Devotion #1: Sinners in Need of Grace

I have been going to church for a long time. I am currently 34 years old, and I have actively attended church ever since I can remember. That is a great positive in my life, but it can also be a negative. Sometimes, it is easy for me to think I know it all because I have been “churched” since early childhood. Today, I want to look at the idea that even the most moral or religious among us still need to be saved. We will realize this as we dive into Romans 2:17-3:8. 

Paul starts out strong in Romans 2:17-20, talking to those who think they have got it all figured out: “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God…if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness.” He is talking to people who are proud of their spiritual knowledge, those who think they are exempt because they know God’s Law, or those who feel they have already checked all the boxes. 

Then Paul flips the script. He basically says, “Okay, you know the Law - great! But are you actually following it?” In Romans 2:21-23, he hits them with some tough questions: “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?” He is pointing out that knowing what is right and doing what is right are two very different things. 

Here is the thing: being moral, religious, or even deeply knowledgeable about Scripture does not mean you are exempt from the need for salvation. Paul is telling the religious Jews, “You might think you are safe because you follow the Law, but even you fall short.” 

Romans 3:23 drives this point home later: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It is easy to think that being a good person or following religious tradition earns us some kind of free pass. However, the truth is that no amount of good works or rule-following can make us righteous before God. We all need the grace of God. 

So, what is the takeaway? Even if we are the most religious, moral, or rule-following person, we are still in need of a Savior. Knowledge of God’s Law is not enough. Good deeds are not enough. We all need Jesus. Whether we have grown up in church or are just starting to learn about faith, every single one of us is in the same boat. We are all sinners in need of grace. 

This truth is freeing. It levels the playing field. No matter how good we think we are, God’s love and grace are what saves us, not our efforts. Let us lean into that grace today, knowing that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not through religious duty or moral perfection.