Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Saints in Rome, Saints at Home

Series Introduction

In this season of being hemmed in I’ve immersed myself in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. I’ve looked forward to the daily company of this uniquely-appointed missionary—his idiom, his culture, his passions. And I’ve been drinking coffee with THE SAINTS–these chosen ‘outsiders’ (Gentiles) dear to Paul and precious to God, believers in Paul’s message of Good News, followers of Jesus Christ–whose reputation of faith was spreading far and wide. With what angst or affection did Rome’s halo-ed cluster receive this personal message from their very own church planter?

Who, exactly, is a saint–living or dead? Let’s find out.

(Note: verses within the Reflection, quoted in italics, are the author’s paraphrase.) And if you have time, you could read Paul’s entire letter to the Romans over these two weeks.

Reflection: You’ve been ten-pin bowling and had those days when more throws end up in the gutter than the straight? This letter starts off with an exuberant flourish and no sooner is Paul finished with introductions…that the bowling ball hits the gutter. Throw after throw the apostle launches into what the opposite of a saint looks like. Missing the mark. Missing the mark. Missing the mark. Because everyone has missed the mark. We’re all poor at reflecting the image and glory of God. Follow all the rules you want…those very rules will judge you never good enough.

Against this dark scenario, all the more brightly shines the reality of God’s justice and mercy. A shaft of light: it’s the perfect image of God in a man. A shaft of grace: the divinely predetermined sacrifice of that man, atoning for the sin of all who have faith in him. No wonder artists have portrayed Christ with a crown of light. And staggeringly, this narrative crowns us, who have faith, with that same radiant holiness.

Prayer: Oh, you know I’ve tried to be good, God…but your crosscut right through that. Bathed in grace; credited with righteousness; born of your Spirit; living in faith. Now it’s different. Now my goodness meets its source at your cross. Animated with your Spirit, help me to be a good and holy reflection of you today.

Romans 3:1-31

God’s Faithfulness

1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak

and prevail when you judge.”

5But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

9What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.”

13“Their throats are open graves;

their tongues practice deceit.”

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery mark their ways,

17and the way of peace they do not know.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Saints in Rome, Saints at Home

Day 1 of 14

NIV

Romans 3:23-24

Days

Romans 3:1-31