Scripture

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.

Observation

We cannot keep the requirement of the law, but God has shown us the way to be made right apart from the law. We are made right through faith in Christ.

Everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s standard. Because Jesus has paid the price for our sins, God declares that we are righteous.

We cannot boast that we are acceptable to God because of anything we do. This is by faith not by our deeds. That does not mean that we can ignore the law because it is only when we have faith that we can truly fulfil the law.

Application

Everyone has sinned. This is the fundamental truth about human nature. We can justify ourselves and excuse our behaviour until the cows come home, but the truth remains that we are all sinners.

Because we are sinners, we fall short of God’s glory. We were created to reflect the nature of God. We are meant to be loving and holy, perfectly righteous in every way. Sin has taken the shine off that image which God planted in each one of us.

But the brilliantly good news from God is that He can fix that. Firstly, in Christ He sets aside our guilt. The power of sin to separate us form God is overcome by faith in Christ.

Then, when we have been reunited with God, the Holy Spirit sets about restoring in us the magnificence, the glory that we were created for. This is a life long process that equips us and trains us to be children of God.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for all you have done for me in Christ. Thank you for forgiving me and than you for changing me to be more like you. Amen

Scripture

No one is righteous – not even one.

Observation

Just because the Jews have the Law does not mean they are any better than others. All people are under the power of sin.

Paul quotes several Psalms to illustrate the point that God judges that no one is righteous. All have turned away from God and revel in foul talk, lies, murder and destruction.

The law is to keep people from excuses and to show their guilt. The law cannot make us right with God; it simply shows us how sinful we are.

Application

Our culture keeps telling us that people are basically good. We have removed sin from our vocabulary and talk instead about bad choices. We like to believe that babies are blank slates with no intrinsic tendency to sin.

Characters are flawed. Nobody is perfect. Bad people do good things and good people do bad things. Thus we like to muddy the waters about God’s standards for our lives.

God’s judgement is very different from man’s judgement. There is no one who is righteous. Not even one.

We are all marked with sin. Unless that sin is atoned for then we continue to carry it.

On the reality TV shows about the police, it is interesting to see how many people drive without a licence, often in unregistered vehicles and sometimes with outstanding arrest warrants from previous crimes. The police don’t care about your spotless driving record if you drive without a licence. You are breaking the law, and are by definition a law breaker.

This is how it is with God. We have all sinned. We all fall short of His standards. We are all law breakers.

The Good News is that when we come to Christ, our past history is removed from the record. God, in His great love for us, no longer holds our offences against us.

Prayer

Praise to you, Most High God. Your love for me has overcome my sin against you. Thank you for forgiving me and not holding my sin against me. Amen.

Scripture

But someone might argue, “How can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?”

Observation

“What is the value of being a Jew?” Paul asks. He says it is of great value because the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

The fact that some Jews were unfaithful to God does not mean that He is unfaithful. Even if every man is a liar, God is true.

Some people have argued that being a sinner is a good thing because it helps people see God’s goodness. It can’t be fair to punish these sinners for showing God’s holiness.

Some people have even claimed that Paul has said the more we sin the better it is. Paul calls such statements slander and says those who say such things will be condemned.

Application

It amazes me sometimes how far we go to justify our sin. Somehow we find ways of admitting that our actions are wrong, but God is OK with that. How dare God punish us for sinning?

In our increasingly godless culture, people base their morality on feelings and on the idea that any behaviour is acceptable if nobody gets hurt or they are serving a higher purpose.

No matter how we try to justify ourselves, sin is sin. It is God, not ourselves, who sets the standards.

God is never glorified by sin, no matter how much we might try to rationalise it.

What does glorify God more than anything else is somebody who devotes their whole life to loving God and living by His standards. That might seem boring in a culture that has turned God’s value system on its head. But it is the only way for the follower of Jesus to live authentically.

Prayer

Forgive me Lord for the times I try to justify my sinful actions and attitudes. Help me to turn away from sin and to walk in the ways you set for me. Amen.

Scripture

No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God not from people.

