Paul has already made the point (in what we have read so far together in Romans) that no one will be justified by keeping the law (3:20). So, the question remains: How can we be made right with God? Who will be declared ‘right’ on the day of judgement? Is there a way of knowing in the present what the verdict will be? Or must we live in anxious uncertainty? Paul says in 3:21-22 that if we come to God in faith (this means coming like a little child as Jesus said in Matthew 18:3) then God will accept us; we will be declared ‘right’ and we can know for sure that we will be vindicated on the day of judgement. But how is this possible? It doesn’t seem just for ‘sinful people’ to be declared ‘right’. There is an issue of justice here. Justice can’t just be swept aside because justice is an aspect of God’s unchanging character. God cannot stop being God, therefore, justice must be fulfilled. Justice demands that rebellion against God lead to condemnation and punishment. Paul explains how in 3:25-26. Jesus Christ bore the just penalty for our guilt so that God could love us and remain just. Most of us know this bit well, but let’s think about how radical this is. It seems inconceivable that God would do such a thing! It’s no wonder we find it so counter-intuitive to feel accepted by God. Guilt and shame seem much more natural to us. But the grace of God is supernatural. To accept it you have to transcend your intuition and just believe.
Reflect on the magnitude of love for you that God would pay such a price to have you back.
Read Romans 3:25-26
