Thursday 5 December 2013

Read: Romans 3:21-31 Before Jesus was born God was already at work blessing the nations and all the peoples of the Earth through Israel, His chosen people. We have seen how God's blessing extended to many who were not part of Israel and how God's blessing was extended despite brokenness and sin. There are countless other examples in scripture of God working powerfully to bless all nations before Christ.

How much more are people of all nations and groups able to be blessed now that Christ has come? This was a very scandalous and contentious notion to the Jewish believers in the first century church. Many were unwilling to accept that gentile believers could be an equal part of God's people. Some were willing to accept them as long as they followed certain Jewish laws and requirements.

Paul wrote much to combat this kind of thinking. He insisted that God's blessing through Christ was for people of all nations and groups. Romans 3:21-31 provides an excellent summary of the gospel and shows powerfully how people of all nations can enjoy the blessings of God through Christ.

Paul demonstrates this equality between Jews and Gentiles in the way that builds his argument. In chapter one he describes how all people are wicked and have no excuse before God for their sin, regardless of whether they have heard of God and of the law or not. All men are without excuse because they have the testimony of creation which testifies to God's existence and glory (Romans 1:20) and the testimony of their own consciences against the things that they do (Romans 1:32). He goes on to describe God's just judgment against the Jews also who have received God's law yet, even whilst they teach the law, persist in breaking it. (Romans 2:17-29)

What hope is there then for any of mankind? Paul provides the answer in Romans 3:21. Through faith in Christ God has provided for all mankind an answer to the problem of sin and God's righteous judgment. Notice how careful Paul is to treat all mankind equally in verse 22-24: "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Paul emphasises that all mankind is equally under God's righteous judgment and that all mankind can only be saved through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and through faith in Him. Even those who lived before Christ can only be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. This is Paul's point in verse 25, "He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished..."

We see clearly that salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ and is available to all mankind; past, present and future. Verses 29 and 30 are a glorious summary of Paul's argument: "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."

This blessing which was promised to Abraham and is fulfilled through Christ is available now to all who would believe. This truly is a blessing to all nations. Praise God that we, although not born into Israel, can access the blessing of relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

• Praise God that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ your sins are dealt with and you are able able to have relationship with God the father. Praise God that He made this blessing available to all peoples and all nations through faith in Christ. Pray that God would work powerfully across the world to spread this good news and that many would put their faith in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for Scott and Rachel Adamson as they share the gospel on university campuses with Student Life. Pray that God would encourage them in their work and that they would be filled with passion and energy to proclaim the gospel. Pray that God would go before them to open and prepare hearts to hear His good news. Pray that the student leaders would be encouraged and challenged in their faith and in the mission.

My Additional Prayer Points

1. 2.