22 lines
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22 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">January 10</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>The Inability of the Law to Justify</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>Knowing that a <b>man</b> is <b>not justified</b> by the <b>works</b> of the <b>law but</b> by <b>faith</b> in <b>Jesus Christ</b>…But that <b>no one</b> is <b>justified</b> by the <b>law</b> in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',2,'16-16');">Galatians 2:16</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Gal', 3, 11);">3:11</a>)</div>
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<p>Our great initial need before God is to be <b>justified</b>, to have God Himself declare us <b>not guilty</b>, to have the Lord pronounce us <b>righteous in His sight</b>. At first glance this <b>appears</b> to be an <b>impossible</b> situation for man. <b>God</b>, our Judge, is <b>holy</b> by His nature. <b>Man</b> (because of sin) is <b>unholy</b> by nature. <i>"But <b>we</b> are <b>all</b> like an <b>unclean</b> thing, and <b>all</b> our righteousnesses are like <b>filthy rags</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa',64,6);">Isaiah 64:6</a>).</p><p>The consequences of such ungodliness are inevitably <b>universal</b> and appropriately <b>severe</b>. <i>"For <b>all</b> have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…For the wages of sin is <b>death</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',3,23);">Romans 3:23</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Rom',6,23);">6:23a</a>). The <b>just</b> sentence for <b>all</b> of humanity, in light of their sins against a pure, holy, and eternal God, is <b>death</b> (everlasting separation from God).</p><p>The law of God offers no help and provides no hope of remedying this dire situation. People are <i>"<b>not justified</b> by the <b>works</b> of the <b>law</b>."</i> Trying one's best to measure up to the law never produces a verdict of not guilty. In all of history, Jesus was the only one who could be evaluated by God's law and receive a declaration of living righteously. Jesus was <i>"in all points tempted as we are, yet <b>without sin</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',4,15);">Hebrews 4:15</a>). No other person could ever perform sufficiently before God's law to achieve a declaration of righteousness. <i>"<b>No one</b> is <b>justified</b> by the <b>law</b> in the sight of God."</i></p><p>Vows and pledges of personal improvement offer no hope. Asking others how to strive more earnestly provides no assistance. <b>Only faith</b> supplies the necessary remedy. <i>"A man is not justified by the works of the law <b>but by faith in Jesus Christ</b>."</i> Trusting in our own best efforts leaves us guilty before God. Trusting in Christ's perfect work on the cross makes us justified before God. <i>"The just shall live <b>by faith</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord, my God, I praise You for Your glorious grace poured out upon me in justification. By Your grace alone You have declared me righteous in Your sight. I was totally guilty before Your holy law. I had no excuses and no hope of rescuing myself. Your law rightly condemned me, and I never could have reversed that verdict by my own performance. I trusted in Your Son, and You pronounced me righteous before You. To You, my Lord, I give all honor, glory, adoration, and thanksgiving, through Christ Jesus, my Savior, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0109.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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