The Righteous Live by Faith

By Kelsey Curran

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”—Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)

Try to think back on the last commercial you watched. Maybe it was selling the latest iPhone or pushing a new drug for back pain. Behind each one, there was a team that spent time and money pulling data, hiring creatives, pitching ideas, and ultimately selecting the approach they determined would be best received. 

The gospel is far from that. It didn’t pass through various teams for review or approval. It was not made to be appealing in the way the world sees. The gospel isn’t glamorous. But unlike anything the world could ever sell, the gospel is the solution to everyone’s needs.

Remember the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5)? He was a man of high honor and a leper. He sought healing, but thought Elisha’s command to wash seven times in the Jordan was too simple a method to be effective or worthy his time. Elisha’s servants exhorted Naaman saying, “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?” (verse 13) So he heeded Elisha’s words and “his flesh was restored” (verse 14). 

In the same way, Paul tells the Romans (and us) not to be ashamed of the gospel! It may seem simple or even strange upon first glance (let’s be honest, crucifixion isn’t very relatable in 2020), but the gospel is the power of God! Let that sink in. The gospel is the power of the One who created the universe and brings dry bones to life. He is the author and the answer to everything. How then can we be ashamed of it?

Not only is the gospel “the power of God,” but through it “the righteousness of God is revealed.” Righteousness here can mean upright, virtuous, or faultless. So, it’s by the revelation of the Lord’s perfection that we are changed and begin to look more like Him. Our righteousness is actually His reflection resting on us (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are not righteous by our own works, but rather by His. We only need to believe and it will be attributed to us (Genesis 15:6).

But, like every revelation of truth, the revelation of the gospel should move us to action. As David Guzik says, “They are not only saved by faith, but they live by faith.” In the same way, when we see His power, we must then live by it. No longer should we walk in the same strength and mindset as the world! 

Pause: Paul says the gospel is “the power of God.” Take some time to really think about the gospel in this way. It may seem foolish to the world (1 Corinthians 2:14), but let your eyes adjust and see it as Paul describes.

Practice: Read Ephesians 5:1-7 and 2 Kings 5. True faith is known by its works (James 2:18). Journal out some new ways you can live by faith. 

Pray: God, You made a way for us like nothing else we could ever imagine. Please reveal to me the depth of that power and the beauty of Your righteousness. Let my face and my actions continually be a reflection of all You are. Amen.