Romans 3 -- The Gospel In A Nutshell

So much in here today that I’ve just gotta sum it all up.  My commentary said it well:

 

1)       All men are sinners

2)      The whole of man’s inner being is controlled by sin:  his mind, his heart, and his will

3)      God puts the righteousness of Christ on our record in place of our own sinfulness.  And nobody can change that record

4)      God looks on us and deals with us as though we had never sinned at all!

5)      Righteousness comes by believing, not by behaving

6)      God declared all men guilty so that He might offer to all men His free gift of salvation

7)      God is love and when God relates that love to us, it becomes grace and mercy.  God in His mercy doesn’t give us what we deserve, and God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve

8)      Salvation is free, but it is not cheap.  Jesus had to die on the cross to pay for it.

9)      He doesn’t cover over our sins – He carries them away

10)   Jesus purchases us as sinners, then sets us free

11)   A God of love wants to forgive sinners, but a God of holiness must punish sin.  How can God do both?  The answer is in Jesus Christ

12)   When Jesus died, He reached all the way back to Adam and took care of those sins.  His death and resurrection also covers all of our future sins

 

Father, I’m so glad that You set out from before time began to create a world full of people to whom You’d grant free will, knowing we would sin, yet planned in advance for Your Son to sacrifice Himself just for us.  Such incredible love!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford