Tuesday, 4 March 2014
…to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Romans 16:27
This is the final verse of the book of Romans. It has taken 433 days to get here and it has been a wonderful journey of discovery and edification as we have learned from the hand of Paul. In this verse, he finishes his doxology with the reverent and exalting words “to God, alone wise.” Through His wisdom, He fashioned the heavens and the earth. Through His wisdom, He created man. And through His wisdom, He gave man free-will, knowing that this was needed for a true heart-felt relationship.
Man fell, but God initiated the plan that was in His mind before creation; Jesus Christ would come to reveal His very heart and to be the One to restore us to Him. And so it is to this wondrous Creator, who alone is wise, “be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” Jesus is, as Colossians 1 tells us, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” In Jesus Christ, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.
When we look out into the stars, and even to the furthest galaxies, or when we look into the smallest subatomic particles, we see the wisdom of God displayed in the work of Jesus Christ. And further, He is the Mediator between God and man, thus we offer our glory “through” Him and we behold the glory of God “through” Him as well. Paul has shown us, time and again in this epistle, that Jesus is our meeting point with God. Thus, in order to be reconciled to Him – whether Jew or Gentile – it must occur through the Person of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, from this epistle, we discern the heart of the gospel and the way to be reconciled once again to God –
-There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10
– All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
– For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23
– But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
– That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
God sent Jesus to live the life we cannot live; He lived the perfect life, never sinning; He gave His life in exchange for our sins; and God raised Him from the dead as evidence of His sinless perfection. The offer is made; receive Jesus and receive His righteousness. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus!
Life application: Romans shows us the love of God in Jesus Christ. His work is fully capable to save us and reconcile us to God. Now, because of Him we stand justified before God apart from deeds of the law. Let us never forget that we are saved by grace through faith and let us never attempt to set aside that grace by attempting to be justified by our deeds. Let us rest wholly upon the work of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glorious Heavenly Father, today, I want to praise You for Your wondrous work through Jesus. A lifetime of rebellion and sin was washed away at the cross of Calvary and the proof is in His resurrection. I need not worry if I “might” be reconciled to You. Through Him, I am one hundred percent saved! Thank You for Jesus. Thank You, O God. Amen.