For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” vss. 22b-24
Romans 3:19-24
For Paul it was obvious. Since we’re all sinners no person could ever be made righteous by obedience to the law. At its best all the law can do is make us aware of our sin–so if we truly want to be righteous, we’re going to have to look for another way. And, guess what, Paul knew another way! Like a proud parent he announced to the Romans and to anyone else willing to learn, that the other way is GRACE, the free gift of God made possible through Christ Jesus. We don’t have to work to be righteous, God makes us righteous! We have to admit that this is pretty incredible news–at least sinful guys like Martin Luther thought it was. Luther was so ecstatic that he let his hair grow long and wrote the Small Catechism. He started writing about this good news in Wittenberg, where he was teaching, and within a few years was producing enough material to keep five different print shops busy with his treatises and books. Sadly, there are some who regard grace as dangerous, and who are now embracing exclusionary tactics that are nothing more than warmed over law. Of course it won’t work! There is no other way to the heart of God than through GRACE, freely given and freely received through Jesus Christ!
Thought for the Day: When did I fall in love with GRACE?
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