Tonight we had bible study on Roman 3:21-26.
What an awesome passage that is. I will never tire of it. We just need to hear of grace over and over, for it is so foreign to us and the desires of our hearts.
Our discussion moved to living in the freedom from guilt that grace brings. Someone remarked that they were told in Sunday School about being in the Kingdom of God through grace, through trust in Jesus – but that they haven’t heard it that often since then.
Someone said that they left from church so often feeling bad, thinking after the sermon, ‘Gee, I’m a bad person.’ They didn’t then hear as often, ‘And you’re forgiven through Jesus’.
It reminded me of Keller’s comment I heard through the Gospel Coalition conference talks. He said that most people don’t preach the gospel, either from the Old Testment, or the New. That is, most people spend not enough time on the DO, and not nearly enough on the DONE.
Or, in Rom 3:21-26 terms, on the righteousness from God, providing justification freely through his grace, by faith.
Gotta have that grace, grace, grace.
In Anticipation 
Heya Keith.Totally agreed. Must need grace.Although isn’t the point of Romans 3 that God has demonstrated – in the cross – his justice, justice, justice? Sure, Romans 3:23 says that all are justified by his grace. But the point of the passage as that his grace in the cross demonstrates his justice (3:24-25). That is, God has not waived any sin. He was dwelt with it all (hence the grace to all). For purely grace, grace grace, we need this passage’s parallel: Romans 5:6-8. The cross not only demonstrates in his justice (Romans 3), but also his love (Romans 5).To quote Tasker:Come see where justice and mercy collide/ There on His hands and His feet and His side.Go well, my friend.
Hey there Justin, thanks for dropping by.I know I’m in trouble when you start quoting Tasker at me!! ;-)Of course the passage is about God demonstrating his justice. But there’s a fair whack of grace in there too, is there not? A righteousness from God? (x2!) (All are) justified freely through his grace? (as you have noted) Enough at least for me to talk about it with the bible study group?I wasn’t trying to deny the justice element in the passage in my post. Rather, commenting on the fact that that is where the discussion went with our young adult bible study as they reflected on the passage. And the discussion led to my online reflection, since people’s experiences had been so ‘grace-less’.Rom 5 is cool too!Cheers, bro.