Way

Text: Romans 3:21-31

Theme: God gave us a way to him.

Key verses: “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law…We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ…For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice of sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (v. 21-26). “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law” (v. 28). “…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” (v. 31).

What God said to me: Notice how Paul words this section. It reads much like an instruction manual, with very precise and simple language. He explains to his readers the step-by-step process of redemption. This is literally the most important instructions any human can ever read. What Paul lays out here is your path, your way, to salvation and eternal life. It is your way to be made right with me. That very thought should overwhelm your senses and bring you to your knees. You can be righteous in the sight of the God of gods, the Most Holy One. You couldn’t make this stuff up. You could not have dreamed of such amazing grace and mercy and opportunity. Here is the path of redemption as Paul explains: 1. You broke my law and sinned (v. 23). 2. I showed you the way to be right with me (v. 24). 3. Jesus sacrificed his life for your sins and freed you from the penalty of sin (v. 25). 4. I accept you and forgive your sin when you believe in Jesus (v. 28). 5. Thus, my law–that you broke–is fulfilled through the faith you place in my Son–who didn’t sin and break my law (v. 31). Read this and weep, Dwayne. You are coming to live with me in my eternal and phenomenal home because of this life-altering process. It’s called grace. Don’t get used to it; don’t take my love for granted.

What I said to God: Wow, this has been sobering and enlightening and downright convicting today, Lord. I have taken, I do presently take, Your awesome grace for granted. Truly I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean. My soul cries out before You now: How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be! How marvelous, how wonderful, is my Savior’s love for me. How great the Father’s love for us, that we should be called the children of God. Thank You a million times over for Your simple and profound and costly process of redemption. And thank You for leading Paul to spell it out so clearly here that anyone can understand and follow this path to You and Your salvation.