We live by faith, in Jesus

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans1:16-17

Paul is a master at coming up with unexpected insights: He says that the Gospel reveals God's Righteousness.

When we think of Righteousness, we tend to think of crimes being punished, not sins being forgiven. Righteousness means holy, perfect and sinless.

The Gospel (means "Good News") is about being saved. It is about receiving mercy. It's about not being righteous and yet receiving the benefits of righteousness.

Gospel and Righteousness are not normally compatible, and one would think that the only way to make it so would be a compromise where either Righteousness is watered down or Gospel benefits are limited.

But God manages to bring Gospel and Righteousness together. This is because He brings His Righteous Son to the sacrifice-atonement of the cross to deal with our Unrighteousness. We are given His Righteousness.

Now Gospel and Righteousness are compatible!

We begin each service of worship, each opportunity to love and revere God, as "Saved Sinners."
We come to worship God, who gave His very best so that we can be delivered from our very worst!

And so like Paul, we are not ashamed - we are "Saved Sinners" with a Gospel-given Righteousness.

May the Lord bless us as we come to worship Him and listen to His Word tomorrow!