Observation

You cannot be a teacher of God’s law and break it yourself. To tell people they must not steal, commit adultery or worship idols, but then do these things yourself is hypocrisy.

Some of the Jewish leaders were so proud of owning God’s law, but they failed to obey it. By doing this, they caused the Gentiles to blaspheme the name of the Lord.

Circumcision is only of value to those who obey God’s law. An uncircumcised Gentile who obeys God is better off than a Jew who disobeys the law.

To be a true Jew is more than parentage and ceremonies. It is about seeking God’s will.

Application

What Paul says here about Jews is also true of christians. It is not about adherence to a lifestyle, following religious rituals or being brought up in a christian family. To be a christian means that we are allowing God’s Spirit to change our heart.

Before I was saved, I didn’t care what God thought about me. I didn’t even care if God existed.

That night when God confronted me, and I said “Yes” to Jesus, my attitude started to change. Now I knew that God was real, and that He loves me. Suddenly I found that I wanted to please Him and to obey Him.

This is a life long process. I didn’t wake up one morning finding that I was perfect in every way. I still struggle with sin and the old nature. But the point is that I struggle. I am not content to let sin reign over me.

The heart that pleases God is one that is open to being changed by Him.

Prayer

Today, Lord, I seek you and your righteousness. Thank you that you are continuing to change me as I surrender to you. Amen.

Scripture

And this is the message I proclaim – that the day is coming when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Observation

The Gentiles will be destroyed for their sins even though they didn’t have God’s written law. The Jews also will be judged because they had the Law but failed to obey it.

Obedience to the Law makes us right, not just knowing it. Even Gentiles instinctively know what is right because they have a conscience.

God is going to judge everybody through Jesus Christ.

Application

Salvation from the judgement is not just about the Law.

The Jews had God’s written law but many failed to obey it. They will be judged by the Law they disobeyed.

Gentiles will likewise be judged by their actions because their conscience told them what was right.

But Christ will judge everybody by their secret life. It is our actions at home or alone that show our hearts. Since God has access to our secret thoughts, He will be able to judge by our heart attitudes.

God is not impressed by people who live respectable or successful lives, and who go home and abuse their spouse or children.

Jesus said that murder has its roots in anger and that adultery starts with a lustful heart. It is these attitudes that will be judged, not just the outward actions.

This is not abut occasional bad thoughts, but a mind set that glories in sin.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you see into my heart and so I have no secrets before you. Please forgive me for my sinful thoughts and convict me of attitudes that I need to change. Amen.

Scripture

But there will be glory and honour and peace from God for all who do good- for the Jews first and also for the Gentiles.

Observation

You may think that you can judge the “sinners”, but if you are self-righteous you will simply be storing up judgement for yourself. If you judge people for their sins, you must realise how patient and tolerant God is with you for not judging your sins.

There will be a time when God’s judgement is revealed. He will pour out His wrath on those who do wrong, but He will pour out His glory, honour and peace upon those who do what is right.

Application

God is not interested in our blood lines, but He is interested in our attitude towards Him.

The topic of God’s judgement is very unpopular these days. In fact, we do not like the idea that anyone, let alone God, should judge us.

The truth is that there is a day of judgement coming. Those who have chosen the way of life will be raised to eternal life. Those who have chosen the way of sin will be condemned to hell.

People say they don’t like to believe in such things. They are on the same level as those who do not believe in the corona virus or that it somehow doesn’t apply to them. They then spread the infection across Melbourne and into other parts of Australia.

The virus is real, and it brings its judgement on all who ignore it. Sin is also real and it brings its own judgement, but with eternal consequences.

On the other hand, those who put their trust in Jesus and live for Him, will have their sins forgiven and will enjoy glory, honour and peace from God.

Prayer

Lord, I confess my sins to you today. Thank you for your promise that when we confess our sins to you, you forgive us and make us clean. Amen.

Scripture

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

Observation

Even people who don’t know about God should see from the creation that God is real and powerful. There is no excuse for not knowing God in some way.

Because people refuse to worship the God who is there, their minds become dark and confused. They start to worship idols.

