Romans 3:19-31

Romans 3:19-31

Paul has shown that both Jews and Gentiles are guilty before God. The universality of human guilt is undeniable. Romans 3:23 is often quoted as a summation of our guilt. But in the next two verses, there is a sort of summation of God’s grace and our redemption. Paul expresses it using three words that are deeply meaningful and which we have sometimes hurried over.

The first word is “justified”; it means to be declared or treated as innocent. If a person is charged with the crime and in the trial it is proven beyond any doubt that they are innocent, they are acquitted and treated as innocent. But in our case we are undoubtedly guilty, having broken numerous laws. Nevertheless, God treats us as innocent. The trial is held, the evidence is presented, and in the face of a mountain of proof of our guilt, God says, “Not guilty,” and we walk away with all the rights and privileges associated with being innocent.

How is this possible? That brings us to the next powerful word that Paul uses, “redemption”. We might better understand this if we use the word “ransom.”. Today the word ransom is not well respected, being used almost exclusively in situations of kidnapping. But in the past, the word was a little more respectable. It was used to describe the cost of bringing POWs back from war. It was the price that was paid to bring a loved one home. In the view of the value of the suffering husband, son, or friend, it was well worth it to pay the price. If the POW wasn’t worth the ransom price, the government would not pay, and the POW would either be executed or become a slave. But God loves man so deeply that He considered the ransom price worth it.

So what was this ransom price? That brings us to the next word Paul uses, “propitiation”. This is a word never used in our world today. In short, it means a sacrifice that deflects or turns away wrath. When, in ancient times, a man sinned, he would sacrifice an animal. The punishment that should fall upon the man would be directed to the animal. It was a case of the innocent victim taking the punishment of the guilty. Ultimately that sacrifice is Jesus.

And in these three words, we see the expression of God as our Judge declaring us innocent, our King paying our ransom, and our Priest making the sacrifice for us.

“Lord, thank You for the mercy You gave me. AMEN”

Romans 3:1-18

 Romans 3:1-18

We have all heard the stories, or perhaps the myths, of the children of the very rich who have squandered their lives and much of the families’ wealth. While perhaps more rare than depicted it is the tragic story of opportunity wasted, of talented individuals and resources that ultimately came to nothing.  That is not unlike what Paul says about the Jewish people. The Jewish people were granted a divinely privileged position; they held a deeply advantageous position over all other peoples in the world. But instead of holding that position as a responsibility, they held it as a matter of self-serving pride. Rather than see themselves as evangelists of God’s grace and goodness, they saw themselves as people with inexhaustible privilege, and rather than live holy, they went deep into sin. God used their rebellion to good purpose, but that did not excuse them nor protect them from His just punishments. Is there an advantage to being a Jew? Yes, but only if you do not waste it. But in disobedience, all men, regardless of race or ethnic heritage, are condemned.

In verses 10-18, Paul strings together a collection of passages that show that the Old Testament condemns all men for a variety of sins. These are not direct quotes but rather a paraphrase and summation of Scripture. In verse 12, Paul says, “They have all turned aside.”. The word Paul uses here was used to describe milk that had turned. The word literally means rendered useless. If you have ever tasted really bad spoiled milk, you understand this word. That is our condition. Paul outlines three ways we all go bad: 1) Our character is best described as ignorant, useless, and wasted; 2) our speech is toxic, deceptive, and destructive; 3) our behavior is destructive, misery-causing, and rebellious.

That is a description of all people, not Jews only or Gentiles alone, but the whole human family. What is more is that this is sometimes the description of people who have been spiritually privileged. As disciples, we can tend to take the advantages and grace we have been given as a license to pride, superiority, or even overt sin. Some years ago there was a slogan making the rounds, “Christians aren’t perfect, only forgiven”. While true, that carries with it a sort of superiority or arrogance that may reveal the most dangerous sin of all: pride. All advantages and privileges we have are gifts and are meant to be used to honor and serve God. 

“Never allow me, Lord, to imagine that Your grace is my privilege.  AMEN”