Viewpoints on ROMANS 3

By Michael Griego on March 1, 2024 • ( 0 )

Is faith something we do or something we believe? Are you laden with guilt from your past and feel that you need to do more than merely believe? ◊

I had a conversation one day with another businessman about Christianity. He believed in God and knew about Jesus dying for our sins and all the basics about Christianity.

He has a problem though.

I’ll never forget his comment. He simply said: “Mike, you don’t know what I’ve done.”

His thinking was literally that God loves and forgives people, but not people like him. His whole demeanor was of one carrying an incredible burden of guilt for which he saw no way out.

He said, “There is no way God could ever forgive me. I can’t even forgive myself.”

Unfortunately, I don’t think he is alone in his thinking.

Common Perspectives
And therein lies the challenge for the world to understand Christianity and the Good News Gospel that Paul writes about in the BOOK of ROMANS. Here’s a list of common objections, perspectives, and questions many people have about one’s plight before a supposedly angry and unforgiving God:

“I’m really not that bad.”
“I’m a good person.”
“It doesn’t matter – I don’t even believe in God.”
“God can’t forgive me for what I’ve done.” (like the businessman)
“How could God keep forgiving me?”
“Why would God forgive me?”
“How could belief or faith be enough?”

At some level, all of the above represent a misunderstanding of God and our position before God. They also reveal a misunderstanding or ignorance of the Word of God, i.e., the Bible.

That’s why ROMANS in the New Testament is such an important document in the Bible. The Apostle Paul is presenting a rational explanation of Christianity while it is still fresh and rapidly spreading across the Roman Empire within 25 years after the brutal crucifixion and resurrection of its founder, Jesus Christ.

Apparently, the Gospel message was confusing Jewish and non-Jewish people then as much as it still confuses even Christians and non-Christians today.

God, We Have a Problem
After establishing the creative power of God and the deity of Christ, in Romans Chapter 1 Paul lays out a litany of human actions and behaviors that violate the declared Law of God which was handed down to Moses almost 1500 years earlier.

The list in itself is enough to make any pagan/heathen with a conscience uncomfortably squirm.

In Romans Chapter 2 Paul steers his guns toward the arrogant religious people; specifically, the Jewish people of his day who felt that since they were a chosen people who tried to obey the law then they were better than others and that God would give them a break.

Not true.

As the entire Bible reveals quite clearly, God is Almighty, Holy, just and righteous. He cannot waver from perfection. Given man’s separation from God since the original sin of Adam imputed guilt on all of mankind from that point on, we’ve got a problem.

We need to be rescued from our guilt before a Holy God.

And the answer is faith.

Choose Well or Choose Poorly
Now in Romans Chapter 3 Paul lays out a solution – a solution misunderstood by my fellow businessman mentioned earlier.

Clarifying that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:28), Paul is saying that all people, no matter how religious, how good, or how bad, regardless of the sin or depths of the sin, all have an issue of standing before a Holy and perfect God.

Understand that God is not angry; He is Holy and anti-sin. His love is manifested in that He gives His creation full freedom of choice. Adam was given clear instructions on how to live and abide with His Creator/Father, but also given full freedom of choice.

With that freedom, Adam chose poorly. Just as we are still given freedom to choose as we see fit. Oh, that we would see well! Adam and his bride suffered the consequences and ushered in separation from God for all of mankind after him. Yes, a stiff penalty for which we are all still paying the price.

But God provided a means of reconciliation that was hatched immediately in Genesis 3, took further form in a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, and then played out through the travels and travails of the chosen children of Israel (literally starting with Jacob’s 12 sons), as documented in the Old Testament.

So, now it’s our turn to choose.

We actually know what is right and wrong, whether we have read God’s Biblical laws and precepts or not. Paul makes the claim that we each know in our own conscience whether we are choosing our own way or God’s way. We are accepting God’s authority or deliberately choose to succumb to our own authority.

It’s our own personal call. Full freedom. Yes, God’s love is freeing.

How Could “Faith” Be Enough?
Again, there is no solution to our guilt problem with God but simply faith in Jesus Christ. And that applies to everyone, Jew and Gentile (non-Jew):

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)

So no, it’s not about Buddha, it’s not about Mohammed, it’s not about the Pope, it’s not about your priest or pastor, it’s not about doing good works, it’s not about going to church, it’s not about giving money to good causes, it’s not about your sins of the past, present, or future.

It’s not about the businessman’s past guilt-laden sin.

It’s simply about the finished work by Jesus as God taking the form of a man and living a human life only to die as the perfectly approved and ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind. And because Christ was the perfect blood sacrifice, this satisfied God’s perfect and holy judgment.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. (Romans 3:25)

The businessman didn’t believe that mere faith was enough for him. He thought he had to do more of something to have his past forgiven.

It’s why they call it Good News. Jesus saves – once and for all. His atoning death was sufficient and we don’t have to worry about it again. It’s like being born again (see John 3) – a spiritual rebirth and new life.

Now simply consider your relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you fully identified with Him and believe in the work that He has accomplished?

Do you believe that you are fully justified in the eyes of God?
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This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:22, 24