Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus: One Hope, One Solution
Romans 3:23-31“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.” v 23, 24
Have you ever received bad news but then it is immediately followed by good news? For example, you got a dream job offer after many failures of job interviews, or you got selected by a top college after receiving multiple non-acceptance letters from the universities, or perhaps you find out that your church worshiping community will have your own church building soon, which have not been possible for many years.
Well Paul has spent the last several verses giving us the bad news. He has told us that the wrath of God is shown towards all those who reject God and His ways. If you reject God and His ways, you will be judged. So, what is the solution to the problem of sin? Paul now has some Have you ever received bad news but then it is immediately followed by good news? For example, you got a dream job offer after many failures of job interviews, or you got selected by a top college after receiving multiple non-acceptance letters from the universities, or perhaps you find out that your church worshiping community will have your own church building soon, which have not been possible for many years.
Well, Paul has spent the last several versus giving us the bad news. He’s told us that the wrath of God is shown towards all those who reject God and His ways. If you reject God and His ways, you will be judged. So, what is the solution to the problem of sin? Paul now has some good news for us. The good news is that although the law cannot save us, Jesus can! Paul mentions about how the law of God is beneficial but it falls short of justifying us before God; it falls short of saving us from our sin and making us okay with God.
God has done something new and special through Jesus the Messiah. God has offered a solution to our sin problem. Jesus can do something that the law could not. There is hope for all humanity and that hope is Jesus! Paul mentions that this is not a new concept in verse 21 that the Law and the Prophets attested to this.
Well, then what we really need? We need the righteousness of God, rather than the wrath of God!. In our sin, we were destined to the wrath of God, but now, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have access to the righteousness of God! So, then the question is who has this access? Jewish people only or Church people only? No! Paul says in verse 22, “. . . to all who believe.” Any and all who believe and have faith in Jesus now have access to the righteousness of God!
The”how” of the solution starts with understanding that God is the one who did it by presenting Jesus. The work of Jesus accomplished all that we need to know God, experience the glory of God, and escape the wrath of God. This is the moment that God had planned from the very beginning. Sin would come into the world and bring the wrath of God, Jesus would then come into the world and bring the righteousness of God!
So, how do we see the righteousness of God in the sacrifice of Jesus? The reason that God is righteous because His wrath is satisfied in the death of Jesus for our sins. God didn’t excuse our sins, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins! So, God is a just judge because He didn’t let sin slide without it being punished.
Also, Paul makes it very clear that there is no room for boasting (or bragging) because the solution is totally from God, based on the work of Jesus! We would be foolish to take any credit for being made right with God through our works!
Paul further clarifies in verses 29-30 that God is not just the God of the Jews. He was God long before He ever called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God of all the universe, He is Lord of all, and He is the loving Savior of all those who come to Him through faith in Jesus the Messiah!
Finally, there is a solution and His name is Jesus! As verse 22 says, “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
God has done something new and special through Jesus the Messiah. God has offered a solution to our sin problem. Jesus can do something that the law could not. There is hope for all humanity and that hope is Jesus! Paul mentions that this is not a new concept in verse 21 that the Law and the Prophets attested to this.
Well, then what we really need? We need the righteousness of God, rather than the wrath of God!. In our sin, we were destined to the wrath of God, but now, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have access to the righteousness of God! So, then the question is who has this access? Jewish people only or Church people only? No! Paul says in verse 22, “. . . to all who believe.” Any and all who believe and have faith in Jesus now have access to the righteousness of God!
The”how” of the solution starts with understanding that God is the one who did it by presenting Jesus. The work of Jesus accomplished all that we need to know God, experience the glory of God, and escape the wrath of God. This is the moment that God had planned from the very beginning. Sin would come into the world and bring the wrath of God, Jesus would then come into the world and bring the righteousness of God!
So, how do we see the righteousness of God in the sacrifice of Jesus? The reason that God is righteous because His wrath is satisfied in the death of Jesus for our sins. God didn’t excuse our sins, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins! So, God is a just judge because He didn’t let sin slide without it being punished.
Also, Paul makes it very clear that there is no room for boasting (or bragging) because the solution is totally from God, based on the work of Jesus! We would be foolish to take any credit for being made right with God through our works!
Paul further clarifies in verses 29-30 that God is not just the God of the Jews. He was God long before He ever called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God of all the universe, He is Lord of all, and He is the loving Savior of all those who come to Him through faith in Jesus the Messiah!
Finally, there is a solution and His name is Jesus! As verse 22 says, “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the incredible gift of Jesus that You have given us. Help us to remain steadfast in our faith in Jesus, our only hope and solution for eternal life. Amen!
Thought for the Day
Seek Jesus and His ways. Spend some time this week and seek the righteousness of God through Jesus. There is only one hope for all of humanity. There is only one solution: Jesus! Will you share the solution with the lost and the dying world?
Minesh Christian
Immanuel MTC, Virginia
Minesh Christian
Immanuel MTC, Virginia