Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NIV
Rom 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by
Christ Jesus. NIV
Whenever
someone tells you that they have some good news and some bad news, which one do
you want hear first? Seems like most people prefer the bad news first. I know I
do. Why is that? I think it is because we like to get the bad out of the way
and that looking forward to the good helps us deal with the bad. I could be
wrong.
Paul, in
these two verses, delivered some news to the church at Rome, hence to all of
us, in this way. He starts with the bad news. He says that all have sinned and
that none of them, or us, measure up to the glory of God. Three words are
important here. The word all means
just what it says. It means every single person that has or will be born. The
word for fall short in Greek is in
the present tense, which means it is a continuing action. We not only have
sinned, but continue to sin. The word for sin translates as “miss the mark.” It
simply means this; though we may shoot an arrow, aiming for the very center of
a target, we will not always hit it. In the same way, no matter how hard we try
to be obedient to God’s commands, we will not always be obedient.
Today, it
is not very popular to talk about sin. In point of fact, I don’t think it has
ever been popular to talk about sin! But we must talk about it because it is a
reality. No matter how much we want to deny that we sin, it is a fact. It is
reality. Many people have spent hours and hours on a therapist’s couch, trying
to make themselves feel better about their sin, by denying it exists, but that
will not work. The truth remains, we sin. That’s the bad news.
Now, the good
news! There is a second reality. It’s contained in the second of our verses.
Just as all have sinned, all can be justified. What does it mean to be
justified? It means to be regarded as innocent, just as if we had not sinned.
How is this possible? The verse tells us that it is by God’s grace and through
the redemptive price that Jesus Christ paid on the cross. This is just as much
reality as the fact that we have sinned.
No
philosophy or opinion that anyone might have can change that fact. Anyone can be justified by receiving
God’s gift of grace. There is no one beyond His ability to save. John 1:12
says, “but as many as received Him, to
them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in
His name,” (NASU) That means anyone who will come to Christ, in
repentance of their sin and acknowledging that He is the only one who can
redeem them from their sin, will be justified. That is good news indeed!
This is the
message that the world needs to know. You don’t have to deny the bad news. In
fact, you need to embrace its’ reality, so that you can be led to the good
news. You cannot change what is real, but you can accept the solution.
If you have
never yet come to Christ, in repentance over your own sin, now is the time.
Receive His gift of redemption, His forgiveness of your sin and be justified
before God.
For those
of you that have already done that, be reminded that even though you have been
justified, you will continue to miss the mark at times. Don’t deny it but
instead, confess it. 1 John 1:9 says, “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) Live in the reality, that Jesus
Christ has justified you and that your relationship with Him is pure when you
continue to confess your sin to Him.
That is
Good News so let’s spread it!
God bless
you
Coach
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