Romans 3: A Really BIG “But…”

Key Verse
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…”
 
Meditation
God is a loving Father, eager to forgive sins. God is also a just judge, obligated to uphold the law and punish every “lack of conformity, or transgression, to the law of God” (WSC Q & A 14). Through faith in Jesus, we know God rightly as both our loving Father and just Judge.
 
In today’s reading, Paul patiently answers objections to Jewish frustration of being grouped with Pagans (vv. 1-8), explaining how even a religious people remain under God’s judgment apart from the gospel. Sin has corrupted everything so that no one truly seeks God and no one truly obeys Him (vv. 9–10). “None is righteous, no, not one.” Death reigns in fallen hearts, and the law, as holy and good as it is, has no power to rescue humanity from universal condemnation (vv. 10–20). The law exposes guilt; it cannot remove it.
 
Then comes hope: “But now…” God has made a way by entering into His-story. Now, the righteousness of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ and received by faith alone (vv. 21-22). Now, all who trust in Christ’s righteous work are granted righteous standing before God (vv. 23-24). Now, because of the cross, God’s just wrath has been satisfied in a way that God remains just while justifying those who have faith (vv. 25-26).
 
Grace humbles all boasting and gives God all the glory (vv. 27–31), awakening believers to see both the depth of our sin and the height of God’s covenant love. Because justice has been satisfied, Christians are free to live secure in the love of our Father.
 
Today’s Reading

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, 

       “That you may be justified in your words, 
and prevail when you are judged.” 

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 

No One Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: 
       “None is righteous, no, not one; 
11        no one understands; 
no one seeks for God. 
12    All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; 
no one does good, 
not even one.” 
13    “Their throat is an open grave; 
they use their tongues to deceive.” 
       “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 
14        “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 
15    “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 
16        in their paths are ruin and misery, 
17    and the way of peace they have not known.” 
18        “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith
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. 
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27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. 
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in regard to the depth of human depravity and the majesty of God’s provision?
 
-Which side of the big "but" do you live on? Fearful of the just judge, performing for His acceptance through works of the law? Or grateful and faithful that the just judgment has been satisfied, and so you can respond to God’s grace with obedience to God’s word?
 
-How does the FACT that God Himself has satisfied the judgment required of our sin so that He can welcome us home to His fatherly love both free you and fuel faithfulness? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…”