Romans 3

Bible Passage:  Romans 3

We started off the book of Romans by saying that the Bible is honest about sin.

Now, in Romans 3, we are confronted with the …

Universality of Sin

In the previous chapters, Paul pointed out that the Gentiles have sinned.  Now, in this chapter (vs. 1-8), he starts off by showing that the Jews – the chosen people of God – are similarly guilty before God.  They had failed in their special role and were liable for judgement along with the rest of the world.

Paul then continues to declare that ALL people are sinners (vs. 9-20).  From verses 10-18, Paul uses Old Testament quotations to show that our whole inner being is controlled by sin:  the heart, the mind, and the will.

And when we are measured by God’s perfect righteousness, we are in no way and any way sinless.  In fact, no sinner seeks after God.  God, therefore, must seek the sinner (Gen 3:8-10; Lk 19:10).

The word “therefore” in Romans 3:20 carries the meaning of “because” and gives the reason why the whole world is guilty:  No flesh can obey God’s law and be justified in His sight.  Nobody can do what the law demands.

Where am I going with this?

Sometimes we tend to forget how serious sin is.

We think that since we are such ‘faithful’ Christians – we go to church at least 3 times a week, we read the Bible, we pray – we are ‘righteous’ before God.  We defend ourselves and our actions.  We even commend ourselves.

But the whole world is guilty before God – and that includes us!

And we have to see ourselves for who we truly are…

Salvation – Righteousness Declared

Does that mean we are without hope and deserving of death?

The great thing about our God is that He does not leave us to our deserved end.  He gave us Salvation through Jesus.

From verses 21 to the end, Paul shows us what this salvation is all about.

In verse 21, we learn that under the Old Testament, righteousness came by behaving right; under the New Testament, righteousness comes by believing right.

But faith is only as good as its object.  All of us trust something – sometimes the thing is trust most is ourselves.  But the Christian should trust in Christ.  Many people say, “I trust in God”.  But that is not what saves us.  Only our personal faith in Jesus Christ saves us and justifies us.

Initially, God gave His law to the Jews and not the Gentiles.  But now the good news of salvation through Christ is offered to ALL mankind.  People everywhere needs to be saved.

Salvation is free – but it was not cheap!

In verses 24 to 25, we read of 3 words that expresses the price that God  paid for our salvation:

• Redemption – freed us from the penalty of our sins.

Redemption takes on a more significant meaning in societies where slavery still exists.  It refers to buying back or paying a debt for someone who is in slavery.

Sin creates a moral debt that we can never repay.  But God has graciously allowed His Son to pay that debt for us on the cross. We may think it is “our life” but Satan owns it because we have sinned.  But Jesus paid the impossible debt of sin that was levied against our lives.

Think about this the next time we are tempted to sin.

• Propitiation – made right with God (now you know what Pr Simon Chin means when he uses this word during Holy Communion (: )

Propitiation, in human terms, means appeasing someone who is angry, usually with a gift.  But this is not what it means in the Bible.

Propitiation means the satisfying of God’s holy law so that God can freely forgive those who come to Christ.  God does not ignore the offense of our sin; He settled that offense through Jesus Christ.

How great a debt do we owe Him!

• Blood – without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin

The key thing in redemption and propitiation is the blood of Jesus.  Blood is life (Lev 17:14).

The horror of sin is such that it can never be settled with a payment or punishment.  It has to be settled with life – a life for a life.

Sin is more than “I’m sorry” and “Will you forgive me?”

Sin is more than “How can I make things right?”

The answer to sin is somethings we can’t do.

Everything in our life is tainted by sin.  And only a perfect life offered on our behalf can overcome the offense created by sin in our lives.

We need the blood of Jesus to wash away our sins.

“What can wash away my sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

May the love of Jesus for my sins be a constant reminder in my life today so that I can live a life worthy of His redemption, propitiation and blood.