A Sinner, Gracede
(Rom 3:9-10)
Even a Christian cannot say, “I have no sin.” It is not that sin is gone—it is that the guilt has been imputed to another. To declare oneself without sin is not only to misunderstand Scripture, but to break one’s relationship with God, who hates sin, and to find oneself moving in the opposite direction from Him in everything. Most seriously of all, it means being unable to entrust oneself to God.
No Way Out
Every person stands indicted—charged as being “under sin.” Are Christians any better? No. Many Christians, much like the Jews, point to their social belonging, moral conduct, or religious zeal as reasons God should regard them favorably. But if anyone is counted righteous before God, it will be because they have honestly confessed their sin and humbled themselves before Christ.The Verdict
Paul, as though in a courtroom, pronounced judgment on the basis of the Old Testament: “All are under sin.” The first count: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” The Old Testament records those like Noah and Enoch as righteous— people who demonstrated a certain manner of life and conduct. And yet before God, there is not one who can be regarded as truly righteous. Just as no one, however strong a jumper, can leap from an island to the mainland—it simply cannot be done.Imputed Righteousness
There is, however, a way for such people to be made righteous. It is for the righteousness of Christ to be imputed to them. When we confess that we are sinners destined to destruction and humble ourselves before Jesus Christ, the Son whom God has sent, God responds to that faith by providing a way for us to escape judgment. We have received this by grace. So let us never forget, for as long as we live, what we truly are. Though we have already received the righteousness of God, let us depend on the Lord’s guidance at every moment and obey His Word.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Comments powered by Disqus.