Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? ² If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. ³ For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Abraham

It is very difficult for us in modern day North American culture to appreciate the importance of Abraham to Jewish people. He is one of the most significant and important people in history. He is considered the Father of all Jews.

By using Abraham as an example in this passage, Paul is making a significant statement. His First Century readers would have read these words over a number of times. Abraham’s righteousness was not based on his own works, but on faith in God. If it’s true for Abraham, then it must be true for every person who followed him. In other words, it must be true for everyone. It is so key for the early church to grab ahold of this point: it is through faith in Christ that we are set free from the burden of sin. Not in anything we do. It is still so important for us to let that truth penetrate the very deepest parts of our hearts today.

How do you know when you have finally grasped this truth? Your attitude changes. Suddenly, avoiding sin isn’t motivated by the fear of breaking God’s Law. Instead, avoiding sin is motivated by a desire to please God. We know that when we disobey him, we break his heart. Our motivation is to do all that he desires of us so that we might be the person that he has designed us to be.

I often hear people say, “I’m sure God is pissed at me. I do a lot of bad things.” That way of thinking stems out of a focus on the Law. A focus on grace, and a faith in Christ, would cause someone to comment, “I know my choices have broken God’s heart. After all he’s done for me, and because of the incredible love he has for me, I don’t want to break his heart again.”

Do you see the difference?

My prayer: Lord, you have done so much for me. Your heart overflows with a love for me and a desire to see me live my life to the fullest. To fulfill my purpose and achieve greatness in your eyes. I choose to follow your plan not out of a fear of punishment, but out of a desire to please you. I love to honour you because of all you’ve done for me. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

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.

²⁹ After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. ³⁰ There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. ³¹Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Faith Alone

Do you think Paul’s readers are getting the point yet? It’s not by anything we’ve done, but by faith in Jesus Christ that we are free from our sin. It seems like it’s the recurring theme of the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans. They must be grasping this truth by now.

Yet, history has shown us that we still struggle with the concept of faith alone. From the time of Paul, through the early church, the middle ages, to the present, we seem to be more comfortable with adding to the concept of faith. We have such a difficult time with the idea of grace.

But do you get what Paul’s driving at here? Faith does not mean the absence of Law. Grace is not the opposite of Law. It’s the fulfilment of the Law. Grace doesn’t mean that God just shrugs his shoulders and says, “Oh well” to the sin of the world. The Law demands justice. A price must be paid for sin. That price was the death of God’s Son on the cross.

And faith is the avenue through which we apply that payment to our own sin. And in that way, faith is the fulfillment of the Law.

As a result, we can’t boast. We can’t brag about how good we are. We can’t look in the mirror and smile at how perfect we behaved. We didn’t do squat. Our acquittal isn’t based on our actions, but on Christ.

So, let’s be careful when we want to point a finger at someone else and declare ourselves better than them. That’s what Paul is saying to the Jews and Gentiles. Stop seeing your behaviour as something to brag about. None of us can brag. We didn’t do it. God did.

My prayer: Lord, I am guilty of this. Far too often I look at others with a sense of self-righteousness. I am better than they are. I am “more good.” And yet, this passage reminds me again of the foolishness of such thinking. I am not better than any one. You are. My past sin is wiped away because of you, not me. As I go through my day today, may I not lose sight of that incredible truth. May I see others through the lens of grace. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ²⁴ Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. 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 declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Undeserved Kindness

I want to focus on the first part of this passage because, to be honest, it’s the part that truly excites me. However, I know that some of you will be drawn to the second part of the passage because of what Paul says about those who lived before Jesus Christ. It’s a question I’ve often been asked: “How were people saved before Jesus died on the Cross?” Paul seems to suggest that those who lived pre-Christ did not have the luxury of knowing Jesus personally, but they did know of the hope and promise that was to come. All  through the Old Testament, the prophets declared that a day would come when a Messiah would save people. And so, while they didn’t know his name, these people still placed their trust in the promise and hope that God proclaimed through all of Scripture.

