February 18, 2010

Romans 3:10-26 in Modern Talk

I simply took Romans chapter three, verses 10-26 and made them fit better with the way we talk today. I based it off of the NASB updated version of the Bible. It is still accurate according to what the passage really says, only a bit modified. After you read it, please tell me what you think in the comments. Thank you.

Romans 3:10-26 (paraphrase):
As it says in Scripture,

No one is upright, not one;
No one has understanding,
No one looks for God;
Everyone has turned away, and have become all together worthless;
No one does good, not one.
Their throat is an open grave,
They keep deceiving with their their tongues,
Viper poison is behind their lips;
Their mouths are full of bitterness and cursing;
They are quick on their feet to shed blood,
There is destruction and misery in their paths,
And they don't know the way of peace.
There is no fear of God in their eyes.

Now we know that what the Law says it says to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may be held guilty before God; because nobody will be justified in His sight by the works of the Law; since the Law brings the knowledge of sin.

But now, the righteousness of God has been shown apart from the Law, being attested to by the Law and the Prophets, that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe; since there is no difference; because all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, and are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; who God has publicly displayed as a propitiation (a sacrifice to appease God's wrath) in His blood through faith. In order to show His righteousness, because God, in His patience, passed over sins committed in the past; in order to show His righteousness at this time, so that He would be both Just and Him who justifies the one who has faith in Christ Jesus.

February 13, 2010

Justified by Grace

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:21-25 ESV).

This is good news for bad people (see Romans 1:15; 3:12). For those of us who are humbled before God; knowing we are sinful, having a heart that goes astray, utterly worthless as far as doing any good, helpless, hopeless, spiritually lifeless; for such there is good news!
"The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law." This righteousness is God's righteousness. It is given to those who believe. I like the way the KJV says it, "unto all and upon all them that believe."

For those who are righteousness-less, there is a righteousness freely given unto and upon all who believe the gospel. It is a gift. The gift is a right standing before God, justification, forgiveness and peace with God. It is given "unto" those who believe, and it is given "upon" those who believe. We have received a righteousness from God by faith in Christ, and it is put upon us by Him.

It says this is all "by his grace as a gift." Justified by his grace. Not by our grace. Not by anything in us or done by us. It is a justification by His grace for all who believe. How is that possible? The answer is, "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God made it possible to count a sinful, hell-deserving, unholy, wretch like me perfectly righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. It is possible, because Jesus suffered and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for those who believe.

Jesus is precious to me! Is He precious to you? Are you justified by His grace?

"Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible."

February 8, 2010

God's presence among His people

This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did... the tabernacle was erected. ...So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:16-17,33-34.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Revelation 21:2-4.