Paul now signals change of topic as he is writing to the church in Rome that he hopes to visit. The church there was most likely an urban, multicultural, multilingual, and multi-socioeconomic group of believers. Learning how they do church would be interesting to Paul, and us. So Paul is writing a letter to present himself. He has shown us that the traditional Jewish division of the world into Jews and Gentiles with the Jews being the chosen people and the Gentiles being the outsiders just does not seem to work as Rome has created a universal language and roads have created travel. Paul reasons that all know God from nature and their problem is not ignorance of God but moral rebellion against God. We have all sinned. Just because the Jews have the laws of Moses does not make them more special because they fail to keep the law. We all fall short.
“But now” in chapter 3 verse 21 indicates a light bulb moment.” “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”
God has spoken to the whole world through nature and we all sin “but now” God is going to help the whole world through Jesus Christ. We are all condemned by our own actions. We do not always live out our better selves. We are guilty as charged. But justification comes now notfrom becoming better people and better fulfilling the law but as a gift, an unmerited, divine gift that only God can give. Using court language, God, the judge declares us not guilty. Using slave language, God, the buyer declares us redeemed. Using Old Testament language, God, the supreme spiritual being, accepts the blood of Jesus as atonement for sin, sprinkled on the mercy set in the Holy of Holies. So when Paul talks about righteousness he is referring to God who is himself righteous and who makes all believers righteous.
We are now “not guilty,” “redeemed,” and “atoned.” Spend a few minutes meditating on those three words. Which word speaks to your heart right now? How has your life been changed by these aspects of salvation? Thank you, Lord, for the free gift of justification through faith in Jesus.
On the Way to Wonder 