Because they worship created things rather than the creator, God has abandoned them to their shameful desires. Homosexuality is a case in point, but it applies to every form of wickedness.

Application

Wickedness abounds in this world because people refuse to acknowledge God. God lets them have their way, and so they continue to bring judgement on themselves.

Paul mentions homosexuality, but also a lot of other sins. Sexual sins get a pass in our culture, including among some christians. The reality is that God is our creator and has the right to set the boundaries for the life style which people should follow, including how we act on our sexual desires.

If I say that I will let my sexual desires overrule what God says, then I am making an idol of my body and that of the person I lust after.

We cannot allow our sexual desires to rule our lives at the expense of our relationship with God. This applies equally to other sinful desires such as gluttony, anger and greed.

To be a follower of Jesus means that I must be holy- set apart for God. This means a constant process of allowing the Holy Spirit to cleanse every unclean thought and every unholy action from my life.

Prayer

Lord I acknowledge that you are the one who sets the standards by which I should live. You are the one who determines how I should live. Help me to worship you alone, and not to make idols of the things I want. Amen.

Scripture

I am not ashamed of the Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes- the Jews first and also the Gentile.

Observation

Paul thanks God for the believers in Rome, whose faith is being talked about throughout the world.

He prays often for them and for their needs. He especially prays for the opportunity to be able to visit them.

So far, Paul has been prevented from going to Rome, but he longs to go and work among them.

Application

The gospel is God’s mighty power at work, bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul is clear in his writing that there is no distinction in the way God deals with people. There is not one pathway for Jews and another for Gentiles. We are all saved by faith in Christ.

This is the power of God at work. We are brought from a place of condemnation to a place of reconciliation with God. We know it is true because our hearts yearn for relationship with God.

God came into the world to reveal to us His great love for us. He died to set us free from death and sin.

The preaching of the gospel is powerful to change lives because it is empowered and endorsed by the Holy Spirit. The words of the gospel are brought to life by the confirmation in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

God’s mighty power breathes life into souls that were dead and washes away all of our sin, guilt and shame.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the power of the gospel. Thank you for sending Jesus into the world to pay for my sins. Amen.

Scripture

The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Observation

The letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ set apart to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles. The Good News is about Jesus Christ.

We are called by God to belong to Christ. We are loved by God and called to be His holy people.

Application

The Good News is all about Jesus Christ God’s Son.

Jesus was born into the family line of King David. He is the descendant of David of whom it was promised would reign on the throne for ever.

Jesus is both human- the Son of Man- and the divine Son of God. While He is forever part of the Trinity, He has also uniquely lived among us ad knows what it is like to be a person.

In that sense, Jesus is like us. He was tempted and tested just as we are. He faced every human weakness and overcame it all.

Finally the people nailed Him to a cross, seeking to remove His sinless perfection from them. His death on the cross became the sacrifice which takes away the sins of the world.

But death could not hold Him down. The resurrection demonstrated to the whole world that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for calling me into your kingdom and into the family of believers. Amen.

Scripture

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Observation

Paul expresses the dilemma faced by many people. He says: I want to obey God’s law, I want to do what is right, but I don’t. I know God’s law is good, but my sinful nature is what keeps leading me into sin.

If I cannot do what I want to do, then it shows that I am a slave to sin. Sin is like a power that fights me.

There s only one way out of this dilemma, and that is through Jesus Christ.

Application

The old nature, the old man, the flesh, the sinful nature- it has many names. The fact is that as long as we live in this life, we will be prone to sin.

We can only live the holy life we want to live to the extent that we have crucified our old nature and allowed Christ to take control.

The christian life, the way of discipleship, is an ongoing process of allowing God to show us our sin and letting Him deal with it.

That is why Paul says that the answer to out sin problem is Jesus Christ. It is not just about forgiveness of sins, but deliverance from sin. It is not just about salvation but also about sanctification.

We were saved for good works (not saved by good works). When we allow Jesus to break the chains of our sins, then we can begin to be set free to live the lives that we were created for.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the way out of sin. You don’t just forgive us but you also teach us and equip us to live holy lives. Thank you. Amen.