional add-ons—they are the spiritual breath and pulse of true salvation. Just like Paul emphasized in Colossians, obedience doesn’t corrupt the Gospel; it confirms it. Jesus doesn’t just rescue us—He remakes us.
This remaking starts in the heart and shows up in everyday choices. Sin once blackened the soul, but now grace paints in light. Imagine a young man dining out with friends who want to party afterward. He declines—not out of fear of his father’s reaction, but because he doesn’t want to hurt his father. That’s obedience born from love. And it’s that kind of transformation Paul urges us to live by. Real faith isn’t a one-time confession—it’s a lifetime of response. If a man says he once believed but walks away entirely, Scripture reminds us in 1 John 3 and Colossians 1 that continuance in faith is what reveals the truth of justification.
The thief on the cross gives us hope. Though he had mere moments left to live, his heart bowed to Jesus, crying “Lord.” And Jesus saw it. Not just the word, but the worship behind it. Had he lived longer, his life would have exploded with the fruits of the Spirit. His confession wasn’t empty—it was Spirit-born. Just as Thomas cried, “My Lord and my God,” and Paul asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”—genuine salvation calls us to action, even if that action starts with a whisper of surrender. Our faith must grow legs and walk, or it was never alive.
So what does this mean for us today? It means we don’t need to add anything to the Gospel—but we should expect transformation from it. If you’ve bended your heart to Jesus, you were justified in that moment. Promised paradise. But that promise wasn’t only for one day—it’s for every day. Walk in it. Lean into it. Let your choices reflect the change within. Obedience isn’t mechanical; it’s relational. Christ completes us, and from that completeness, we live. Keep walking, grounded in the Gospel, unmoved from the hope you received. He began the work, and He will complete it.
“The righteousness of God is not a reward to be earned by works, but a gift to be received by faith. It is not ours by merit, but by grace.” – John Stott
surrendered devotions 