Romans 3 - 10.10.24
Romans 3:23-24
S – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
O – In this chapter Paul contends that EVERYONE stands guilty before God. But if we believe in Him, it doesn’t end there. Being justified means declared “not guilty.” Even though one sin may seem bigger in our eyes then another (i.e. murder vs. adultery), every sin results in death, because sin cuts us off from God. We should not minimize what we feel are “little” sins, nor should we overrate “big” sins. They all separate us from God, but because Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying a terrible death on the cross, we get to be declared not guilty and saved by God’s grace. Many religions have rules and specific duties to perform to make a person acceptable to God. Christianity is unique in teaching that the good deeds we do will not make us right with God. They are important, but not what redeems us in God’s eyes.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
A – Let’s face it, no matter how many quiches and pasta salads I make for people, that will not get me into Heaven! Taking care of others is born out of a love for God and wanting to be more like Him….more loving, more giving, more patient, more compassionate, more gentle and kind. So to me, Romans 3:23-24, is just the whole enchilada! (I must be hungry). We are all sinners and only through believing that Christ died for our sins can we have eternal life….The End! Sort of. Once we are saved, then comes the really getting to know God, really working on becoming more and more like Jesus each day. That may be one minor change at a time: one food delivery, one Bible chapter read, one ride to the doctor, getting up for Sunday service instead of sleeping in, or one $20 bill to the homeless guy. But hopefully we are always making little changes daily that will cause us to grow more like Jesus, the only one who led a perfect, sinless life.
Luke 9:23-24 - If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
I still think we forget that it is this simple sometimes. I am always baffled when I see Christians targeting homosexual behavior by marching with signs, calling people horrible names and telling them they are going to hell. Where is the Godly love in that?! Or when we judge another person’s addictions and yet we are gossiping behind their back. Perhaps we’re appalled at people who walk into a store and steal something, yet we’ll talk on the phone for 2 hours at our job (stealing time and money). Not me pastor! LOL Or maybe we are judging that mom who screams at her kid in the middle of Wal Mart and then walking over to the check-out berating the cashier for making a mistake. Whatever it is, we are ALL guilty of sin…the little, the big, the bad and the ugly. We’d be wise to ask God to forgive us each and every day for those transgressions and help us to remember that we ALL deserve death. And thankfully as Christians that is NOT the end!
P – Lord, I thank you that you really have made Christianity as simple for us as can be. We don’t have to jump through hoops to be loved by you. We don’t have to have a perfect life, or have it all together to have a relationship with you. Thank you that you know all of my imperfect and sinful ways, and you still want to partner with me to bring others to know you and your glory. Help my life reveal to others that you can take the most wretched and defiled individuals and make them whole again. Help me to show those I love and those I have connections with to know that you have a plan and purpose for each of them. Thank you that someday I will have a place in eternity, and for no work that I ever did, but only because I believed in you! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Crystal Flory
