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.    

When Paul writes that in the gospel story, He states a righteousness from God is revealed. He is speaking of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the message of the Gospel. The Gospel centers in the person of Christ. It is all about His sinless life, substitutionary atonement, and supernatural resurrection. He is the object of the Gospel and the object of our faith. We must see that Christ is righteousness and that He imparts His righteousness to us.

Faith is not just something by which we enter into a right relationship with God, faith is also the basis upon which we live every day.  Faith is just like the love that is the basis for marriage. Love leads to marriage. Marriage then becomes the context in which a man’s love for his wife (and her love for him) grows. Marriage begins with love and continues to grow and express itself in love. Married life is “from love to love,” just as the Christian life is “from faith to faith.”

While studying these verses, Martin Luther was spoken to by the Holy Spirit. He understood for the first time that all his striving for righteousness was a waste of time. It did not come by his good works, fasting, prayers, or devotion to the church. It only came by faith. It came by believing Christ died for him. This truth allowed him to stand before the Pope and his council when he broke away from the false teaching of the Roman Catholic church to trust Jesus alone for salvation.  This began the Reformation. This is a dangerous passage. God used Luther who translated the Scriptures so all of German could read it.

I like what Dr. Bob Moorehead wrote, “I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." the die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me.

And when Jesus comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16) I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.”

Amen

Dale