ROMANS 3
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
– Romans 3:21-26
ROMANS 3 GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you are chosen by God from the beginning of time
You will be able to receive the grace he gave through faith in Christ
There will almost be no effort on your own understanding
It becomes second nature for you to believe in his teachings
When Christ was given to us, it overpowered human laws
Grace through faith in him became the focus of a Christian’s life.
In this account, Paul focuses on the righteousness of God who is manifested in his Son Jesus Christ. We know that grace is a gift given to undeserving people. All of humanity bears the original sin of Adam and Eve. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Nothing we can do can make us right with God.
For many unbelievers and false Christians, that will be hard to fathom. Unless you have been chosen by God to be his, you will never have the ability to accept him. By nature, we reject and hate God. That was the result of sin. We want to be like God. We want to make ourselves the center of attention. We automatically rebel when we don’t get our way or someone opposes our views or beliefs. We battle with our desires and pleasing God only if we are chosen. There is no battlefield to those who do not belong to him. There is no war between which master to choose. By nature, we always choose the “self” and nothing else, so there is no conflict. You will only have a dilemma if you are called to be one of God’s children. When he calls you, you will now hear the voice of truth. You are now going to have to choose between what is inherent in you and what is supernatural. Your sinful nature is intrinsic and automatic. You breathe “sin.” It is your source of power. This is true for every human being. Without God, you will never do what is right. Everything you do will be bent and leaning towards evil.
For the elect, this state of spiritual death is transformed to life because of the grace given to them. The grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is what makes the big difference to those who are truly chosen by God himself from the beginning of time. They are indwelled by the Holy Spirit who allows them to hear truth and apply it in their lives. Their lives’ purpose becomes serving the Lord rather than serving themselves. Faith in Christ is the amazing grace that brings righteousness to be truly present.
REFLECTION
· How can “grace” be clearly seen in the life of a Christian based on these verses?
