Paul tells the Jews: "The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law."
Now Paul goes on to talk about the fact that following Jesus means obeying the laws of God otherwise it means nothing, but then Paul makes an important twist in what we read in Romans 3: 19-20:
"Obviously, the law applies to those whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."
As I read this passage from Romans, I was struck with the thought that laws do not tell us what to do and how to do it, they simply point out to us all that we have done wrong (i.e. they highlight to us the reasons for having laws in the first place). You see, the religious rulers at that time were so focused on following the letter of the law: it consumed their life. However, Paul points out and says in so many words: "Ha, good luck with following the law. We are all sinful people!"
--------------------------------------
"Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin." Romans 3: 9 NIV
So, what does this mean for us today? Are we then stuck in the place of simply knowing that we are sinful people and that the law in a way is meant to keep us down? NO!!!!!!
According to Romans 3: 23 - 26 God has redeemed us from our sin!!
"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. 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 declares sinners
to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!
We are made right through the work of Jesus Christ. God sacrificing his son paid the ultimate price that no devotion to the law could ever bring us. What is further intriguing is that this sacrifice was paid for our future. Our lives would then seem predetermined to have sin already erased! Praise God! So, God has shown us the way to be made right and it is through his son: Jesus Christ!
