Day 288: Romans 1-4; Acts 20:1-3

In the first few chapters of Romans we learn some things about Paul and Judaism...about how his attitude and view of the Law has changed. Remember, the man was a Pharisee...the strictest sect of Jews when it came to keeping every letter of God's law. The fact that God can take a man like Paul and make him an "apostle to the Gentiles" is truly amazing! We find in these chapters that, while Paul still has a profound love for God's law, he has come to realize that it's purpose is not what he thought it was. The law has taught mankind that we are all sinners...everyone...the Jews (who were given God's law) and the Gentiles (who weren't). The things is, they all (we all) have broken it and have no hope of living up to the righteousness God expects of us. He says, "All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law." (2:12)

But here's the good news...in fact, I think these few verses could be the clearest and most concise expression of the Gospel (good news) of grace anywhere in the NT...

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 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. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

Wow! Thanks be to God.