I feel like the rabbit in Alice and Wonderland. “I’m late, I’m late…” In Romans 3 Paul who has so clearly made the point that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the Jews are asking themselves what good is it to have been born Jewish. First of all you must understand that Paul needed to make this point because the Jews clearly thought they were the superior group and he was trying to help them understand that in the Kingdom of God the invitation is for all.
Paul does say that there is a benefit to being Jewish, not that it gave them a foot up or a “head start” on earning Grace but that they were in possession of an invaluable treasure the “very words of God” (vs. 2). That’s pretty important!
In the next few verses (3-8) Paul is trying to clear something up that I must confess I’m not totally clear on. Something about false logic they were being accused of saying “Let us do evil that good may result.” Which to Paul was absurd.
Now Paul goes further in equalizing the human condition before God. “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.” (vs. 9) To which we can say Amen! He then supports his position by quoting from the Old Testament a lengthly passage stating such which could be seen as referring back to the idea that the Jewish benefit was that they had the words of God and in them God says they are all sinners and that non are righteous apart from Him on their own. In fact they are not only “not righteous” they are wicked.
Now if their is any confusion left that Paul clearly states that righteousness does NOT come from keeping the law. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law;” (vs 20a)
Paul does not leave us confused as to where righteousness comes, who provided it, who needs it and how to get it.
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood–to be received by faith.” (vs. 22-25)
I had to quote the whole thing because it’s so important. This passage really needs to be read as a complete thought that Paul clearly intended it to be. Frequently we only hear verse 23 that makes the point that all have sinned but a closer reading will reveal that yes all have sinned but in the same sentence all are justified “freely” by his grace through Christ’s redemptive work. Now here’s the deal Paul has been making the point for chapters that all are in need of the Gospel of Jesus and here he states that all have been justified IF they will only believe and receive this by faith.
This is one of the most shocking things to me. I have heard it said that no one will “go to hell” because of their sins, because all sins have been forgiven. Instead people will experience eternal separation from God because the reject the salvation offered. In the same way, but much more importantly, that coupons are mailed to every home, not everyone chooses to utilize them to save money.
What Paul is saying is that this offer is paid in full by Jesus alone and stands waiting for us to accept it. Period. He then follows this up with “Where, then is boasting? It is excluded.” (vs. 27) None of us are experiencing the Kingdom of God based on our own merit we experience the Kingdom because of Grace and faith.
What an offer? What a tragedy to not accept it and live our lives in eternal gratefulness to Jesus for what he has done. What a strange Kingdom where the King laid down his life to give his Kingdom to his creation.
