Instruction
Scripture: Romans 3:19-28
This passage completely changed the way that Luther looked
at the Gospel and was an important catalyst for the Reformation because it
emphasizes that God’s righteousness is ours by faith, not works.
Here we are taught that no one is righteous before God because
of the things they do, but only become righteous before God, that is they are
justified, by faith in Jesus. The force of this text is to take away any sense
of self-reliance for our salvation and to impress upon us the all-sufficient
nature of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Teaching
In these verses St. Paul looks at the issue of how one can
be righteous. Many try to do so through works; trying to be obedient to God’s
Law. He states flatly that this won’t work, for all have sinned and fall short.
Finding the Law incapable of making people righteous, Paul focuses in on faith.
It is faith in Jesus that receives God’s righteousness as a gift of grace
because Jesus’ blood was shed as the sacrifice to pay for sin.
Paul asks, “Then what becomes of our boasting?” It is human
nature to point to our actions, our contributions, and our importance, and Paul
leaves no room for any of these things. The law of faith holds that only Jesus’
actions can justify us, and we can only receive justification from our sins by
His death. No efforts of our own will suffice. This is, however, good news
because Jesus has acted on our behalf, and elsewhere Paul will note that our
boasting is in Him.
Life
Everything either stands or falls on the message of this
passage. Must we, by our actions earn our place in God’s presence or contribute
something somehow to be accepted by Him? Or, do we come to be justified – that
is, forgiven, set right with God – because of what Jesus has done? This passage
says it is what Jesus has done that matters.
So does that mean good works don’t matter? Of course not!
Luther once said, “We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone.” Faith
always produces good works in us. Romans 3, however, has us dealing with the
cause, not the effect. It is dealing with the first thing, not the second.
Faith in Jesus saves us. Faith alone takes hold of the forgiveness Jesus
purchased at the cost of his own blood for us.
Prayer
O God, You have provided salvation for us that is completely
separate from the things that we do. Through the whole Bible You show us that
we are justified by Your grace as a gift through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus.
Thank You! Words cannot express how grateful we are for this
great gift!
We know that all have sinned and fall short of Your glory, O
God. Please forgive us from seeking to justify ourselves. Forgive us for also
acting like our actions don’t matter since we are justified.
O God, let this good news go out into all the world, and let
our hearts cling firmly to the message that we are justified by faith alone.
Then let our lives show that we are indeed justified people – that is, we are
forgiven sinners who boast only in what You have done for us in Christ. Amen.
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