November 24
Romans 2:1-4:25
The distance between North Carolina to Bermuda is roughly 900 miles. Swimming that distance is physically impossible. A poor swimmer might make it 100 yards before drowning. A better swimmer might make it a few miles. Even someone like world class swimmer, Diana Nyad, might make it close to 100 miles. But the truth is all of our fates would be the same if our lives depended on being a good enough swimmer. We would all, without exception, find ourselves drowned in the Atlantic Ocean. This is a concept that most can accept. But when it comes to our being good enough to make it to heaven, many believe that they could make it in their own goodness. Though we might like to read into the Bible things that it doesn't say, or make black and white, absolute statements sound somehow gray or ambiguous, simple words with simple definitions must be taken literally. None means none, Not one means not one, and all means all. When it comes to our goodness, though we are capable of doing good things, none of us are good, without exception. Am I a good person? No! Are you a good person? No! How about your mother or grandmother? No! Your favorite pastor, priest, or rabbi? No! The missionary who gives his/her life in a foreign place for God? No! Surely Mother Teresa? No! Just as impossible as it would be to be a good enough swimmer to make it to Bermuda is just as impossible as it would be to make it to heaven based on our own goodness. The purpose of writing this is not to make anyone feel bad about themselves, it is to make everyone look outside themselves. Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
We read in Romans 3:9-13, "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."" These are very inconvenient words to any and all who want to stand on their own goodness for their standing in this life and the one to come in eternity. There is just no way to blur words like "none" and "no one". Interestingly, for those who are Jewish and therefore do not ascribe to the writings in the New Testament, these words in Romans are almost a direct quote from David's words written in Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3. Looking further on the absolute words in Scripture, we read in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Again, this is not that some have sinned, or even that most have sinned, but "all" have sinned. Paul makes the case in these first three chapters of Romans that every individual stands condemned before our Holy God. In chapter one the unrighteous heathen is condemned. In chapter two the self-righteous hypocrite is condemned. In chapter three the super-pious religious person is condemned. Without exception this is our standing in our own goodness before God.
But Paul's message is one of hope. For he transitions this section of condemnation into the next section where our hope lies. It lies completely in the Person of Jesus Christ. Though impossible in our own goodness, it is available in His goodness. It cost Him so much, but in His love He has made it so simple for us. We need to stop trusting in ourselves and trust in Him. We need to stop standing on our own sef-righteousness and stand upon His righteousness. We need to see ourselves as not good but needing His goodness to pay for our sins and put us in good standing with our Father. Paul writes in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Again, notice the absolute term "is". It is not might or probably or hopefully. In our sins the payment will be eternal death or separation from the Father. In Christ Jesus "is" eternal life with the Father. It is in Jesus Christ that God solves the divine dilemma in being both a God of justice and a God of love. Sins must be paid for, but He paid them for us. Thank You, Jesus!! This is why we can confidently say, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us. that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Though we are not good, He is. It is only through faith in Jesus, that His goodness provides the way for us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: