Romans 3
May 26, 2022
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (v25-26)
The cross is God’s solution to the dilemma of sin. If God judges our sin, we would be declared guilty and sentenced to eternal death. But if God does not punish our sin, He would not be just. The cross, then, is God’s means of upholding justice (by judging sin) and extending mercy (by forgiving sinners). Instead of us paying the wages of sin, Christ took the judgment for our sins. Thus, in Christ, we now have “at-one-ment” with God - so that God can rightfully be declared “just and the One who justifies” (v26).
Father, I praise You for the cross. No human being could have ever come up with this plan of salvation. It’s unlike any world religion, where people try to work their way to heaven, nirvana, enlightenment, etc. In Your great love, You did what we could not and would not do. And You did it in a way that not only extended mercy, but upheld justice. Truly, there is no one like You. May I live this day, full of gratitude for the miracle of the cross!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
