Romans 3:21-26

Learning the Way - Romans 3:21-26

Romans 3:24 - "...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" 

The message was clear that your faith is not the cause of your salvation, instead it's the instrument of your salvation. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Thinking that your faith causes your salvation gives us glory rather than God. Where do you struggle with this? Have you had a time in your life when terrible circumstances made you question God? 

Romans 3:26 - 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. 

Understanding that God is both the just and the justifier gives us a clear picture of both God's holy, wrathful anger, but also His love, kindness, and forgiveness. The just God is the one who is cannot turn a blind eye to sin. The justifier God is the one who loves, is kind, and forgives. Which of these two ends of the spectrum do you focus more on? Why? How does this change your perception of God?