Romans 3: Excuses

If you’re a sport’s fan—and maybe even if you’re not—you’ve heard the news about Plaxico Burress. The star receiver for the New York Giants carried a concealed weapon into a nightclub then accidentally shot himself in the leg. He didn’t have a permit to carry the weapon, so he was in clear violation of the law.

So, caught dead to rights, what does Plax do? Does he do what all parents teach their kids to do: Tell the truth, admit your wrongdoing, and face the consequences? Not exactly.

He tries to check into a hospital under the name, “Harris Smith.” He claims that the gun went off while he was eating at Applebee’s. He turns himself into police but enters a plea of “not guilty.” Classic evasiveness. We all do it. We know the truth but find it impossible to face. Instead, we scratch and claw to justify ourselves, all evidence to the contrary.

This instinct lies behind the teaching of Romans 3. It’s a tough passage, but the gist of it is this: Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners before a holy God, and it does no good to protest this fact. Nevertheless, some will. Jews will say, “Well, what good is it to be Jews if our Judaism doesn’t save us?” Or they’ll say, “If we’re unfaithful and God condemns us for it, then He’s unfaithful too—because He promised to keep us as His chosen people!” Or they’ll say, “If our sin shows, by way of contrast, how holy God is, then how can He judge us? We’re fulfilling our purpose! We’re glorifying God by sinning!”

It’s all childish and ridiculous excuse-making. The Scriptures are clear: Everyone is a sinner, so everyone should hold his tongue and stand accountable before God. But not just so they can hear their sentence, but so that they can receive His grace!

In one of the most important paragraphs in the entire Bible, Paul explains how Jesus Christ shed his blood to atone for our sins. This allows God to justify us—to clear us of all charges—and to do so justly. Our acquittal is not a miscarriage of justice. It’s the fulfillment of it, for Jesus absorbs the death sentence on our behalf. As a result, we no longer have to justify ourselves, either by perfect obedience or persuasive excuse-making. We just place our faith in Jesus and walk free.

Posted by Greg