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But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law… the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Rom 3:21-22)
If the Apostle Paul were an artist rather than a writer, if he had applied brush strokes to canvas rather than pen strokes to parchment, the early portions of the book of Romans would paint a very dark scene indeed. Paul opens his letter with a beacon of hope as he proclaims the Gospel to be “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” (Rom 1:16) but ominous clouds quickly form on the horizon – and on the canvas – as Paul describes the human condition – the reason why everyone must believe.
The wrath of God will be poured out against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18). Through a well-crafted series of arguments the conclusion sounds forth: All are under the condemnation of sin. Before a holy and perfect God, no one will be able to stand. Every mouth will be stopped, every would-be attorney and strategy of defense silenced, as the whole world is held accountable to God (Rom 3:19). Accountable to the God who will judge not only actions, but also the secrets of men (Rom 2:16). Silence will reign. Like the calm before a storm.
Wednesday morning’s broadcasts brought more news of tragedy and painful images of destruction as violent twisters swept through Tornado Alley once again. In Chickasha, Oklahoma, an entire neighborhood was leveled in a matter of moments. What man had spent years of toil constructing and maintaining, a storm summarily destroyed in seconds.
A news crew on the early morning scene showed a family rummaging through debris that, only hours before, had been Home Sweet Home. The home that had once provided a sense of safety, security and well-being was now a flattened mess of two by fours, dry wall and household goods strewn as far as the eye could see.
In contrast to the tempest-ravaged home, an intact storm shelter lie just a few short paces from the debris pile. Here four adults and three children had taken refuge from the storm. In the face of nature’s fury they wisely abandoned a large, well-constructed home for a tiny underground chamber. As warning sirens blared and winds picked up, they placed their faith in something tried and true. They took shelter where shelter could be found.
Like the skies in Chickasha, the scene on Paul’s canvas had been growing dark. As menacing clouds increased their threats and hope seemed to fade to black, Paul declares a break in the weather. “But now,” he writes (Rom 3:21). Two small words that make a big difference. Two words that represent the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Two words that represent the change in atmosphere brought about by his sacrifice.
This “But now,” is no small break in the clouds. It is a storm of peace. A wall of blue skies rushing in from the east. “But now.” Where destruction once threatened, peace now reigns. Where darkness once loomed, the Son now shines.
"But now" the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ, the free gift of reconciliation with God, has been proclaimed to the world (Rom 3:21). “The righteousness of God for all who believe.” Man need not depend on his own righteousness, the record of his good deeds over his bad deeds, because the righteousness of Jesus Christ is now offered to all. Freely. As a gift. Through faith in Jesus Christ. Not the calm before the storm. But the calming of the storm.
Paul says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift.” Justified. How are we to understand this gift? How do we remember what “justified” looks like? “Just-if-ied” is God treating me "just-as-if-I’d" never done anything wrong. "Just-as-if-I’d" never thought anything wrong or wished anything wrong. God treating me and you "just-as-if" we’d never sinned at all. That is justification through faith in Jesus Christ.
The judgment of God that will be poured out against ungodliness and unrighteousness is in fact just. His perfect justice and even our own sense of justice demand it. Yet God sent His Son to take the wrath for us. What we could never earn or do ourselves, God has done for us in Jesus Christ – bringing a storm of peace and blue skies of reconciliation between us and God.
Where darkness once loomed, the Son now shines.
“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Cor 5:19-21)
