In our Bible study this week, we have been reminded that each one of us has a sin problem. Try as we might to do the right thing we all fall short. We have all broken God's heart by choosing sin instead of following Him. This could have been the end of our stories. Praise God, however, that it was not the end of our stories. When we were lost in sin, and it seemed as if there was no hope, Jesus came to rescue us.
The apostle Paul writes about our sin problem in Romans 3. He writes in this passage of Scripture that we are all "under the power of sin" (verse 9). We have all been impacted by sin. As a result, Paul wrote, "No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are" (verse 20). There is no way for us to be made right on our own. Even trying to obey the law only reminds us how we have sinned and messed up. We needed Someone to come to rescue us. We needed a Savior.
Praise God that He saw our sin problem and made a way to bring freedom from sin and death. Paul continued writing in Romans 3, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins” (verses 23-24). As a result of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, Paul writes, "People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood" (verse 25). Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins, God offers forgiveness and reconciliation when we place our hope in Him. Our sin is great, but our Savior is infinitely greater! He gives freedom from sin and death through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Praise God for the hope of Jesus Christ. While we were lost in our sins, God sent Jesus to rescue us from sin and death so that we can be reconciled to Him. May we never get over the grace of God, which He freely extends to us through the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus!
The truth that Jesus came to rescue us from sin is the greatest news. Take some time to reflect on your life and the difference Christ has made in it. Practice sharing your two-minute story, which is the story of what your life was like before Christ, how you came to know Christ, and the difference Christ has made in it. Your practice will prepare you to share your faith when the opportunity to tell someone about the hope Christ offers arises.
1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”
5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
