3:21 But now, apart from Law, the justifying action of God has been revealed, although it is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets...
Paul has just given his understanding of Psalm 143:2--"From works of Law no flesh will be justified before Him." No one will be given an innocent verdict in the divine court on the basis of the way they have kept the Jewish Law. So "the justification of God" cannot take place on the basis of the Law. God does not act in justification on the basis of one's Law keeping.
The idea of the "righteousness of God," God's propensity to save and justify, seems to flow naturally from the previous verse. God's justification has been revealed by way of something other than keeping the Jewish Law, although the Law and the Prophets witness to it. The expression "the Law and the Prophets" refers to the primary divisions of the Jewish Law. Thus Paul is saying that OT Scripture witnesses to the way in which God is now justifying humanity.
There is thus a subtle shift in Paul's use of the word "law" in the same verse. The first reference refers to the Law as ethical requirement. The second to the Law as a section of Scripture. Although the Law as ethical requirement is based in the Jewish Law, Paul is not clearly thinking of issues that distinguished Jew from Gentile here.
3:22 ... even the saving righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all those who have faith...
God has acted to bring about the justification of His people through Jesus Christ. We opt for the understanding of the first "faith of Jesus" expression as a reference to the faithfulness of Jesus, his faithfulness to the point of death. God saves His people and the world through Jesus Christ. This interpretation however does not eliminate the need for human faith, which the verse goes on to indicate is the key to experiencing God's saving righteousness.
3:23 ... for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and are lacking the glory of God,
Whether one is a Jew or a non-Jew, there is no distinction in the problem. Both Jew and Gentile have sinned and thus stand under the wrath of God. Neither Jew nor Greek currently stand in the position of glory God intended them to have in the world.
"What are mortals that you remember them; the children of mortals that you visit them. You crowned them with glory and honor and put all things under their feet." Such is Psalm 8, a key passage for the early Christians. But as Hebrews fills out, "We do not yet see all things under their feet, but we see Jesus ... It was fitting for God, in leading many children to glory..."
3:24 ... but all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
If universal sinfulness of both Jew and non-Jew is the problem, then the possibility for all to be justified is the solution. It is a solution afforded not by works but on the basis of God's grace. God's grace is His unmerited favor, His patronage dispensed disproportionate to any human solicitation.
The "redemption in Christ" is parallel to the faithfulness of Christ. Redemption is freedom brought about through a payment of some sort. The nature of the payment becomes clear in the following verse.
3:25 ... whom God offered through His faithfulness as an atoning sacrifice by means of [Jesus'] blood to demonstrate His righteousness in the face of passing over sins that had previously been committed...
Here Jesus' faithful death is likened to God offering a sacrifice for sins. How can God be considered righteous if He passes over sins without judgment. God can do so because He has offered Jesus as an atoning sacrifice.
3:26 ... in the tolerance of God, to demonstrate His righteousness at this present time, so that He might be righteous and the one who finds righteous the one who is [righteous] on the basis of the faith of Jesus.
So God is found to be righteous, both in His offering of Jesus as a sacrifice and in His propensity to save. Yet he is also the justifier, the one who finds those in Christ not guilty. Those in Christ are those have faith in God just as Jesus had faith in God.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
BTW, you must have erased your post on the "projector" that Obama wanted to fund...versus what McCain would be obligated to spend on the military.
I know it must be very disturbing to those of you who have children being educated here locally. Therefore, that would be first on your priority in advancing scienctific education for your young. But, I think Obama's emphasis to globalize our sovereignty, is misguide, even if it does encourage scientific advancement.
Obama has endorsed some legislation that would increase our "bill" to the UN. Although I agree that we should provide for those in other countries that have no other means, I do not think that 1.)giving more money to governments that are corrupt is going to do anything other than further corrup government. There is no oversight in how the monies (supplies) are allocated...2.)Obama's agenda, I am afraid, is to redistribute weatlth globally, with any understanding of the dynamics and complexities that are beyond the understanding of a "community oriented" organizational endeveavor...
I do not think that having the faith of Jesus is undertaking everyone's cause and everyone's need. That is why I think it is an ideological failure on Obama's part...
It's back up. I took a couple posts down overnight to edit. We've been talking about sensitive issues this election season and I don't want anyone to be unnecessarily offended. Of course some people take offense if you say anything positive about whichever side they don't like.
But I figure it's healthy for us to discuss both sides, and critique of the things I've suggested has not been lacking. :-)
Post a Comment