Romans 3: 19-28

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. ²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. ²⁷ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

The Apostle Paul wants everyone to know that God’s Law is all-inclusive.  Paul declared in our text, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (23).  Paul is clear: sin has made every man, woman, and child totally corrupt to our very core.  There is no difference, we are all accountable to God’s perfect and holy and moral Law.  There is only one verdict against sin which is the same for everyone, “Guilty!”  According to His Law, God weighs the evidence of our sin.  Not only does the law uncover our visible transgressions, but it also reveals a heart that fails to fear, love, and trust in God above all things.  And the Law carries out the sentence as well.  The Apostle says “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), which the Law executes without mercy.  Left under the Law, our fate would be certain.  But thanks be to God, He does the impossible.  Just as “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” so too are all “justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (24).  With the Law “there is no distinction,” all people stand accused.  With Calvary there are no exceptions—all are justified.

It is easy to become troubled and unsure of our faith when we stumble and fall.  But God directs us away from ourselves and points us to what He has achieved for us in Christ Jesus.  No one needs to worry if their sins are too great for the cross, Christ’s forgiveness is for every sin.  Though the price tag for sin is death, the grace of God does the impossible by justifying sinners.   His saving death on Calvary is all-inclusive. Our Savior paid the debt of human sinfulness “not with gold or silver but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death” as Luther’s Small Catechism declares.

When our sins trouble us as they should, Martin Luther reminds us we are not to run to Calvary, since on the cross salvation was won but not bestowed.  Instead, Luther declares, run to the Gospel and the Sacraments because that is where the salvation won at Calvary is imparted.  There is nothing we can add to our Lord’s work.  Our faith is a gift from God, worked into us by the Holy Spirit through His Means of Grace, and by faith we can only receive the gift.  So, rejoice that God has accomplished the impossible.  Praise Him that sinners are saved from the consequences of sin.  Thanks be to God for His  free gift of faith and His unearned, undeserved gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.  Praise God for this impossible gift! 

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