The Same, but Very DIfferent

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Romans 5)

One man can make all the difference. Through one man, Adam, sin entered into all of humanity. Through one Man, Jesus Christ, payment has been made for sin which is able to cover all humanity.  But the free gift of justification is different. It is abundant grace, not judgment.  Death due to sin is universal; life through faith in Christ is by faith, the gift of gifts to be received.  The first is an explosion of destruction into billions of parts; the lasster brings the pieces back together again into oneness in Christ.  One Man makes all the difference. 

Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5)

What a package deal!  When we put our faith in Christ and accept the grace that God has shown in sending Him to sacrifice Himself for us, He freely gives us all these things.  First, we have peace with God and in our hearts: the animosity of sinful rebellion has been resolved. Secondly, we have hope, even though at the present time life may be filled with stress, struggles and suffering. Thirdly, we have and comprehend the love of God, which He has poured out upon us, even though we are so undeserving. Finally, we have joy, which also pervades this passage and our relationship with God, Who has reconciled us to Himself. Not only do we get it all; it costs us nothing. Jesus paid the price. All we need is the faith, which He also supplies. 

Faith First

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

In this long,involved discussion of faith and The Law, Paul explores the notion that the Law, and its demonstration through circumcision, were primary, both in importance and chronology. But the fact is that Abraham's faith came first and foremost.  The key phrase is found near the end of the passage: "he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness. Faith: Being fully convinced that God can do what He promises. By faith, we believe that just as God raised Christ from the dead for our sins, to make us right with Him, we also believe He is able to apply what Christ has done "to our account", as we trust in Christ and Christ alone.  Faith comes first. Then we celebrate and live out the results of that faith in worship and service. 

The Gift of RIghteousness

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

(Romans 4)

One of the key words or phrases of our day is "Blessed". We see it on plaques in gift stores to place on our walls. Everyone wants to be "blessed", truly happy, knowing that all is well.  For those who know what it truly is to be "blessed" they know it is a gift from God for which we should be thankful.  Both Abraham and David understood this.  They beleived God and His promises; they had a heart to follow and obey Him. They knew that when we do we are blessed; when we don't we are not. Blessing comes not because God has to bless us for being so good, but because He chooses to forgive and give righteousness to those who trust Him.  They anticipated what God offers in Jesus Christ: forgiveness and a relationship with God that is the way it ought to be: trust and obey. 

Law-Abiding Citizens

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Romans 3)
We are nothing special because of our background. God is. He is faithful, impartial and true.  When we put our faith in Christ He gives us grace - the ability - to obey His law.  He makes us "Law-abiding citizens".  We are "special" because of what He does, not who we are.  We do not throw out any part of our past which directs us toward Him, but we do not depend on it to make us who He wants us to be. We trust in Christ and Christ alone to do that in us. 

The Duet...

13 “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3)

As seen in the opening verses of the chapter, there is no favortism with God. All of us are sinners, Jews & Gentiles alike. The opening verses of this section can be sung by all, though in a painful sounding dissonance: out of our mouths and in our hearts is sin and the lack of the fear of God.  There is also a beautiful duet between the Law and prophets with the Gospel: all have sinned, but can be justified by grace through faith in Christ.  One is a terrible clashing in the ears and gnashing of teeth. The other is the most joyful song ever, blending Old Testament and New in one glorious duet: the song of the Redeemed. 

No Unfair Advantage

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11  no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3)

The idea of "excuses" for not responding to God continues to be in the background here.  In a sense, the Jews did have an "advantage" to others in that they had the Old Testament law, the covenant with God, and ongoing revelation. But the key is this: all of us are under sin. All the "advantages" the Jewish people had simply made them more accountable; it did not make it any easier for them to confess they were sinners. They had the same sinful stubborn resistance we all do: refusal to admit our unrighteousness and God's faithful holiness and righteousness. The point is that not of us can excuse our lack of response to unfairness shown to any other person or group. We all are accountable to God, and no one else has any unfair advantage.

The Worst WItness

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physicallyuncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God." (Romans 2)

Paul has been pushing his way past all the excuses people make for insisting they are not subject to God's righteous judgment.  For the Jews in his audience, circumcision, as the mark of their covenant, had for some become an excuse. They began to feel they were "above the Law", holding a place of superiority over Gentiles. They rightly believed God intended them to "teach" the world about God, but often failed to teach themselves and live by God's standards. The carryover today is to those who loudly proclaim to "love the Lord" and be his people, yet live no differently, and even less decently than the world around us.  We too can become the worst witness for God, when we ought to be the best.  We need to be instruments and illustrations of God's grace and holiness. By no means will we ever be perfect, but the pursuit should be so obvious, no one can be turned off by our proclamation or lifestyle. 

Ignorance is no excuse!

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Romans 2)
Sometime in my youth I remember being told: "Ignorance of the Law is no excuse." It was probably in reference to keeping traffic laws of some sort, but it has a far-reaching application.  Romans 1 and 2 have a theme of "no excuses." God has made His reality and will fully known to His creation, but we, without any valid excuse, keep ignoring and rebelling against Him.  In the paragraph above, Paul points out that the Gentiles, who often never heard of the Law of Moses, still obeyed the spirit of God's law, as it is "written on their hearts" and God has created us all with a sense of conscience.  They did not excuse sin on the basis of "ignorance of the Law."  There is something within all of us, based on our being created in the image of God, that cries out when we suppress, ignore, or rebel against God.  So, Paul says "stop making excuses!" Submit to God, His Will and His plan in Christ Jesus. 

More than Fair...

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2)
Like any parent or teacher (and sometimes even preacher), God is often accused of "playing favorites."  Not only does our playground fairness move us to wince at any mention of "chosen" or "elect"; we get downright nasty, making excuses for our attitudes and behaviors, stating that "God is just not fair." This is far from the truth. God is more than fair; He is just. He is consistent. He is true to His character and to truth itself. On the other hand, we are self-seeking, not fair. We are by nature and choice disobedient and bent on doing evil.  The only way we can find the "good side" of justice is to return to a relationship with Him and loving Father, rightful Judge, and sovereign Lord.  So let's be fair: it's not God; it's us.  Let us stop making the excuses and turn to Him and trust in Him.