Now on to the part that really excites me.

More than a few of The Oil Change readers have experience standing before a judge. Those who have been found guilty understand that your crime often follows you for the rest of your life. It can affect where you travel, what you do for a living, and whether you’ll be given the benefit of the doubt. A guilty verdict can be difficult no matter how sorry you are for what you did.

Being found not-guilty frees you of the charges. Your record is wiped clean. You are completely free.

That’s what Christ did for us on the cross. We were guilty. We should have had the book thrown at us for our sin and wrong doing. And yet, God, the ultimate judge, declares us not guilty. Our slate is wiped clean. The guilt of our past is removed. It is as if it never happened.

I meet so many people who are weighed down from the guilt of their past. They assume that God could never use them because of the things they’ve done. They are “lucky” to be forgiven and should never expect more than that. I try to get such people to see themselves through the lens of grace. To understand just how God sees them. For some, it’s very difficult to do.

Do you realize that God doesn’t know what you’re talking about when you suggest that you can’t be used by him because of your past? The Bible says that the sin you is wiped clean. It’s removed from the slate. As crazy as this sounds, but the Bible suggests that God can’t even remember it. He chooses to forget your wrongdoing. You stand before him completely righteous. Even as I type those words I find it incredible to realize. When I prayed this morning for God to forgive me of my sin, he did. If I bring it up tonight, he wont know what I’m talking about. It’s been forgiven. It’s been removed from my record. It’s done. It’s gone.

And, it’s undeserved. I didn’t do it. Jesus Christ did. Wow.

My prayer: Lord, far too often I am unable to see past my failures. Even when you forgive me, I hold on to them, and believe that I am “unusable” because of my past sins. Yet, your word promises me: my past is truly wiped clean. You, a holy God, sees me as righteous. And so, today I will try, with your help, to not be caught in my past. I will look forward, and with a sense of awe, be open to however you want to use me, and not allow my past sin to cripple me. I don’t deserve this love and grace, but I receive it. Thank you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

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 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.

No Matter Who You Are

I love this passage. In a very simple, straightforward way, it ties the entire story of God – the Old and New Testaments together. While he doesn’t give specific examples, Paul suggests that even Moses and the prophets pointed the way to the promise of grace found in Jesus Christ (Paul does give examples elsewhere as did Jesus in the Gospels).

We are made right not by following a list of “do’s or do not’s”, nor by performing certain rituals, nor by obeying a select group of religious leaders. There is only one way that we are made right. By placing our faith in Jesus Christ. That’s it. Paul will make it clear that there is still value is setting standards, choosing to do certain things and avoid other actions, etc., but not so that we might be made right in God’s eyes. That is only done through faith in Christ. There is incredible freedom in that realization.

The second part of this passage is as wonderful as the first: it’s open to everyone. It doesn’t matter who you are. Your past doesn’t exclude you from grace. Your actions don’t exclude you. Your race, your religious background, nothing. Heck, you can even cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs and still be offered the gift of grace. How incredible is that?

You see, my friends, the message of the gospel truly is good news. Why we make it something else is beyond me. It’s good news to realize that it’s no longer up to me to strive for God’s acceptance. It’s not on my back to be good enough for God. It’s done. It’s accomplished. Jesus took care of it. I’ve been a follower of Christ since 1982 and far too often I take my salvation for granted. Today, as I read this passage, I am once again amazed by grace.

My prayer: Thank you for saving me, what can I say? You are my everything, I will sing your praise. You shed your blood for me, what can I say? You took my sin and shame, a sinner called by name. Thank you, Lord.

The words of my prayer today are from a song called “Thank You For Saving Me” by Delirious. If you want, you can listen to the song by clicking here.

Until tomorrow.

