The Universal Solution to the Universal Problem!

In the first part of chapter 3, Paul establishes there is no difference between Jewish people and Gentiles (non-Jews).  Just because God chose the Jewish nation to reveal his plan of salvation through Jesus the Messiah, it doesn't mean they are any more righteous than them.  Paul summarizes it quite succinctly in Romans 5:10 when he states, "No one is righteous—not even one." Romans 5:10 This then paves the way for Paul to point God's solution to our common problem of sin.

Christ Took Our Punishment

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[i] 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.

God has shown us a "way".  It was God's initiative to unveil the plan he had always had to bring us back into relationship with Him.  Since we cannot keep the Law, which is perfect and pure, God needed to provide another way.  And this solution needed to be for all people.  The resolution to our being separated from God by our sin is not about trying to do more good deeds.  The resolution is about faith in a person, Jesus Christ.  Faith is about trust.  Faith in Jesus is to say we trust in Him for us to do that which we could never do for ourselves, save ourselves.  And just as sin is a universal problem, Jesus is the universal solution. 

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.

Like Romans 5:10, Romans 3:23 is a summary of the problem all humankind faces.   ALL have sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard.  Notice it is God's standard not ours.  The problem with human standards is they are warped by the lens we use to see what is truly right and wrong.  Yet God's standard it is glorious.  His standard emanates from who He is as pure and holy.  God's standard is perfection.  As we say in our Lutheran confession, "We sin by what we have done and by what we have left undone."  Meaning it is not just the things we have been done wrong but also the good things we have failed to do.  We are guilty on both charges.  

So if the standard is perfection than we need something outside of us to attain it.  We also need to way absolve ourselves of sin.  We need someone to pay the penalty for it.  We can't pay for our own sin, because we are bankrupt.  But this is where God's grace comes in.  God dealt with our sin by sending His Son, who was without sin to pay for OUR sin.  Jesus paid the price for debt he didn't owe for we who owed a debt we couldn't pay.    God is fair in his punishment of everyone, just as he is fair in his free gift of salvation for everyone.  We call it the great exchange.  His perfect life for our imperfect one.  His sinless life for our sinful one.  

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.

So Christians among all people should be most humble.  We have done nothing and been given everything.  We have even been the gift of faith.  Faith in Jesus who did everything we need to become right with God once and for all time. 

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Do you think you have ever come to the point in your life where you realize that you don't measure up to God's standard of perfection?  It's humbling yet freeing and paves the way for you to realize you need God's free gift of forgiveness through Jesus.  
2. Do you truly believe that the only way you can be made right with God is through faith in Jesus, God's Son?  Is there was another way to be made right with God, then Christ died for nothing. 
3. If you have received this great gift of faith, do you share it with others so they too may be set free to have a restored relationship with God?