God's Word For Every Day

Justification by faith - This is a useful summary of the central message of Paul's letters to the Romans and the Galatians. This gospel teaching is the exact opposite of the way many people think about Christianity. So often, Christianity is confused with morality. What is a Christian? Many people will say to us, 'It's someone who tries hard to be good. It's someone who lives a decent, respectable, law-abiding life. It's someone who helps his neighbour and gives to good causes.' This is not, however, the way in which the gospel answers the question, "What is a Christian?" The gospel tells us, 'It's a sinner who has seen his need of Jesus Christ, and has come to him, in faith, to receive the forgiveness of sins, new life through the Holy Spirit, and the gift of eternal life.' To understand the gospel's answer to the question, "What is a Christian?", we must stop looking at our own religion and start looking at Christ's sal...