⁹ Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As the Scriptures say,“No one is righteous—not even one.
¹¹ No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.
¹² All have turned away; all have become useless.
No one does good, not a single one.”
¹³ “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
¹⁴ “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “They rush to commit murder.
¹⁶ Destruction and misery always follow them.
¹⁷ They don’t know where to find peace.”
¹⁸ “They have no fear of God at all.”

¹⁹ Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. ²⁰ For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

No One Is Righteous

This is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. Most Christians have read, and quoted, verse 10: No one is righteous – not even one. However, what most don’t know is that Paul was actually quoting from the Old Testament. He’s quoting a portion of Psalm 14. Actually, each sentence in Paul’s passage is a direct reference to an Old Testament passage. I don’t have time to list them all, but a good study Bible will show you where each verse is found.

Psalm 14 begins by saying that only a fool believes there is no God. It then goes on to suggest that God looked over the world for someone who was seeking him. For someone who was truly wise, and instead, he found humanity was only looking out for themselves. People were focused on their own selfishness. No one was wise. No was was good.

But wait a minute! You might respond. I’m not THAT bad of a person. I’m pretty good.

I’m sure you are. But, look at the different verses that Paul quotes in this passage. Are you guilty of any of these things? Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone else’s feelings with your words or your actions? Are you bitter toward anyone? Do you become angry with those who disagree with you? If you answer yes to any of these (I know I d0), then you’re guilty. You’re not good enough on your own.

But it’s not bad news. Not if we finally get to the point of accepting the truth: we simply cannot be good enough on our own. We need God. Without him, we fail at being righteous.

That’s tomorrow’s message.

My prayer: Lord, I admit it: I’m a sinful man. I am guilty of all of these things and so much more. It is foolish of me to try and boast of my goodness. Because it’s a facade. It hides the sinfulness that can be found below the surface. Without you, I am doomed to a life of wrong. I need you. I need your righteousness to be applied to my life. Today, as I meet and interact with others, help me to not point fingers at their behaviour. Instead, may my thoughts be on my own choices. And my own need of you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁵ “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) ⁶ Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? ⁷ “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” ⁸And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

Doesn’t Sin Benefit God?

I love the way some people think. “By sinning,” they suggest, “I am helping show God’s righteousness.” How nice of you. How thoughtful. How stupid.

Let me explain where the argument comes from. Paul is suggesting that the primary purpose of the Law is to demonstrate our inability to be “good enough.” When we try to live up to all the requirements of the Law, we fail. We sin. We discover it’s hopeless. More than anything else, the Law highlights the need for God’s grace. We need his mercy, because we can’t live up to the expectations of the Law. In other words, the Law reveals just how sinful we are.

If that’s true, then if we keep sinning, we are demonstrating even more how much we need God’s grace. If we keep failing at our attempts to fulfill the Law, then we highlight even more just how righteous and merciful God truly is. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Except is doesn’t. It’s ridiculous.

Because the message of the Gospel isn’t about being accepted by God. It’s about the life we can live as one already accepted by God.

Let me explain. For religious people, the end goal is acceptance by God. I do all this in order to be good enough. The Law demonstrates that you can’t be good enough. The Gospel of grace, however, is that Christ’s death provided that righteousness. We we accept his gift of salvation, we are clothed in Jesus’ holiness. We are suddenly good enough. The key is what do we do with that rightousness? What do we do now that we are good enough? For the Christ-follower, the starting point is God’s acceptance. A huge difference.

And in that light, it would be ridiculous to suggest that what I should do from this point on is just sin as much as I can so that I demonstrate the righteousness of God. It even sounds silly. All you do when you continue to sin after Christ clothes you with his righteousness is suggest that there is no power in the cross to change one’s life.

Paul’s going to park on this theme for a while now, so we’ll get into it a little more over the next few days.

