Romans: Rooted in Jesus, God's Justness Displayed

The Roman church was deeply divided between believers of Jewish and Gentile descent. The Jewish believers couldn’t reconcile God’s forgiveness of the Gentiles without requiring obedience to Jewish covenant traditions and laws (circumcision, food restrictions, festivals, etc.). In addition, they claimed a privileged status over the influx of Gentile believers within the church, expecting submission to their leadership. How can God be just and pardon these Gentiles without conversion to Judaism? How could God welcome these pagan people into his family so freely?

This division is rooted in a deep misunderstanding of the gospel and the path to acceptance with God. While the Apostle has agreed that the Gentiles are pagans, deserving God’s wrath (1:18-32), he has also corrected the Jewish thinking that their covenant relationship and obedience has merited them something with God (2:1-3:20). No one, not even the most obedient Jewish believer, is justified by obedience to the Law, no matter how advanced their obedience.

In our text this week, 3:21-31, Paul presents the path of righteousness, not in personal obedience but through faith alone in Jesus’ redemption, for both Gentile and Jew. While this is jarring to the religious moralist, it is liberation for the soul to know that I no longer have to live my life wondering if I have “made the grade.” God can be just and justify sinners by faith, because of the sacrifice of Christ. Join us Sunday as we consider the implications of God’s salvation in Jesus.