For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. [Romans 3.23-26]
The discussion of God's patience with Israel in the Old Testament is one of popularity. Why God did not wipe out Israel remains a mystery to many.
Paul directly addressed this mystery here in Romans 3.
It was because God was looking forward and including Israel's then present sin to be atoned for by the blood of Jesus. Israel, faithless as they were, still carried some portion of Abraham's faith and that faith was reason enough for God to withhold their deserved and complete annihilation!
How fair is that?
I'll tell you how fair it is. It is the God-kind of fair that proves God is God and that we desperately need Him!
Jesus was the answer long before His Advent to earth!
Father, thank You for Jesus. Your plan for the salvation of the world - those who believe - is both amazing and awesome!
No comments:
Post a Comment