SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 3
MEMORY VERSE:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-22)
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (vs. 1-8)
As it is written: “You may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge” (v. 4) Based on human argument, if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness, then God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us. Some even argue that :”If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner? (v. 7) Some even say – “Let us do evil that good may result”.
NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS (vs. 9-20)
Shall we conclude that we are better? No! because we are all under sin. As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit, The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (vs. 10-18).
Since we know what the law says and we are under the law, so every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH (vs. 21-31)
A righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made know, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had let the sins committed beforehand unpunished. He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. The one God is God of Jews and Gentiles. He will justify the circumcised by faith ands the uncircumcised through faith also. The law is not nullified by faith. Rather, we upholds the law.
THOUGHTS: (Source: From Life Application Bible)
Paul contended that everyone stands guilty before God. He disagreed the common excuses of people who refuse to admit they are sinners. They reasoned out as follows: (1)-There is no God. (2)-I follow my conscience. (3)-I am not as bad as other people. (4)-I am a church member or religious person. But no one will be exempt from God’s judgment of sin. Everyone must accept the fact that he is sinful and condemned before God unless he receives God’s wonderful gift of salvation.
The law condemns us but the law is not the basis of our hope. God in his righteousness and wonderful love offers us the eternal life. We receive our salvation not through law but through faith in Jesus Christ. We do not and cannot earn salvation by keeping the law. We accept it as a gift from our loving heavenly Father.
Sometimes, we may take advantage of God’s love and forgiveness that we don’t worry about sin. We must not take God’s grace for granted because God cannot overlook sin. No matter how many excuses we make, we still have to answer to God for our sins.
Some sins are bigger than others. But all sins make us sinners and cut us off from our holy God. Therefore, all sins lead to death regardless of how great or small they seem. Don’t minimize ‘”little” sins or overrate “big” sins. They all separate us from God but they all can be forgiven.
God set sinners free from slavery to sin. Christ purchased our freedom with a big price – his own life. He died in our place for our sins. His sacrifice paid the penalty of death for our sins and completely satisfies God’s demand. His sacrifice brings pardon, deliverance and freedom. Have you put your trust in Him?
Some religions require specific duties that must be performed to make a person acceptable to a god. Christianity is unique in that no good deed will make us right with God. No amount of human achievement or personal goodness will earn us eternal life. We are saved only buy trusting in what God has done for us.
Why does God save us by faith alone?
- Faith eliminates the pride of human effort because faith is not a deed that we do.
- Faith exalts what God has done, not what we do.
- Faith admits that we cannot keep the law or measure up to God’s standards.
- Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.