We have seen through the past two days what the book of Romans says about heaven, hell and sinning. Not only do non-believers go to hell as presented in Romans Chapter 1, but we Christians must also dig deeper than just resting on our church membership. Self-righteousness is a dangerous trap used to turn the focus off our own sins to mock others. God isn't interested in these games. He won't be fooled. Judgment is His.
So what then is the answer? If we all are sinners are we all doomed to damnation? Are we all going to hell? Let's look one more chapter into Romans and see what Paul says.
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
Roman3:21-24
We are all sorry sinners. Everyone. Wether you think you are important or a good person or high class or whatever... we are all sinners. We all walk away from God's plan for us. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden, we think we would make a better god than God Himself, so we walk away to take over the decision making in our lives. Sin.
But to fix things, in order to make things right, God created a cure. He has become Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has become the answer for all of us. He just isn't here for a few. He didn't come to save the rich. He didn't come to save royalty. He came down to earth and was born to a poor family in unusual circumstances and his birth was so humble he was born in a barn with horses and cows around. He was greeted into this world first not by kinds or scholars but by shepherds... dirty, smelly shepherds who had been out lounging around with their sheep. Yes Jesus came to save us all. He came for the poor and the down-trodden and the sick and the lost. He came for anyone who would come, anyone who would let go of the reigns and put trust in him. Jesus is the antidote, the perfect fix, the almighty answer. Jesus is the eraser, the stain remover, the only key to fix what is broken inside.
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it's now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
Roman3:25-26
Faith sets us free of the death sentence. It liberates us. Jesus did the work. He climbed the tree and died. He lived righteously and died righteously. We can live in him and wash those sins away.
So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counter-claims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we've learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
Roman3:27-28
WOW! GRACE! The amazing. God gives us this wonderful gift of forgiveness. He offers grace to everyone. Its right there. He offers the precious gift of eternal happiness to all by way of the cross. He offers a way to heaven that has obsolutley nothing to do with what we do, nothing to do with our status or our good deeds. It is just contingent on one thing, our willingness to lay our ego aside and follow him faithfully. Grace by faith. We take the reigns and hand them back to him and he takes care of the rest.
And where does that leave our proud Jewish claim of having a corner on God? Also canceled. God is the God of outsider non-Jews as well as insider Jews. How could it be otherwise since there is only one God? God sets right all who welcome his action and enter into it, both those who follow our religious system and those who have never heard of our religion.
Roman3:29-30
I am all together tired of arguing over dogma. I am totally lost my appetite when it comes to bickering over who has their theology right and who isn't really a Christian because they don't do this or they don't do that. It is silly to argue about getting wet early or later. Its ridiculous to fight about how wet you get. Do you think God is as legalistic as you? Do you think He will really judge based on adherence to rules made up by man? No. All claims that this group or that group has the ritual figured out is just a way to keep old, gray-haired men in comfortable jobs behind large wooden desks. God's work is far grander than that. God through Christ Jesus is busy changing hearts. He is busy being the ONE GOD. He is busy calling out to the lost and pouring out grace. So give up the thought that your theology is so sound that you are immune from judgment. For only the state of your heart matters on that day.
But by shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don't we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it.
Roman3:31
It has nothing to do with what you do but everything to do with who you know. That is how you are saved. No longer are you a swimmer struggling to keep your head above water while at the same time trying desperately to swim all the way to shore. No longer do you fight a current of rules that you could never live up to. No longer are you out there swimming alone. Now you have a rescuer.
Jesus Christ is the life guard that was sent down from heaven. He is extending a hand to you while you struggle. He says, "Stop trying to make it to shore on your own power. Let me do the work for you. All you have to do is stop trying to do it yourself and trust in me. Here is my hand. I am offering you rescue. Take it!"
But he won't force you. He has given us free will. And sadly many choose to stay out in the water and trash away at the waves, preferring to be stubborn and in control over being rescued and submitting to the will of God.
The irony is that the freedom of going it alone isn't really freedom at all. Its an illusion. For on our own we are slaves to the very sin that we cling to. For we hold on so tight to sin that its weight pulls us under. It pulls us below the water and is our ultimate ruin.
Let go of the sin. Let it go and take his hand. The rescuer is coming and he's calling out your name... and his services are totally free.
Rescue Is Coming
David Crowder* Band
There’s a darkness in my skin
My cover’s wearing thin,
I believe I’d love to start again,
go back to innocent
And never leave
Don’t give up now
A break in the clouds
We could be found
There’s nothing wrong with me
It’s just that I believe things could get better
And there’s nothing wrong with love
I think it’s just enough to believe
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
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