Today, we open the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. Biblical scholars consider this letter the most developed presentation of Paul’s theology. He had not been to the church in Rome when he wrote the letter, so he was both introducing himself to the people there and presenting a more systematic demonstration of what Jesus’ followers must believe than in any of his other letters. Much of the Protestant Reformation, and its theology came from the study of Romans. In particular, Romans 3:23-24, which we will consider briefly today, helped the Reformers to understand we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and that alone, apart from our works is the means to salvation.
In Romans 1, Paul introduced himself to the Romans, and set forth his boldness in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ as the power of God for the salvation of the Jews first, and then the Gentiles. In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul established the sinfulness of all humanity. I n chapter 1, Paul demonstrated how the world as a whole has turned against God. He offered a detailed explanation of how we all have an innate knowledge of God, but because we rejected it, God permitted us to follow that rejection to its ugly conclusion.
In Romans 2, Paul reminded those of Jewish background, it was not only the pagan Gentiles who were irretrievably fallen. They, too, had rejected God’s will and purpose in their lives. Paul pointed out how the Jews often condemned the Gentiles, but their lives were demonstrations of their rejection of God as well. Paul pointed out that being a “Jew” is not a matter of outward expression, but of an inward change of the heart.
In Romans 3, Paul established God’s faithfulness in the midst of our unfaithfulness. He concluded with this powerful statement: 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) God’s righteousness is available to all through Jesus! This is the amazingly good news that follows the incredibly bad news. The bad news is we are all condemned by our own sin and deserve to be separated from God forever. The good news is Jesus came to satisfy God’s wrath for our sin by dying on the cross to redeem us. Paul unfolds these two powerful truths throughout Romans, but the foundation has been laid for us here: without Jesus we are lost, but thank God Jesus came to find us!
As we return to Matthew 11, we find the disciples of John the Baptist coming to Jesus to ask whether He was the one to come, that is the Messiah, or should they look for someone else. John had been imprisoned by King Herod, and as he sat there considering what he heard of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus didn’t sound like the conquering Messiah, nearly every Jew awaited. John wondered if he had been wrong about Jesus. Jesus responded with an answer directly from the prophecy of Isaiah. It would have assured John that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, but not the kind he awaited. Jesus affirmed John’s greatness before the people but reminded them John was the last of the “old guard.” The kingdom people who came after Jesus, all those who would be born again and demonstrate the power of God’s Kingdom would be greater. After Jesus’ affirmation of John, He denounced the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. He lived and ministered among the people there and they rejected Him. Jesus pointed out that some of the condemned cities of the past would have repented if they had seen what these people saw, so their judgment would be greater. The chapter closes with Jesus praising His Heavenly Father for revealing Him to those who weren’t of much standing in the world. He also called any who were weary and burdened down to come to Him to find rest. He promised a light “yoke” for those who served Him.