Charles Stanley (February-18-2025) Daily Devotional: Good Works Aren’t Enough
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross ensured that God won’t judge us by what we do or don’t do.
Romans 3:10-12 - as it is written, ``THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
Some people believe good deeds are like a “get out of hell free” card. But an individual isn’t condemned by God because of things he or she does. Condemnation has to do with the person’s sinful state—in other words, having a nature bent away from the Lord.
We all have a rebellious nature. Observe any two-year-old child who tugs on the lamp cord right after his mom says, “Don’t touch!” His impulse to do what he wants is greater than the desire to please his mother. Not one single person is good enough or wise enough to remain sinless and pleasing before the Lord (Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God).
As we saw yesterday, God decreed that sin deserves the death penalty. And His Word makes it clear that only a perfect sacrifice is acceptable for making atonement (Leviticus 22:20 - Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you.). So in our sinful state, we are utterly helpless to save ourselves. God, however, so loved us that He sent the solution to our predicament: He gave His perfect Son, Jesus, to offer His own blood in our place. And when we place our faith in Him as our Savior, our spirit is brought to life and our heart undergoes transformation. The moment God saves you, He makes you into a new creature—one with a nature surrendered to Him and His will.
