July 17 Daily Devotional

The Art of Christian Living

Peter G. Feenstra

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. Romans 3:20–21

Bible Reading

Romans 3:19–26

Devotional

The letter of Paul to the Romans has a powerful impact on the lives of millions of people. John Calvin once wrote, “If a man understands Romans he has a sure road open to help him understand the entire Bible.” Paul’s letter to the Romans is a basic handbook for Christianity. Some suggest that when the authors of the Heidelberg Catechism divided the catechism into the three parts of sin and misery, deliverance and gratitude, they used the structure of the book of Romans.

When we study Romans we discover those three main sections. Chapter 1:1 through chapter 3:20 establishes the sin and guilt of all mankind before the Lord. Both Jews and Gentiles—those who have received the promises of the gospel and those who have not—are all guilty before the Lord because of their sins and sinfulness.

The second section of this letter, which begins at chapter 3:21 and runs through chapter 11:36, displays the great mercy of the Lord in delivering us from the depth of our sins. “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed...” The Lord lifts us out of the bog of our own sinfulness by granting us a Saviour. Christ frees us from the bondage of sin and from the power of the devil. He transfers to our account His perfect righteousness and holiness so that, even though we deserve to be punished with eternal death, we are declared innocent and heirs to eternal life. The third section, spanning the chapters 12–16, gives the practical implications of our deliverance. Since we have been delivered from our sins by the grace of God we are to bring forth fruits of thankfulness.

The letter to the Romans teaches us the true art of Christian living and places before us some basic questions. What do I need to know to live and die in the joy of my only comfort? What do I need to know as a senior citizen who does not have many more years to live? What do I need to know as a parent, a worker in God’s vineyard, a teenager who looks to the future with all sorts of goals and aspirations? Paul’s letter takes us to the bottom line: to live and die in the joy of my only comfort, I need to know my sins, my Saviour and my service. Let us thank God for revealing to us the art of Christian living.

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