The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Part 1 of 3 • ⏱️ 2-Min Read Passage: Rom.3:21-26 Scripture Focus: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Rom.3:24) Romans Recap Over the last few weeks, we walked through Romans and saw some important truths. I'd like to recap the key learnings in 3-parts before we move on to 1 Corinthians (with a new format).  In Romans 1-5 we learned that everyone, both Jew and Gentile, stands guilty before God. No amount of religious ritual or moral effort can fix our sin problem. But then we hit the turning point in Romans 3:21. We saw that God's righteousness is revealed completely apart from the law. We are justified freely by His grace. This is not a process we maintain. It is a legal declaration of innocence purchased by the blood of Christ and received simply by faith. We closed those chapters knowing that the law only brings the knowledge of sin, but grace brings absolute acquittal. Your standing before God rests entirely o...

Part 3 of 4 • ⏱️ 2-Min Read Passage: Romans 3:21-26 Scripture Focus: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Rom.3:24) Today’s Lesson Romans 3:21 opens with two words that change everything: “But now”. After proving the whole world guilty under the law, Paul reveals that the righteousness of God is manifested “without the law”. This righteousness is not earned, achieved or improved by religious effort. The law and the prophets witness to it, yet it stands apart from them. Verse 22 tells us how it is received: by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. Notice “there is no difference”. The same verdict that stopped every mouth in verse 19 now brings the same remedy to everyone. Verse 23 repeats the problem: all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Verse 24 is the heart of the passage. Believers are justified freely, meaning as a gift, by His grace. Justified means declared righteous before God. The...

1 Timothy 2:4 perfectly summarizes God’s "two-fold will" for your life: first, your legal rescue ( "to be saved" ), and second, your spiritual growth ( "to come unto the knowledge of the truth" ). "Who will have all men to be saved...": This corresponds to Romans 1-5, where the focus is entirely on your Justification. It is a completed event where you are rescued from the penalty of sin the moment you trust the Gospel. "...and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.": This corresponds to Romans 6-12, where the focus is on your Sanctification. It is the ongoing process of "renewing your mind" (Romans 12:2) so that your life reflects your new identity. Why "Knowledge of the Truth" is Key Notice that Paul doesn't say God's will is for you to "try harder" or "keep more rules." He says the goal is knowledge. In the King James Bible, "knowledge" in this context isn't just fa...