Sunday, April 7, 2019, Evident Grace looked at Romans 3.21-31:

Romans 3: 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.

From those verses, we looked at these Big Picture Questions and points:

Big Picture Question:  Why am I happy?  I didn’t do anything.

aka Why do I feel better?  I didn’t do anything

 

Good Grief

I’m a Hot Mess

Humble Brag

 

Good Grief

Romans 3: 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.

We have a problem.  We can’t obey.  The law of God showed us our need and the character of God.  We are in problem.  But then, a goodness apart from our obeying appeared:  the goodness of Jesus.  When we have faith in the goodness of Jesus, we are forgiven and saved.

 

I’m a Hot Mess

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.

Everyone, and I mean, everyone has sinned and fallen short of His glory and what we are all called to.  But God gives us a gift.  That gift is that our relationship with Him is repaired by the work of Jesus.  And the death of Jesus satisfied all the wrath of God for our sin.  Through that, God is both just and justifier.

 

Humble Brag

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.

We don’t have anything to boast about.  The only thing we can boast about is Jesus.  No one gets to boast about their race or any thing they’ve done.  That doesn’t mean that obedience is unimportant.  We still obey, but we obey to say thanks to God.

 

Big Picture Question:  Why am I happy?  I didn’t do anything.

Why do I feel better?  I didn’t do anything

 

Good Grief

I’m a Hot Mess

Humble Brag

 

Truth:  The one true hope of the imperfect world is that we can boast in the fact that God has given us the goodness we need – the goodness of Jesus. 

Application:  Live boasting that you have every single thing you need because Jesus has given you the payment for you guilt, the goodness that you need, and the hope of eternal joy. 

Action:  Boast in Jesus! 

 

How does a community do that?

 

Remember, we have the Spirit

Move toward and greet one another

Have Thoughtful Conversations

See the Good, Enjoy one another

Walk together, tell stories

Have compassion during trouble

Pray during trouble

Be alert to Satan’s devices

Talk about sin

Help fellow sinners

Keep the story in view

“Side by Side” by Ed Welch