SCRIPTURE: Romans (NIV) 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
OBSERVATION: NOTE: I repeat this SOAP from last year for the many new readers who have recently made Jesus to be Lord of their lives and accepted the forgiveness He offers. Many do not have Bibles, so the verses above will help them better understand what God has done in their lives. –and it is good review for us all!
All have sinned and come short of God’s standard. The Gentiles who are without God’s written code, nor the Jews who have God’s written code—neither were able to meet God’s holy requirements. The most glorious thing is that the truth expressed in verse 23 does not nullify the truth expressed in the next verse.
For all, the second statement (are justified freely) is as equally available as the first statement (all have sinned) is absolutely true. But for the believer, both are equally AND absolutely true. We have sinned and are justified!
Both the Jews and Gentiles have sinned. BUT both the Jews and Gentiles can be brought into right standing without any cost to themselves. It is a gift freely given, one clearly not deserved! It is given through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus! Our sins are forgiven!
APPLICATION: The better I understand how hopeless I was in sin, the better I appreciate the grace of God that justifies me—made me just-as-if-I’d never sinned! I was hopelessly lost in sin, but now I am gloriously made clean! What a great God! How logical and proper to commit my whole life to him!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for saving me from sin and its results. I am yours. Use me as you desire. Speak through me. Touch through me. Live through me. Amen.
Pastor Leon
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