Romans
Last week a number of students gathered to continue looking at the book of Romans, led by Rupert. We are working our way through Rom 3:21-26
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
These are the key things we have been looking at in this verses…
1. Justification - is often said that it is “just as if I” never sinned. While this is good, it doesn’t go far enough. The image is a court room, and it is not just a pronouncement of “Not Guilty”, but a declaration of “you are righteous”! This declaration is not based on our own lives, but on the life that Jesus lived. Where the NIV says: “faith in Jesus Christ”, you could also translate that “faithfulness of Jesus Christ”. In other words, it is His faithful obedient life, selflessly lived before the Father, that is credited to us.
An analogy may help here: We are in debt, for our selfishness (sin). This debt has not only been wiped clean (which is good news!) but we have been credited with a huge, unlimited bank balance (which is fantastic news!).
2. Redemption - is a slavery image, and the NT primarily sees us as in slavery to sin. It is though there is a weed that is growing in our hearts, that however much you pull up, the roots are so deeply embedded, it keeps growing back. Jesus has freed us from that slavery to sin. It is not that we never sin, but we are not controlled by sin. We are free to live a righteous life. A “God-seed” has been put in our hearts, that if we nourish it and water it, will destroy the roots of the “sin-weed” and flourish in a fruit-bearing tree (oak of righteousness).
3. A judgement out of time - He has shown his justice “at the present time”. We would expect a judgement (or assessment at the end of our lives), but God has declared His verdict NOW: “You are righteous”! It is a bit like enrolling at University on your first day, and being handed a certificate of graduation, first class honours, and a prize for being top of the class. “But I haven’t done anything to deserve that“, you cry. That is exactly the point.
