It
is faith from beginning to end (1:17 TEV) - lit. “from faith to faith.”
Some commentators interpret the clause to mean how God puts us right with God:
it originates in God’s faithfulness but results in personal, saving faith.
[1]
3:23 . . . and fallen short saving presence (TEV) - “Glory” may not
refer to “God’s saving presence,” but more probably to the likeness that
each human has been designed to bear-the icon of God, but which has been
marred or forfeited because of sin.
3:24 -- justified . . . through ________ that is in Christ Jesus - but how
does God justify us? Notice how redemption is translated: “redemption”
(RSV, NRSV, NAB), “ransom” (Moffatt), “deliverance” (Godspeed), and
“act of liberation” (NEB). Paul uses the word as an act, a setting free.
Although “setting free” is a noun in Greek, it describes an event rather
than an object.
Origen (185-254) “Redemption is the word used for what is given to
enemies in order to ransom captives and restore them to their liberty . . . He
gave himself as our redemption, that is, he surrendered himself to our enemies
and poured out his blood for us.”[2]
Mission
Possible-interview selected folks in your congregation: “How would you
define ‘the gospel?’ ” Second question: “How would you define the term
‘righteousness?’ ” Include children, older adults, the well-read as well
as the Harlequin crowd. Find out what the general perceptions are to the
“gospel” that Paul says he is not ashamed of and the righteousness that
God provides us.
How close have you come to getting in trouble with the law? How did you
feel?
How would the average person in your town react to the statement, “all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God?”
Vs 28-29 have impacted the lives of Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Karl
Barth: how is the message in these verses impacting your life?
Open with your survey
results / raise the importance of grasping these meanings
Note the Law’s purpose: like a mirror that reflects our image as we
prepare for the morning; it shows us how much we need to work on our face, but
the purpose is not to take it down and begin using it as a razor!
Another image: a ferocious Pit Bull wearing a muzzle; we can think how
well-behaved animal this is as we lovingly pat its head, nice doggy! But the
muzzle can only control the outward behavior of the animal-but inside that Pit
Bull is lusting for your arm-heck, it wants all of you in two bites. The law
as Paul presents it, may serve a similar function - it can create excellent
boundaries, but go no further toward the deeper interior changes that the
gospel says needs fixing.
Present the astonishing claim that Paul makes of God’s new righteousness
through faith in Christ.
