The Book of Romans ~ Lesson Seven

"Beyond All Reason"


Romans 3:21-31 (NLT) But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
   For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
   Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
   After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well, then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.


Perhaps this is old hat to you because you have been a follower of Jesus for a long time. Or, maybe this is completely new to you because you are just now exploring who Jesus really is. Whatever the position of you faith, it is important to know that salvation through Christ Jesus is not from believing hard enough or doing all the right things. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Believing in something doesn't make it real. Actively living your belief in Jesus is the key.

First, lets describe faith. First, faith is not passive. It's active. It doesn't stand still, it moves and breathes and has life. In verse 22 it says, "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Being made right with God is like a runner placing their foot on the starting line and taking the first step that leads to the goal at the end of the race.

Hebrews 11:1(NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Everyone believes in something. Even atheist believe or put their faith in thinking there is no God. The Christian places their faith in the belief that Jesus is Savior and is the only way to a right relationship with God. It all takes faith. All of us have to choose what we will place our proverbial foot into life's race.

What do you have confidence in?

God has made the playing ground level. You see, all of us fail. All of us sin. We all miss the mark. Its like an archer aiming at the moon and hoping to hit it. It would be impossible to reach the moon from earth with a mere bow and arrow. The strength behind the bow isn't enough power to reach the target. It's the same idea with reaching God. Jesus is the only power strong enough to reach God.

Ephesians 1:18-19 (NLT) I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
   I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

The power behind the faith we have in Jesus, is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That power is the Holy Spirit. Those who love and serve Jesus are filled with this power. The only way to be filled with this power is to place your faith, your belief, the direction of your thoughts and life into Jesus' capable hands.

For years and years and years God provided a temporary solution to the sin factor. Millions and millions of animals were sacrificed to allow man to have a relationship with Him. It was only through the acting priests that God made His will known. When Christ came, He became the final and perfect sacrifice that paid the death penalty for our sins. It's a horrifying requirement when a sacrifice is made. Blood is spilt and a price is paid. Sin against God is that deadly. Jesus was the Only One who could and did fulfill the requirement to have a relationship with God. Now everyone who places their faith, belief and actions, in Jesus is made right with God.

Psalm 65:3 (Message) We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, our sins too much for us—but you get rid of them once and for all. 

I love how the Message Bible puts it, "We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later..." It's a fact, we will all face death, the ending of this temporary life, and will face what's next. I believe that we will face our Maker. It's our choice, while here on earth, how we will meet Him. Without Jesus we face eternity without God and that's no picnic. It's a living death. It's total aloneness. There's no party with other sinners to compare notes with.

Matthew 10:27-29 (CEV) Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you. Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell. Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground.

God cared so much about people that He made a way to Himself. He is so holy that He can't be with unholiness. By this I mean that He's clean and we aren't. Jesus has the power to scrub away the filth and make us presentable to God. It's not anything we can do to make ourselves presentable. Everything we do falls short. Everything Jesus does accomplishes a right relationship between God and us.

Where are you in this continuum? How do you respond to God and Jesus? Its time to answer these questions. I would love to hear from you. God loves you beyond all reason. Give Him a chance.