David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 3:21-26

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 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. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Some of us need “atta-boys” more than others. Our love language is words of affirmation. We can go for days without hearing such words, working away harder and harder, and grow more and more resentful or less and less motivated. Then someone will come along and say something nice and encouraging, and everything looks up for us. Some, out of that severe need, will go to great lengths to gain the approval of others and their praise.

Our place before God, however, is dramatically different from even the kindest human welcome. Our place before him is secured in his gracious attitude and heart toward us. His justification of us is not dependent on our keeping of the law. We don’t obey our way into our place in his heart or kingdom. He loves us preemptively. He secures our place in his heart and kingdom unilaterally – apart from any performance on our part.

Yet God is not simply some mushy soft touch. He is no pushover. His demands for perfect faithfulness have not been set aside. They have been met. And then, in an overwhelming show of merciful lovingkindness, the One who met those demands of perfect faithfulness before God offered himself as a ransom. No wonder the heavenly Father called out at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my Son with whom I am well-pleased.” No wonder he repeated this praise on the mount of transfiguration, “This is my Son, listen to him.” No wonder Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God and given the name that is above every name. He alone deserves the praise of God.

Paul makes the point that all have sinned and fallen short of the “praise” (the ESV and most translations have “glory”) of God. That is certainly true no matter whether you translate the Greek “dosa” (from which we get the word doxology) as praise or glory. We cannot recommend ourselves to God nor attain or claim his glory. Nor do we properly expect his praise. We can rejoice, however, that for Jesus’ sake God has declared us righteous.

We have a place in God’s kingdom and heart through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s not about working our way into God’s favor, or finally doing enough to gain God’s praise. It is about acknowledging our sin and rejoicing in God’s favor for Jesus’ sake.