These past couple of weeks we have been studying the first three chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans. After his greeting and introduction (1:1-15) and setting forth the theme of his letter (1:16-17), Paul spends a lot of time showing how everyone needs the gospel of Christ (1:18-3:20) because "All, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin (3:9)." Under sin is a way of saying sin is the Master of everyone outside of Jesus Christ. An analogy would be playing basketball against Lebron James and everytime he takes the ball and dunks on you he looks at you and says, "I'm your daddy." That would translate - I own you. In a real sense sin is our daddy by nature and by choice. Sin owns us and takes us further and further away from God. Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way."
The incredible good news of the gospel of Christ is that through Jesus Christ God provides for us in two specific ways. First, Jesus Christ provides the perfect righteousness God requires of us that we can never fulfill. Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). He did all the Father requires of man. Second, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the price of sin. We know God accepted His sacrifice because on the third day Jesus rose again and ascended to the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2).
Romans 3:21-5:21 shows us how the righteousness God requires of us has been completely fulfilled in Jesus Christ to be received by faith alone (Romans 3:28; 5:1). Where everyone fell into sin in Adam (Romans 5:12, 19), Jesus never did and all who will dispare of their own righteousness and turn to Jesus' can find perfect righteousness.
Romans 6:1-8:39 shows us that because we are united to Christ we can begin, for the very first time in our life, to obey God and not sin. That is impossible until we are truly united to Christ.
If you know your sin and feel as if there is really no hope for you please turn to Paul's letter to Romans and take heart. God knows you. He knows your sin, BUT He has provided everything you need through the person and work of Christ. There truly is good news for all who recognize the bad news and come to God on His terms - Through Jesus Christ.
"Father, I pray that everyone who reads this would dispare of all hope in themselves for true and lasting change and turn in faith to Christ. He alone obeyed you perfectly and He alone died on the cross to pay sins price and rose again. Father, there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other Name given among men by which we must be saved. May everyone know the reality of a true salvation through being united to the Son you love. Please help us. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
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1 comment:
Amen. Thats good stuff Blake. I appreciate so much your hearts desire for the church and everyone else to understand how great Christ is. How great our salvation truly is. How sweet it is to be saved by Christ. Thank you.
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