Romans 3:21-31

We love getting free stuff! So let’s look closely at our salvation. It is given to us for free; not that we deserve it or can earn it, it is free. And out of this we take joy that Heavenly Father is not a stern Father sitting on the throne of heaven wagging His finger at Jesus Christ in opposition to His desire for clemency for us. No. Heavenly Father’s Face shines bright with His Love for us and Father does everything for His Son, who wants to save us, rescue us, and help us to live right.

So we truly love Jesus and Father with everything within us. To do anything opposed to the Love that we know is ours paralyzes us, we stand against an invitation to sin, and we turn our trust to Him who knows we are strong in Him. And because we have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb Jesus, we want to do that which He wants us to do each day to serve Him and do our duty.

As Paul writes our passage in Romans 3:21-31, he emphasizes that the people of the Torah (the law) who are expecting the 613 laws to be their badge of membership in the Kingdom of God are to be disappointed because they’ll miss the free salvation given in Jesus Christ the Messiah if they focus on their ‘works.’ The truth is that Messiah Jesus Christ’s salvation is free. Right and moral living comes from Jesus Christ.

Then, our response is not only gratitude but also a burning desire to give Christ’s love to others. Jesus has assured us not to be afraid. We remember words, here, from Psalm 121:5, ‘The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.’ God’s shade of protection is provided generously as we do His will. This is awesome.

And we also remember that Jesus, as He made his suffering Servant journey to the Cross, is witness to God’s certain protection. Jesus gives His very Life to save and rescue us. Our gratitude is immense that He’s given us Himself to free us from the stronghold of sin. We are freely loved; the Cross shows us this. Father and Christ love us.

21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith. He did this to show His righteousness, because in His Divine forbearance He had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is One; and He will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Romans 3:21-31