05-14-2023 God Sought Life (Romans 3:28-30, 5:1-11)

God Sought Life Romans 3:28-30, 5:1-11 Romans 3:9-10 9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. Romans 3:23-24 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:28-30 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Both Jews and Gentiles are in need of God's saving grace because we all suffer from the same condition- SIN How do we define "justify"? Definition 1- "Can I find a good excuse for my situation?" Definition 2- to straighten out How does God straighten out relationships with humanity? • Through a gospel that evokes faith • If sin is a relationship with God gone wrong, then faith is the relationship with God set right. • This 'setting right' is done through the power of the gospel • The gospel brings about a trusting relationship with God and we are justified. Romans 5:1-3 1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, "We boast in what God does. Even when we suffer, because God's action is not limited because of my suffering." Romans 5:4-11 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. Don't miss the repetition of 6-10: vs. 6- ...while we were still helpless...Christ died for the ungodly.  vs. 8- ...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  vs. 10- ...while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son...will we be saved by his life. God sought life.