My prayer: Lord, thank you for the Cross. Thank you that I no longer strive to be accepted by you. I don’t have to follow a bunch of rules and rituals in order to get to a place where you declare me “good enough.” I’m good enough, not because of any action on my part, but because of the price you paid on the Cross. So, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for the Cross. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹ Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? ² Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.³ True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? ⁴ Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”

God Is True

There’s an obvious question Paul’s Jewish readers had as they read the first two chapters of Romans: “What about God’s promises in the Old Testament? If what Paul is saying is true about the Law pointing towards the era of grace, what does that mean for us – God’s chosen people?”

Paul begins his answer by making a very strong comment. Basically, he suggests that the Jewish people have a great advantage over the Gentiles. They were entrusted with the entire story of God and people. If they just look at the story that is represented by circumcision, if they remind themselves of the full story of God redeeming his people, loving them, protecting them, guiding them, they will see clearly how the message of grace fits into the story.

In other words, the idea that the Law was fulfilled when Christ died on the cross should be obvious to the Jewish people.

And then, Paul makes a statement that is as important for us to understand today as it was during the First Century. God is true.

We live in a time when many suggest that there is no absolute truth. That truth is subjective. Each person must determine what they feel is truth. Paul’s statement smacks that ideology right in the face. There is absolute truth. It’s found in God. Truth is not subjective, it’s not based on the whim of the day, it’s not even cultural. Absolute truth is found in the Creator of all things. God and God alone. Truth is manifested through his son, Jesus Christ.

That means Jesus can be the anchor on which we base our beliefs. By securing ourselves to absolute truth, we can move out and begin to interpret and understand the events and opinions around us. Life simply makes sense when we begin with absolute truth.

My prayer: Lord, there is security in knowing that you are truth. I start my journey through life with that understanding. You are the compass, the guide, the foundation. As I commit to living a journey of discovering you and your will for my life, I realize that my journey begins with absolutes. Non-negotiables. You. Thank you for being my anchor in a world that seems to constantly shift. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

²⁵ The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. ²⁶ And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? ²⁷ In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

²⁸ For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. ²⁹ No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

The Message of the Gospel

As we pointed out in the introduction to Romans, the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians are fighting. The Roman Church is divided. Gentile Christians believe that there are no rules. The Law is no longer relevant because of what Christ did on the Cross. The Jewish believers believe that while they are certainly living in the era of grace, the Old Testament Law still has some merit. After all, following the Law is what good Jewish people do. At the top of the list is a debate over circumcision.

For a Jewish man, circumcision is a sign of the promise made to God made to the Jewish nation that they would always be his people. In Genesis 17, God tells Abraham that his descendants will always be the children of God. And circumcision would be a sign that you were a descendent of Abraham. In a way, Jewish people saw circumcision as a “get out of jail free” card. As long as you were part of the lineage of Abraham, you were set.

Paul comes along and suggests that circumcision is just another ritual that misses the point. Salvation is a matter of the heart. It’s not about what you do or don’t do, it’s about receiving the gift of grace and submitting your life to Christ’s rule. If you want to follow the traditions of circumcision, go ahead, but don’t make it something more than it should be. Likewise, if you would rather not follow the tradition, don’t.

The issue is not what you do outwardly, but what you do inwardly. It’s a heart issue.

Now, you’d think that the Gentiles would start cheering at this point and say to the Jewish believers, “See? Paul is on our side!” However, they knew better. Paul made it clear in his final statement of today’s passage. A person with a changed heart seeks the praise of God not people. In other words, grace is not a license to do anything you feel like doing. It’s not an open ticket to live life your way. Like the Jewish believers, the Gentiles were also missing the point.

Grace is about a heart encounter with God. And the sign of a changed heart is a desire to do whatever would please God rather than simply whatever you want.

My prayer: Lord, change my heart today. May all I do through this day please you. My you be delighted by my life and the choices I make. I am yours. You are God, I am not. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

Hypocrisy

Don’t you wish that Paul would just speak his mind? I mean, all he does is beat around the bush, trying to gently say what he wants to say. Just speak out, Paul!

