religious or righteous

I wonder how many people's lives have been changed by the book of Romans?  What an amazing part of the bible!  I have a unique affection for the letter from Paul to the Romans, because it is the first book of the bible I truly studied.  In my first year of following Jesus, my friend and mentor Cas led me through an inductive study on Romans.  She set the standard for my study of God's Word for the rest of my life.

Read through the book at least 50 times.

Know it; own it.

Observe, interpret, apply.

Memorize and meditate.

That year God developed a love for His Word in me that would be the foundation for everything else in my life.  And it started in Romans.

Today I read this:

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.  Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.  Romans 2: 28-29.

Being religious does not make a person righteous.  Simply doing good things does not make a person good.  Rituals, traditions, and religion can never save a soul.  The most likely outcome of those things is a proud and critical spirit resulting in judgement of others without careful consideration of our own shortcomings.

But praise be to God who has given us His Son to make us righteous!  Thanks be to Him who has sent us His Spirit to transform our very hearts.  Understanding that I fall desperately short of God's perfect law, I cling to the Savior.  By grace through faith my heart is circumcised and my soul is saved.  I am declared righteous in God's sight and I am set free to live the life that God calls me to live.  Hallelujah!!!!