Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. – Romans 3:20
One of the most frustrating jobs I ever had was back when I worked in construction many years ago. And it wasn’t because it was physically demanding work or that I didn’t like the job. I thoroughly enjoyed woodworking and building things, and I was actually a pretty good carpenter. For me, there was a certain satisfaction that came with turning a stack of lumber into something beautiful, creative, and useful.
The reason I was frustrated was because no matter how hard I worked or how good the quality of my work was – it was never enough for the boss. “I’ve seen better,” or “You should’ve had that done two hours ago,” or “Why did you use so many screws?” He was impossible to please. I went from loving that job to absolutely loathing it and quitting about a year later.
How about you? Have you ever tried really hard to meet someone’s expectations, only to feel like you came up woefully short?
In the passage above, Paul is telling us something crucial: no one can earn God’s approval by following rules or being “good enough.” The Law (the Ten Commandments) is there to show us how far we fall short. It’s like a mirror revealing our flaws. No matter how hard we try, we can’t be perfect. The Law highlights our need for something greater – a perfect Savior who has rescued us from our imperfection due to sin!
God requires perfection, make no mistake. But Jesus made us perfect in God’s eyes through his death on the cross. So let this truth free you from trying to prove yourself to God and lean on His grace. Do you trust that what Jesus did for you is enough?
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus – Robert Lowry (1876)
Former Blackout Artist 