Okay, so Paul doesn’t mess around. He comes at the Jewish Christians with both barrels. Why? Because they are being as hypocrites. And hypocrisy is something that Paul doesn’t much care for. In that way, he’s just like Jesus. Those who are quick to judge someone else when they are just as guilty is something that none of the early church leaders could stand.

Isn’t it sad that one of the biggest complaints against most Christians today is this very same thing? That we judge others when our own lives are in shambles. That we point the finger at the sin of those outside the church when sin is rampant within our congregations.

Does it means we should just stay silent? Should we never say anything about sinful behaviour? There are times when we should keep our mouths shut. Absolutely.

But that’s not what Paul is getting at. He’s trying to humble these Christians. In a way, he’s embarrassing them to drive home a point. It’s not that we shouldn’t call others to holiness. Far too many passages in the Bible speak of that very thing. It’s that we should first examine our own lives. When we call others to holiness out of a deep understanding of our own failure, that call will come across with sincere humility and love. The way an recovering alcoholic can challenge another alcoholic to put down his drink. It’s done with incredible humility, recognizing that the tables can easily be turned.

All through history, Christians have responded the way these early believers did. And all through history, those outside the church have reacted just like the Gentiles in this passage do. Perhaps it’s time to once again look in the mirror before we speak.

My prayer: Lord, I am a sinful man. I heart is often away from you. And yet, you’ve called me to speak to others about the forgiveness that is found in you. And so, I first receive that forgiveness again. Your grace, applied to my life, is because of all you’ve done, not because of my actions. I didn’t earn forgiveness, I simply accepted it. With humility, I choose to walk this journey and share my faith with those in my life. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹² When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. ¹³ For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. ¹⁴ Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. ¹⁶ And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Live By The Law …

The infighting that is taking place between the Jews and the Gentiles within the Roman Church is over the issue of the Law. The Jews believe that there are certain Old Testament rules and traditions that must be continued under the era of grace. The Gentiles, on the other hand, believe that Jesus’ death of the cross ended the era of Old Testament Law, and therefore anything goes. There is no need to respect or hold on to any of the traditions of the past.

That is what Paul is going to address in this letter. How to live free in Christ without ignoring the Old Testament Law. What is the balance? How does one view the rules, rituals and regulations of the past through the lens of grace? Or do you even look to the past?

If you know anything about Paul’s life, you know that he was once a well respected Pharisee. That means he had a better grasp of the Law than the regular Joe. He strived every day to live the letter of the Law. And yet, when he turned his life over to Christ, he recognized that any attempt to fulfill the Law will end in failure. You simply cannot be good enough to be accepted by God. You cannot be spiritual enough. You cannot be holy enough. You can’t do it.

And really, that’s the point he’s making today. If you want to strive to be righteous in your own ability – try living according to the Law. If you choose to live by the Law, then you’ll be judged accordingly. And you will quickly discover that you can’t do it. No one can. Really, that’s the point of the Law (as Paul will explain later on in this letter). The Law does indeed have value, but the primary purpose of the Law is to point the way to grace.

I’ve met a lot of people – often church people – who try to give off this appearance of holiness. They talk and act like they are so spiritual. They have it all worked out. And yet, secretly, they are full of pride over how “good” they think they are. Paul suggests that one day, God will reveal that inner pride. We will all recognize that we simply cannot do it on our own. Paul is trying to give both the Jewish and the Gentile readers a wake up call.

My prayer: Lord, help me never rest on my own sense of morality. I don’t want to set a standard of righteousness that is based on my own actions. Because if I do … if I place certain expectations on others, then I will be judged according to that same morality. And, I will fail. Instead, let me find comfort in your arms of grace. May I recognize that the call to holiness found in the Law can only be accomplished when I understand that it cannot be achieved on my own. I need you. Clothe me in your holiness. Amen.

On a completely different note. Today is November 11th. Remembrance Day. I want to express my appreciation to all the men and women who served both past and present so that I may live in a nation that is free. So many have given their lives and I am very grateful to them.

Until tomorrow.