Romans Pt: 27 - The Secret Message of Romans 3:23
A Wider Angle on Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Ro 3:23)
Romans 3:23 is one of the top five verses quoted in evangelicalism for the last four decades at least. But most readers of Romans (those who read it forwards, as a letter about how to get saved) are used to speaking of this verse in the context of what was called The Romans Road, which became a popular method of evangelism in the late 20th century. When read through this lense, it is used to show how all are outside of Gods graces because of our sin, leaving us standing in judgement and condemnation before God.
But this is a common misreading of the text that ignores both the context of Gentiles inclusion into the church, as well as the verses that immediately preceed the famed passage. In fact, the first half of the thought is cut off from the actual subject of the sentence itself. Lets take another look at this verse, but we will start in the second half of verse 21:
…apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Ro 3:21-22)
So you see, the plot is sameness between Jews and Gentiles that causes Paul to say the infamous for all have sinned. He stresses that neither Jews nor Gentiles have gotten it right, and both are equally wrong in light of God’s beautiful grace. It is the wonderful message that our spiritual performance is not what determines our acceptance int he eyes of God, it is our faith and allegiance in Jesus. But if the Gentiles don’t offer sacrifices, how are their sins covered? How can they be justified? That is what Paul sets out to answer in the rest of the chapter.
How Gentiles are Included in the People of God.
The Jewish people had an annual tradition that is captured in Leviticus 16, it is called The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. During the festivities, the high priest would gather some blood from the sacrificial lamb, he would take it into the small rom at the very center of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, and then they could fling that blood and splatter it all over the flat middle part of the Ark of the Covenant, what is called The Mercy Seat. It was meant to atone for the sins of the people, even the sins they don’t realize they have committed. It happened once a year, and it was a process that God had given to them, something to do, so that they would know that God wasn’t holding their sins against them in bitterness and anger. It was a cleansing of conscience and a lightening of the soul. Ancient writings say that, once this was done, the people would sing and dance with such joy that the ground would shake. It was inner spiritual peace. So freeing!
With that in mind, lets get back to Pauls argument. If you go back to verse 21, we see Paul arguing that the rightness of God (this thing that the Jewish Christians believed they have) can be found apart from the law and prophets! And this is surprising to them!
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe
(Ro 3:21-22)
So here is how the conversation goes:
Jews: The Law requires that we sacrifice an innocent lamb every year. We put our faith in that sacrifice. We trust God that it has covered our sins, and we can view all who take part in the festival as right and equal with us.
Paul: God has accepted us them right a good as well! He makes no distinction between us and them.
Jews: But they have no sacrificial lamb! They have nothing to point to, and are therefore under condemnation by religious people!
Paul: Jesus is their lamb. His blood is shed for them. If they put their faith in his sacrifice, then there is no distinction between those Jews and Gentiles.
So once again, we find in the teachings of the apostles a very simple message. It is a message that most of us have spent a lifetime trying not to hear: That the kingdom of God is made up of all kinds. It is a disruptive thought. It makes us feel we aren’t in control of who comes in. It makes us feel like we aren’t distinguished amongst the spiritual and religious people. It is hard to accept that “Anyone who is a follower of Jesus is your sister/brother. There is no distinction.”
No Distinction
But what if I have personal convictions that are different from them? No Distinction.
But what if I disagree with their reading of that verse? No Distinction.
But what if they don’t respect the traditions of the church? Look, these things, these differences, they don’t create distinction but they might create prime conditions for discussions about wisdom, about Christlikeness, about what God might be asking of us and discerning the way together, but that does not mean that they are distinct from you in the church.
The evidence of wether or not your brother/sister has placed their allegiance in Jesus is not that they agree with you on some particular social issue, even if it is a really important issue to you! The evidence is the fruits of the spirit. Faith and Fruit. That is enough.
If someone is trying to push you out of the church because of spiritual conviction or something you do that they disagree with, counter their condemnation with the gospel. “My allegiance is to Jesus, his work, his sacrifice, and his gospel. Which means that I am in the church, and I belong here.”
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Ro 3:28)
Faith in Jesus is enough for us to call each other “brother/sister.”
Discussion Questions
These discussion questions are designed to encourage thoughtful reflection and conversation among participants, fostering a deeper understanding of the sermon's message and its implications for our lives as believers.
Contextualizing Romans 3:23: How does understanding the broader context of Romans 3:21-22 change our interpretation of this verse? How does the inclusion of Gentiles play a significant role in Paul's message?
The Role of Faith vs. Works: How does this perspective challenge the idea of salvation based on our own spiritual performance? How does the concept of justification by faith impact our relationship with God and our fellow believers?
Inclusivity and Unity in the Church: How can this principle of no distinction be applied to modern church communities that often have diverse theological views and personal convictions? How can believers embrace this concept while still addressing differences and fostering healthy discussions?
Evidences of Faith and Fruit: How do you define and recognize these fruits of the spirit in your own life and the lives of others? How might this perspective change the way we interact with fellow believers who hold different opinions or convictions?