"But Now..." (Romans 3:21-31)
This week's passage from Romans 3 changed the world.
No, I'm not kidding.
Martin Luther called it the center of the book of Romans and the center of the whole of the Bible.
Leon Morris said it was quite possibly the most important paragraph ever written.
So, why is it such a big deal? Because it defines the benefits of the gospel for us, and shows how Christ's death on the cross frees us from needing to earn our way to God.
In the process, it turns many of our assumptions and insecurities on their heads, and leads us to a path of freedom and joy.
I can't wait to talk about it with you this Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
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.
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.