Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Why Christianity? I remember my buddy asking me that question. He asked, "Hey, Val, out of all the faith traditions in this world, why is Christianity the right religion?" I want to pull from a man—his name is Tim Keller. He's an apologist. He said this: Christianity is news. Every other faith tradition is advice.
News vs. Advice
Let me break it down for us. News is a finished event. What is the event of Christianity? It's the birth, death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus. Advice places burdens on people. If I say, "Here are 12 steps to having a peaceful life," I'm going to say, "You do this, this, this." What am I doing? I'm placing a burden on you.
What I love about what Tim Keller said, he says news takes the burden off; advice places burdens on people. In our text today, Romans chapter 1 and verse 17, it says, "This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'"
We Need to Be Made Right
This is Paul speaking, and he's telling us that we need to be made right with God. Here's why: because Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 tells us that we've all sinned, and we've fallen short of the glory of God. You and I need to be in right standing with God. The thing is, we're sinners by birth and by choice.
Paul is saying, when we place our faith in Christ, now when God looks at us, this is what He sees: perfection. He sees perfection because we are in Jesus Christ. When Paul says, "This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight," and then he says, "This is accomplished from start to finish by faith," he's saying, "This Christian race starts with faith and it ends with faith. It doesn't start with faith, and then end with works."
Live a Life Pleasing to Him
Here's how, as believers, we are to live our lives. Some people will say, "Well, do you just place your faith in Jesus and live however you want?" Absolutely not. When we place our faith in the Lord, here's what's going to happen: God will empower us to live a life that's pleasing to Him—not a perfect life. None of us are perfect.
What we'll notice in Christianity is transformation takes time. In fact, some days I feel like I'm going backwards because Christianity is like this: we fall, we get back up, we keep going. Two steps forward, three steps back. The big idea is this: keep your eyes on the Lord. Keep your faith in the Lord. When we do that, we're going to finish strong.
The Good News
The Good News of the gospel is this: God takes the burden. He sends Jesus to die on the cross for us. Now, when we place our faith in Him, we're saved. What are we saved from? We're saved from the wrath of God. That is something to rejoice about.
