This Day in History: 0000-03-13

March 13 – Romans 9:30-33 

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of trusting in Him. They stumbled over the great Rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when He said,
“I am placing a Stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a Rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” 

The Bible is clear. Salvation is a result of God’s grace, and it is found through faith. Yet people throughout time have continually tried to achieve salvation through works. As this passage puts it, so many of us have tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law. Or, in other words, so many of us have tried to get right with God through our own efforts. 

Perhaps even more difficult to wrap our brains around is the truth that Jesus Himself will become the stumbling block for those trying to earn their salvation. Grace is a concept we just really have a hard time understanding. 

Let’s not get caught in that trap!  

We want to be among those who will never be disgraced. So, we MUST be among those who’s trust can be found in Christ alone. Let’s stop being deceived into thinking there is any other answer. There is no program, no system, no tradition, no amount of good work with the power to save any of us. These things won’t set us free from the penalty of sin, and they won’t set anyone else free either.  

Let’s never again stumble over the Rock of our salvation. Let’s put our whole-hearted faith in the One who died to set us free! Let’s encourage others to find their redemption in Him too. He is our salvation. He is our freedom. He is our redemption. He is our everything!