2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Friday, October 30
Romans 3:19-28
19 Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
“… they are now justified by his grace as a gift …”
In the movie “The Godfather”, Michael Corlioni (Al Pacino) is talking with his girlfriend Kate (Diane Keaton) and telling the story of how his father (Marlin Brando) got a producer to give a movie part to a friend of the family. As story goes, Michael says that his father made the producer “an offer he couldn’t refuse”. Such is the gift we receive from God through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Rather than holding a gun to our head, God offers a gracious gift gained through the death and resurrection of God’s Son. God grants us this generous gift out of pure, unconditional love. Even though we are sinners and do not merit this graciousness, God bestows it upon us anyway. Something we cannot earn, deserve, or in any way gain ourselves is given free of charge to those who believe.
This is the greatness of the Gospel. It is given to us to remind us of God’s wondrous love. It reveals God’s mercy at its highest. We are saved from sin, death, and the devil, not by our own actions but by the gift of God received through faith. It is, in many ways, an offer that we cannot refuse.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we have been given the gift of new life. May I receive it with joy and honor it by serving You in love each day. Amen.