Day Three: We are All Sinners

Scripture Reading: Romans 3
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

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.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

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. As it is written:

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. 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 now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 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— 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.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Devotional:
What a depressing picture Paul is painting! All of us are condemned by our own actions. Is there any hope? Paul says yes!

The law condemns us, but the law is not the basis of our hope. God himself is. He, in his righteousness and love offers us eternal life. We are saved, not by the law, but by Jesus Christ. It’s a gift! We cannot earn it. We accept it by faith alone.

So in the great courtroom of heaven, we stand accused of betraying God, the ultimate judge. All the witnesses have been called and the verdict is in: guilty of sin.

But God in his gracious kindness declares us “not guilty”. He has done this through Jesus, who has freed us by taking our sins and putting them on himself. The idea that we can be declared “not guilty” of our sins is a theological concept called justification, meaning “just-as-if-I” never sinned.

Key Verse(s):
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… ~ Romans 3:23

Questions to ponder:

• What makes it difficult for many of us to believe that we gain God’s forgiveness by faith in Christ alone?
• Why would God offer his righteousness free to every person?
• What role, besides judge, is God playing in your life?