Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Romans 3:21-31

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
***************

What is Paul saying? 1) We are sinners. All of us. 2) By grace we are saved through faith. God is not waiting on us to pull ourselves out of the mess we have created. Rather God has chosen to come to us in a radical, unexpected, undeserved act of grace and love. God knows us, our failures and successes, our pride and our guilt, and comes to us in Christ. What greater gift could possibly be given than communion with the Creator despite our own sin? What act of love could be stronger than death on a cross for the sake of the very ones holding the nails? What promise could be better than eternal fellowship through the grace of Christ? We are a blessed people--may we go forth in celebration of these gifts!

Blessings

No comments: