GOD’S PLAN FOR ME
Romans 3:20-26
*Parents tend to have a plan, wishes, and hopes for their children. Teenagers may “roll their eyes” or “perish the thought” of fulfilling the dreams mom and dad has for them, but truthfully in most cases, the parents honestly desire the best for their offspring. However, we parents do have an incomplete picture of our children. We are not privy to their thoughts, pressures, deep seated frustrations or likes. The point is that while we want the best, we do not truly know what the best is for them.
* In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your Faith in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask Him!” In the same way you and I desire the best for our kids, so does God want the best us and God has a much better knowledge of us that we have of our Children. He knows us from inside out, He knows what makes us tick, and He knows what is BEST for us.
* What God wants for everyone of His creation is this; fulfillment, peace, joy, love, security, gentleness, and much more. However, God knows that we cannot ever achieve this type of life without a guiding, loving, ongoing relationship with Him. How does He know this? He designed us this way. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you" — this is the LORD’s declaration — "plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a plan for every person’s hope and future, yet God has given mankind a human choice. Everyone makes a choice.
* When I was a kid, the adults in my life used a phrase which we do not use much anymore. “Bent and determined” was the phrase (and the faster you spoke it the more meaning it had.) Using that human argument, it would seem that mankind has been “bent and determined” to dismiss God from our lives. At the same time, it would seem that God is “bent and determined” to give us every opportunity to come to Him. He has given us laws, history, prophecy, & now His Son Jesus to draw us to Himself. He wants the best for us.
* We have been working our way through the book in the Bible known as Romans. If you will turn to chapter 3 with me and let’s look at verses 20-26. Paul has made a valiant attempt at helping us, the readers; understand our need for God’s help. Since chapter one he has pronounced judgment on the heathen, hypocrite, Hebrews, and humanity, in what has seemed unending bad news. Now, he begins to give the message of God’s desire and/or plan for me (and you). Let’s Read.
* For years songwriters have attempted picture for us the depth, length, height, width, and breath, of God’s love. The old gospel song says, “The Love of God is great far than tongue or pen could ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star & reaches to the lowest hell.” Bill Reynolds said it this way, “The Love of God is broader than earth vast expanse. Tis deeper and wider than the sea.” Michael W. Smith wrote, “How long, how wide, how high, and how deep is the love; how deep is the love of Christ.” It is the love of God reaching for us to give us the best this life has to offer and prepare us for eternity. Because of His love, He has a plan for us & a require-ment for us is to understand or comprehend His plan. In this text, I see 3 different degrees of understanding which is required to take advantage of His plan for me;
1. I need a practical understanding. Being a pragmatist means that I always desire the pragmatic or practical understanding of whatever I may do. Paul has been using words like judgment, condemnation, blasphemy, and sin, yet what He wants to readers to clearly understand is this “the righteousness of God has been revealed.” (Read verses 20-22) To summarize, he tells us that the law was given to show us how sinful we are and that no one will be saved by keeping the law. The law reveals our bent toward evil. However, with the words, “BUT NOW”, Paul turns a corner and says, “Sin and punishment existed, but now something better is here, it is God’s righteousness.” And it has here;
a. Apart from the Law. Don’t miss this. The law serves it purpose and it does this very well. It shows our need.
* It tells us where we’ve fallen and then the righteous-ness of God is revealed to show us how we can get up.
* Warren Wiersbe suggests this scripture could be paraphrased, “in the age of grace, righteousness, a new kind of righteousness has been revealed, but not one that depends on the law.” The law condemns and can never save.
b. Affirmed by the Old Testament. Listen to how God helps us understand. His righteousness or grace is given apart from the law and yet, affirmed by the “Law and Prophets.” To the Jewish believer, the Law was the first 5 books of the Old Testament & the Prophets was the balance of the Old Testament. Once again, Paul is using accepted sacred documents to show God’s desire or plan for His creation. It is also,
c. Available for everyone. God’s righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, to ALL who believe, since there is no distinction. Like the master communicator he is, Paul is setting up the reader to hear the gospel news. However, he is making it clear, you must believe. Who is it that will enjoy the life God has planned for you? Only those who believe.
* When I used the word “practically”, what is it that I mean? For me, I mean down to earth terms which I can understand. So hear this, practically speaking, God has done all He is prepared to do until I respond to His voice. He has created grace which possesses the power to save me in spite of the law, grace which the Old Testament speaks of, and grace which anyone can receive, “IF”, they will believe.
2. I need a personal understanding. We read the word “all” in verses 22 & 23 and it sounds really good. In fact, we are thankful God is a God of “all”, but never forget that “I” am a part of the all. Until I have a deep personal understanding about ME, the all of the Bible mean little.
a. I am a sinner. Verse 23 says this, “all have sinned” and the implication in the Greek language is that we all “keep on sinning.” It is not a singular action; rather it is an ongoing, present perfect action.
* To discover God’s plan, it is required that I come face to face with my sin and (as we use to say) our shortcomings. You see, not only do we sin, but we also fall short of God’s glory. Again, this is a repeated action. Think about this for a moment. When your child does something wrong “ONE TIME”, you may have compassion, understanding, even forgiveness. However, when He keeps on doing it—most of us become impatient and lose our cool. Written 1900 years ago through the Apostle Paul, God says, “you keep on sinning and falling short and I have a better way, the deal is that you must know your condition.”
b. I have a need. If I am a sinner (and I am) then I have a deep-seated need. Do you remember that we visited John 8 last week? Let’s read John 8:31-34. The reason we keep on sinning and keep on falling short is because, in the words of Jesus, we are slaves to sin. In this condition God will not allow me in His presence and thus, I will not be able know His plan. As a sinner I need to be made right in His eyes. (He wants this.)
c. I must believe. Look in the Bible at verse 24. They are “justified” (made right) “freely” (without cost) by His Grace (what we don’t deserve) through the redemp-tion (payment of the price) in Jesus (the justifier), NOW VERSE 22 – to all (me) who believe. Outside of believing, trusting, and being faithful, there is no hope for me (and you). The only ways I can discover the great life God has for me is put my total and complete trust in HIM and accept that I cannot do it myself.
* I am told that when a person in drowning they frantically attempt to save themselves. If a lifeguard comes to someone who is thrashing about in an attempt to save themselves, He will not move in to save them until they give up. A person attempting to save himself is a person who is unable to be rescued. When the person finally gives up, then the lifeguard moves in, takes over, and saves the life.
* This is the understanding we must have if we are to be saved. The Lord moves in only when invited.
* There is one final understanding which is required;
3. I need a powerful understanding. This actually might be better stated, “I need an understanding about His power.” Until we see, know, and understand, the power in God’s righteousness or grace, we will not completely embrace it. Paul is pulling out all the stops to show us;
a. God’s Righteousness displayed. Verse 25 & 26 reminds us that “God presented Jesus.” The prophets pointed to the Messiah, Redeemer, or Delivery coming and now, here Jesus is. God sent Jesus to present Him to the world as the Lamb of God, the propitiation, the one sacrifice which satisfied God’s Holy Law and thus making it possible for ALL, for me, to be redeemed! It is through “faith in His blood” that I am redeemed! How can I keep from singing? I cannot! Seeing the cross, seeing a powerful God, making a powerful statement, & offering a powerful solution to my personal problem, I must sing! He displayed His love & His grace for the entire world. It has been said that one asked Jesus how much He loved a person. In response, He spread His arms saying, “This much” and then He died. When I view the Golgotha’s hillside, I see God’s love & grace displayed. God presented Jesus inn power. But He didn’t stop there.
b. God’s Righteousness demonstrated. In Jesus we see and witness a demonstration of God’s righteousness. It is only through Jesus that God “passes over” sin from the past. The KJV uses the word “remission” and the Greek actually means, neglecting, disregarding, and/or letting pass. But draw this mental image. In Egypt, the Jewish people placed the blood over the door post to protect their first born. God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” He will only pass over those sins covered by the blood. This is the demonstration of His righteousness, His RIGHTNESS. Were He simply a monarch, judge, ruler, or King, handing out punishment in human terms, there would be no forgiveness, compassion, mercy or grace. He has provided the way of escape demoing grace.
c. God’s Righteousness declared. Do you know what it means for God to declare His righteousness? We have read in Romans much about God’s Righteousness, so let’s keep this simple. When I come to Jesus by faith in His blood for the forgiveness of my sin, then I can be assured that God will “pass over” my sin and I will be “declared” not guilty! Through the “blood of Jesus” we are “justified” (made right) resulting in a declaration of “righteous”. People will look at us and say, “Guilty!” Satan will also pronounce us, “Guilty!” The world may say, “Guilty”, but in Jesus – God says, “NOT GUILTY”. Declaring me, a sinful creature as “not guilty” answers the world cry to crucify. When He declares us “NOT GUILTY”, God’s plan for us is in operation. Because all He’s done has been to bring this plan to fruition. Never forget, God knows the best, wants the best, and thus, plans the best for you.
* When I was young and just beginning to play the piano and sing, one of the first songs which I learned to play was a song written by Dick Baker. It was entitled “His Way—Mine.” The words to the chorus are these, “I place my life in the hands of God. Those hands so scarred now outstretched for me. Wherever it may be, over land or over sea. May thy will sublime, O thou God divine, be Mine.”
* Let us never forget that when we trust Christ, place our faith in Christ, that we begin to discover His plan for us. To discover this requires a practical, personal, and a powerful understanding of His plan. The beginning of this discovery start is a decision to trust Christ, have you done this? Do it now.
