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You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

“How will I ever find a gracious God?”

That was the torment of a young man, a monk, by the name of Martin Luther.

He knew that God is righteous and holy. And he knew that God demanded righteousness from his people. And he was taught that the way to meet God’s demand of righteousness was to actually be righteous. So, Luther pursued it with full zeal. It was said that no one prayed more, worked harder, fasted longer, or deprived himself of more than he. In the world of monks, no one was more “monkish” than Luther.

But what Luther realized was that no matter how much he tried to cleanse himself of his sins, he still continued to sin. One quick moment of doubt would plunge him back into the gloom of his own guilt. So, his conscience tormented him. And if God demanded righteousness which was impossible to obtain, then God must be a monster.

As he dug further into the Bible, Luther began to realize what the church of his day had abandoned. God is righteous; this is absolutely true. But the same righteousness that God demands, he also gives!

In the days of the apostle Paul, some also felt that their righteousness was the answer. But Paul was clear. If we think we can save ourselves by our own deeds, our own righteousness, then we destroy God’s grace.

When we give up our own self-righteousness and abandon thoughts of deserving God’s grace, then we can embrace the wonderful truth. We are saved sola gratia, by God’s grace. Jesus was righteous for us, and Jesus paid for our sins.

When we look to Jesus, then we, like Luther and Paul, find a gracious God.

Lord God, thank you for giving me the righteousness that I could never earn. Help me to trust that I am saved through your grace alone. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.