“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

romans 3:21-26

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.

When you hear the word righteous, what do you think? Does your mind go to the Righteous Brothers, you know, the band that sang You Lost That Loving Feeling, or does it go to doing the right thing the right way? Righteousness is not a word used outside of church. We don’t hear someone say I am going to do business with them because they are righteous but maybe we should.

We are continuing our two-month journey through Romans. Tim Mackie says, “The book of Romans is one of the longest and most significant things written by the Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul was a Jewish rabbi belonging to a group called the Pharisees, and he passionately devoted his life to observing the Torah of Moses and the traditions of Israel. He viewed Jesus and his followers as a threat to these traditions, so he persecuted them. His life was changed, however, when he had a radical encounter with the risen Jesus himself. Paul was commissioned to become an apostle for Jesus, an official representative to the world of non-Jewish people (or Gentiles), which makes him the perfect person to speak about righteousness.

In chapter three, Paul is distinguishing between the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. The Levitical laws, which the Jewish people followed, and the Pharisees enforced, were initially designed to create proper relations with God and with neighbor. The problem is that the perceived purpose of the rules shifted from fostering right relationships to doing what is right. Paul is trying to remind people that righteousness is about right relationships. It is the right relationship with God, neighbor, and ourselves. God has moved to us first in love and is inviting us to move to him to transform our lives. No matter who we are or what we have done, God wants a relationship with us. God does not want us to lose that loving feeling.

Prayer:

Ever-Present God, it is a humbling gift that you want to be in a relationship with us. We do not have to worry about getting it right every day but live in the grace-filled relationship you have invited everyone into. Help us to live this out with and share your grace and love with he world around us.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

1) Righteousness is not about "doing the right thing" but being in "right relationship" with God, others, and yourself. How does this shift in definition change the way you think about your own spiritual life? Where are you more focused on "doing" rather than "being"?

2) Paul's life was transformed from one of enforcing religious rules to one of promoting a relationship with Jesus. Can you think of examples in modern life (or even in our own church) where good spiritual practices can sometimes become more about the rules themselves than about fostering a relationship with God?

3) God "has moved to us first in love and is inviting us to move to him." How does this idea challenge the common feeling that you need to "get your life right" before you can approach God?

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