Tag: righteousness

The most interesting man in the world

Re:Verse reading–Romans 4:1-25 (day one)

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our father has found?”–v 1.

Don’t believe the commercial.  The true title belongs to someone else.  About the Bible rather than beer.  Truly, the most interesting man in the world.

His name is Abraham.  Three world religions point back to his story as the foundation of their concept of God.  Judaism.  Christianity.  Islam.  He changed the world more than any army that ever marched. His impact is still felt.  We are his offspring.  He is our father.

What did Abraham find?  That God is trustworthy.  That the foundation of the human responsibility is to conclude this basic moral fact and then to genuinely trust Him. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6)

Why is Abraham so fascinating?  Because his life illustrates the same powerful principle by which God still saves men. He is the most interesting man in the world.

But now

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day seven)

“But now a righteousness from God. . .has been made known. . . [which] comes through faith in Jesus Christ”–v 21-22.  For three chapters, Paul has described what “was”.  A sad picture.  Honest.  Hard to hear.  The fair judgement of God on the human race.  Gentiles.  Jews.  “But now” he says with great energy and excitement!  Something new.  The righteousness of God.  That righteousness that God intrinsically has.  That righteousness that He requires of all who would be part of His Kingdom.

The riddle is solved!  (Mercy offered) How could God be merciful to people who did not deserve it?  How could He love those who had not loved Him and, at the same time, maintain His own Holy standards?  Christ is the solution to this problem that no human could have imagined.

Christ became our redeemer.  Christ became our propitiation.  His blood paid our debt.

In ages past, this wasn’t clear.  BUT NOW it is!

Cornerstone

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day six)

The Law declared the righteousness of God by contrast. Up against the Law, the starkness of our own brokenness and idolatry, only ever served to draw attention to the righteousness of God. The Law was both microscope and telescope; bringing into view the fissures left in the wake of our idolatry, as well as bringing into proper view the true immensity of God’s righteousness. It could never bring life or restoration to dead and dying things; it was never meant to. This is why Paul tells us that the Law and Prophets(v. 21) always pointed to the righteousness of Jesus, the very image of the invisible God, and the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17).

And so we rejoice, not in the doing of the Law, but in Jesus. He is the cornerstone, the glory of God, and our righteousness by grace through faith!