Have you ever been in conversation with someone during which the question of earnings arises or seen a programme on television in which someone’s earnings have been discussed? The question that usually occurs to me is have they actually ‘earned’ that amount of money or is it just the salary they are paid. To earn something suggests to me that they have done sufficient work to justify their pay. In our passage from Romans 3 today Paul addresses the very question of our right to be righteous in God’s sight. In fact, he addresses the question from a Jews perspective and a Gentile perspective. Is there any advantage to being a Jew if the law can’t keep individual people from facing God’s judgment for their sin? Paul’s response is that God remains faithful to Israel in spite of her faithlessness, in fact Israel’s unrighteousness only serves to further prove God’s righteousness. ‘Someone might argue, ‘if my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” (v.7).

Paul then raises the question ‘Do we have any advantage (as a Jew)?” Are Jews better off than Gentiles? Paul says no. Every single person, Jew and Gentile is under sin. Paul quotes from scripture (v.10), “There is no one righteous, not even one.”  Psalm 14:1. And further (v.12), “All have turned away they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” The law can never justify us but Paul reveals that there is a way to be declared righteous in the eyes of God apart from the law. It is available through faith in Christ for all who believe. We can be justified, declared righteous before God through God’s grace as a gift. This is something we could never earn, salvation is possible only through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Paul closes this chapter by emphasising that this gift is available to be received by everyone both Jews and Gentiles alike, no one can earn it, no one deserves it but all who come by faith may receive it.

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Reflection:

Consider your own sinfulness and therefore your unrighteousness in God’s eyes. Then reflect on God’s gift of grace through your faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. How does that make you feel and have you given Him the praise and thankfulness He deserves?

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for your undeserved gift of grace through Jesus Christ who took all the blame for my sinfulness on the cross. Help me Lord to always give you all the praise and glory for your love and forgiveness. Amen.