No distinction

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

As the line from Amazing Grace states “I once was lost, but now am found”. The law of God reveals just how lost we are, just how much we have fallen short of the way we are to live life, the life that God desires for human beings. But we are not left there – here then is the amazing grace of God. The righteousness of God is revealed in this way – just as there is no distinction, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (vs. 23) so there is no distinction, all are offered justification and redemption through Jesus Christ (vs. 24) (offered freedom from the power of sin and the destruction that sin wreaks in our lives).

The difference is this – sin human beings get into by our own choice, by our own action – on the other hand, justification and redemption are all God’s action. The harder we struggle, flailing around trying to get out the mess we are in, the worse it gets. The way out of the situation we are in, as the hymn Amazing Grace says, we were lost, is to stop trying to get found, but to trust that God has found us and that God will bring us safely home. Jesus finds those who are willing to be found, and brings them safely home. So we are found if we stop trying to rescue ourselves and let God take control of our lives and lead us. Let his path be the one that saves us in his grace and action.     

This gift of redemption, is a gift, unearnable, undeserved, it is offered – the most expensive gift the world offered freely if we will stop trying and let God act. (Let go and let God. – This is faith.)

PRAYER:
Lord God, it is hard on our egos to let go and let you lead. It is hard on our pride to give up the striving and the trying, and trust the redemption you alone can offer us. We rejoice that you have acted, shape us into people who will open our lives to your action in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.