“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”

Romans 3:19
“Churches are full of hypocrites!” How many times have you heard that statement? While there certainly is truth to it, it also may reveal that the speaker doesn’t understand the Gospel. That statement assumes that “real” Christians are pretty much perfect, or at least should be. A more correct understanding is that we all, including “real” Christians, have sinned and do sin. The power of the Gospel message is that our salvation comes by grace and we live by grace through faith. We who continue to fail at some point in our behavior are simply sinning saints clearly in need of God’s grace.
Consider making a correction in the understanding of the Gospel the next time this allegation of “hypocrite” comes up (especially if you are the one who made it!). Yes, Christians are urged to grow in obedience to Christ’s commands. But that urging itself points out that none of us has “arrived” at perfection. The law nails us all so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world—hypocrites or not—is held accountable to God.



Scripture Focus

Romans 3:1-20

Insight

Life in Christ is lived by grace through faith, not by perfect human effort.  

Bible In A Year

  • Deuteronomy 32
  • Psalm 95
  • Acts 19

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