You Have All You Need Romans 3:19-f.f.
The first three chapters of Romans deal with the unrighteousness of man. Unrighteousness plagues humankind and it has from the beginning of time. The Jews got to a point where they became very haughty in their relationship with God. However, Paul has to remind them that they are sinners just like everyone else. It is very easy to take your relationship with God for granted. It is easy at times to look down on people and to think of oneself better than another because of who we are in Christ. We must remember that there is no good in us except for what the Lord has done.
God gave us the Law to remind us of this. We are all guilty of breaking God’s holy Law and we must pay the penalty 3:19, 20. The Law is our schoolmaster. It teaches us or brings to light our sinful state that makes us all worthy of and eternity in Hell. This Law, we earlier learned, is even written on our hearts and in creation so no one is with excuse.
Paul tells us that we cannot be just by keeping the Law. We cannot keep it for even if we offend in one point, we are lawbreakers. We are only made just by the completed work of Jesus Christ. He took the Father’s wrath upon Himself and shed His own blood for the remission of sin 3:21-27. This gift of grace is free to all through the redemption of Christ. Redemption is to purchase or buy back, to ransom, or to make good.
Christ became our propitiation, which means to pardon, pay in full, appease, or to cause to become favorably inclined. Before we accept Christ, we are enemies of God. Yet in John, He calls us friends. No greater love hath any man than that he lay down his life for his friend. Christ did just that and He causes us to become favorably inclined in the eyes of the Father.
Paul ends by telling us that the law is still working. Matter in fact; we are to establish the law. This means that our lives should line up with what we preach. This will cause the law, by way of the conscience, to convict all who see Christ in us. Whom do people see in you?