Sunday, March 31, 2019

Romans 3:21-31 CEV
“Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn’t by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus. What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith. We see that people are acceptable to God because they have faith, and not because they obey the Law. Does God belong only to the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is! There is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. Do we destroy the Law by our faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful.”

Background:

• Paul is writing to people he never expects will agree.
• Jews vs Gentiles
• The argument is about how we get God to accept us.
• This portion of scripture is Paul screaming, “Stop! Would you just listen?”

Let’s look at verses 21-22:

“Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn’t by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ.”

• Trust Jesus, and Jesus alone.
• Everything that will truly satisfy you in life is on the other side of trusting Jesus.
• “If we follow the rules we will be in right standing with God.”
• Here’s the sad truth: You could be so busy following the rules, you forget to follow Jesus.
• Jesus never said to follow rules; He said to follow Him.
• Because He never wanted us to listen His orders without understanding His heart.
• This is because He loves you, He doesn’t want you to get so caught in the behaviors. He wants your heart.

23-26:

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so by faith in him we could come to God.”

•  “All” – this means none of us are perfect. We don’t get to judge one another; we definitely don’t get to judge the world.
• Failure to understand Romans 3:23 results in us criticizing the world instead of showing compassion towards it.
• Jesus took on what we deserve so we can take on what God desires for us.
• Let’s not focus on what we disagree on, let’s focus on what He desires for us.
• Jesus between two thieves… “Today you will be with me in Paradise…”
• This also means Jesus isn’t afraid of what you have done.
• Jesus, I’m convinced you love me!

26-28:

“And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus. What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith. We see that people are acceptable to God because they have faith, and not because they obey the Law.”

•  This is funny…people were bragging.
• “It is because of faith.”
• The trajectory of your life is forever changed not because of what you can do, but because of what Jesus did for you.
• He suffered death on a cross – “ He didn’t die just for you, but as you.”
• Jesus, I’m convinced you love me!

29-31:

“Does God belong only to the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is! There is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. Do we destroy the Law by our faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful.”

• You are not rejected… Jesus calls you accepted.
• You don’t have to try to earn this. You don’t have to try and prove why God should love you… you are accepted.
• “There is only one God.” Why does Paul say this?
• Because you don’t have to try and fix your life… there is one God and only He can do that.
• I think we can all admit we have tried to fix our life. “God didn’t ask us to fix our faith.”
• “Do we destroy the law?” There’s a new standard.
• Jesus, I’m convinced you love me!

“There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love.”   —Charles Stanley

“Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day.
Don’t be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.”   —Billy Graham