Romans 3
Just in case we haven’t got it yet, Paul expands his argument that all humankind is sinful and in need of salvation from the gospel in the first half of today’s chapter. You do not have any profit in being religious, Paul says (3:9). There is no-one righteous, right with God, by nature or through what they do themselves (3:10). The whole world is accountable to God, unable to utter a defence for itself (3:19). Indeed, “religion”, or understanding the law (the Old Testament in shorthand), does not make you safe before God. Instead, it should make us more conscious of our self-centredness, our selfishness, our wickedness, our sinfulness (3:20). And so our need for God (3:21).
And the second half of the chapter is therefore exactly the balm we all need at this point! The almighty God has provided a way to save us from this sinfulness! This is what the Old Testament was talking about all along (3:21)! This rescue plan comes in the form of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (3:22). Jesus was sacrificed to demonstrate and fulfil God’s need for justice (3:25-26). His blood has bought us freedom from our sin – if we believe in Him.
Verses 22-23 are a great summary of Paul’s argument so far, and of the gospel. They would be worth meditating on and learning this week – and then bringing out and preaching to yourself and to others when you are tempted to trust in your own works for your salvation or to think of others as less good than you spiritually. There is no room for boasting (3:27)!
(friend of Christ Church)
(friend of Christ Church)