Wednesday 28 March 2012

Background

Paul is dealing with the question why his Jewish contemporarieshave not, by and large, responded to the message of Jesus in theway that Gentiles (non Jews) have. As always, he turns to the OldTestament for clues.

He does not question the special place the Jewish people have inGod's purposes ("to the Jew first and also to the Greek", Romans1:16), but argues that they have misunderstood the basis ofthat relationship. He draws a distinction between righteousness(that is, being in a right relationship with God) based onobedience to the law given by God, and righteousness based on aresponse in faith to God's gift of Jesus Christ. Such a response isopen to Jew and non-Jew alike.

Interpreters are not agreed about what Paul means by "Christ is theend of the law" (v. 4). "End" could mean 'the fulfilment to whichthe law points'. If, on the other hand, he means that Christ hasabolished the law, it is only in the sense in which it ismisunderstood by his Jewish contemporaries. Certainly obedienceremains important. Faith itself is a form of it (verse 17), andchapters 12 to 16 of Romans have much tosay about appropriate lifestyle. What matters is the basis of ourrelationship to God. It is, and always has been, faith(compare Romans 4:3); faith openly expressed (verse 9).In verse 10 "justified" means restored to a right relationship withGod.

The reference to the resurrection in verse 9 is important for Paul.It is God's affirmation that Jesus, although crucified, is indeedGod's Messiah. It was that discovery on the Damascus Road (Acts9:1-9) that brought Paul to faith.

Of course the message about Jesus has to be heard if there is to bea response. As verses 14 to 21 affirm, preachers have been sent,but not all who heard the message have responded.

To Ponder

How important is openly confessing the faith wehave?

How would you express the difference between'establishing our own righteousness' and 'submitting to God's'(verse 3)?

How important is it for you to believe in theresurrection of Jesus? Why?