Simple lessons from Romans – part 5
An undeserved gift
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. – Romans 3:27
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6-8
What did we do to deserve God’s forgiveness? Nothing. Forgiveness is an undeserved gift from God. All we need to do in order to receive forgiveness is to have “faith in his blood” (3:25). We might be tempted to think that we can be justified by what we do or by who we are, but there is nothing we can do to justify ourselves before God. He is “the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (3:26). There is no boasting. It doesn’t matter if we are good Christians, good parents, good citizens, or good neighbors: nothing will justify us but faith.
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. – Romans 3:28
and
It was not through law … but through the righteousness that comes by faith. – Romans 4:13
During Paul’s times some religious leaders were teaching about the requirements of religious practices (“observing the law”) in order to achieve salvation. Paul wrote to make sure nobody was deceived by these lies. As we have mentioned on previous studies, we are called to do “good works”, but we do them because we are already in Christ, and not because we want to justified ourselves before God.
when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. – Romans 4:4-5
The results of our justification
Sin made us God’s enemies (5:10). But justification through Jesus restored our peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2
There will be wrath, but only for God’s enemies (5:9). But for all those who have been reconciled through Jesus there will be salvation.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! –Romans 5:9-10
What a CHANGE!
From sin to righteousness
From enemies to peace
From ungodliness to justification
From wrath to salvation
The bridge to get us to the other side: Jesus.
This blessing was brought to you by: God’s love for you and me.
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