week of 10/12/11 1st recorded HighQuest Romans 3:21-26

The passage I read was Romans 3:21-26

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A21-26&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

As I reflect:

A common verse with a common problem.

Most believers have heard of and perhaps even memorized Romans 3:23 which says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. But when we quote a verse we are to be cautious of quoting it out of context and in any way changing it’s meaning. I wonder how many believers know the context of this often quoted verse? It seems to be often used as the “don’t judge me because you sin too” verse. But that’s not the context. I see our righteousness being discussed here, not our judgment. 21 and 22 are talking about how we are made righteous not because of our selves but through faith it is given from God and is freely available to anyone who would share in that same faith in Jesus Christ. In verse 24 we are told all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. These closely surrounding verses help us to place verse 23 in the context it was meant for. It is a verse that communicates our likeness in both our need for and availability to accept Christ’s redemption and righteousness through faith. It’s not a “don’t judge me” verse but is rather a verse of recognition of our universal need and proper direction of glory to God for just where “our” righteousness comes from… Have you ever seen the picture of Jesus standing behind a man whose head is bowed as Jesus lays a white shining rode over the man’s shoulders? That picture is of what we are reading here. Christ because of His holiness and His deeds laid a covering of His righteousness on us (like clothing). We don’t deserve glory for it and shouldn’t be deceived by the “name it and claim it” generation of preachers that lead flocks to believe they deserve this righteousness and can claim themselves as holy because of it.

Verse 25-26 go one to more define what redemptive work was done by Christ’s sacrifice and why. This was not only an act of compassion, but a demonstration of righteousness and justification for those who have faith in Jesus.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I recognize that apart from you I am nothing but sin. It is your righteousness that covers me and it is a free gift that you alone offer. There is nothing I can do to earn this pure covering that you have given through your redemptive work on the cross and in me. Thank you for your sacrifice of atonement Lord.