October 10, 2023 | Be On Mission
Salvation is for All Sinners Who Believe
Scripture: Romans 3(NIV)
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Devotional
Some things apply to everybody. All people need oxygen every second of every day. Gravity affects everyone, whether falling off a chair or off a building. Reality TV is universally seen as a horrible choice (or at least it should be). Oh yeah, everybody’s subject to death and taxes.
The same is true when it comes to sin. The Greek word for sin is hamartia (pronounced haa·maar·tee·uh). It means “missing the mark,” an archer’s term for failing to hit the intended target. It is a picturesque way of describing our failure to uphold God’s divine law. It means a bad deed, an evil action, a wrong done, or a right left undone in thought, word, or deed.
Like gravity, sin applies to everyone. This passage reminds us that “all are under the power of sin.” In verses 10-18, Paul quoted from various Old Testament sources, backing up that statement. He concluded in verse 20 by saying, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
But life is not all bad news. What do these verses say about our standing before God?
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (v. 22a).
“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile” (v. 22b).
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (v. 23).
“…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (v. 24).
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith” (v. 25)
Some things apply to everybody. Sin. Death. Eternity separated from God. But Jesus changed the formula. When we put our faith in Him, and accept that He died in our place, we are made fit for heaven. Our sin. His death. Eternity in the presence of God.
What’s holding you back? If you are ready to accept God’s salvation poured out in Jesus Christ, tell Him. Pray a prayer like this:
“Dear God, I believe in you. I admit that I have missed the mark in my life. I have failed you. I have sinned. I believe that when your Son Jesus shed His blood on the cross He did so for all my sin. I receive that in faith. Please come into my life and save me from my sinfulness. Make me fit for heaven. Come Holy Spirit of God. Fill me with your presence and help me to live on earth as a citizen of heaven. Amen.”
After you have prayed like this, let someone who is a follower of Jesus know. See if that person will walk alongside you in your new journey of faith!
Poem
All
All
Created
God Image Bearers
Know the Truth
Are Tempted
Seduced
Want to be Like God
Rebel
Realize
Hide
Cursed
Expelled
Toil
Die
Sin
Are Not Righteous
Live in Darkness
Are Pursued
Who Faith in Jesus
Are Justified by Grace
Receive Forgiveness
Receive Christ’s Righteousness
Are Called to Uphold the Law
Are Ambassadors
Filled with the Spirit
By Grace
All
