“Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.” (Acts 13:39 NLT).

HOW CAN WE BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD?

Paul and Barnabas preached justification by faith in Christ alone while visiting the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, which was a prominent Roman city located in what is now SW Turkey. This was on Paul’s first missionary journey. They made it clear that what the law of Moses could never do, namely, make us right with God through trying to keep the law, Christ had done (See Rom. 8:3).
 
The only way to be made right with God, to have our sins forgiven, is through believing in Jesus Christ. For it is by believing in Christ that His righteousness is imputed and applied to us.
 
I suppose they could’ve preached about the importance of placing our faith in Christ without mentioning the law of Moses. This would’ve made their preaching more palatable to the Jews. However, they wanted to make it clear that it was not faith in Christ plus the works of the law, but faith in Christ alone that makes us right with God. The law of Moses cannot save.
 
How can we be made right with God? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
 
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to die in our place that we might believe in Him to receive His righteousness in place of our sin. Help us to share this Good News with our generation today, being careful not to add law-keeping to its message. For it is believing in Christ alone that saves. Empower us to proclaim this Good News as Your Son has commissioned us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.