Good Saturday morning. Pray with me for the Hooker family as Renae is declining in health and has begun her journey to be with Jesus. She is on Hospice and is not in pain; she is surrounded by her loving family, childhood friend, brother, and her angel, Lisa Gustafson. Pray for their strength through this difficult time.


We in the Lutheran church believe that we are saved by grace and that no amount of works or good deeds can save us. Paul writes about that in Chapter 3:24, but here in Chapter 2, he says the doers of the law will be justified. Conflicting messages. The Jews were trying to keep the Leviticus laws to the point that they overlooked the point of grace. They also thought they were superior to the Gentiles who did not have the law. Paul is trying to educate them that all will be judged in the end, no one is superior.


Romans 2:12-16

12 All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.


I understand how important it is to live out your faith rather than just reading about it, or hearing it. It has been said that sitting in church no more makes you a Christian than sitting in your garage makes you a car. The point is that good deeds will not save you, but it is good to do them out of love for your neighbor. Be kind.


Those of you who have been reading this blog all along might remember what James had to say in Chapter 2: 14-20. Or go look it up.


Blessings on your day,

Pastor Sue