Romans 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?
We live in a world where we don’t like sharp contrasts, clear boundaries, rights and wrongs. We always want to squirm out of the obligations of life. We rewrite the definitions of things in order to do what we want. We like fuzzy, blurry, undefined. We want exceptions to the rule, especially when we control both the rule and the exceptions!
But the world isn’t a place with no boundaries. Your freedom often steps on the toes of someone else’s boundary. When you abandon boundaries you abandon the other person. You say that your freedom is more important than their boundary.
As Paul is addressing the people of Ancient Rome, he addresses a real problem that the Gospel brings to the surface. And the problem is inside each one of us. It is not an external problem. We are the problem! Sin resides in us, not just the other guy. And we must deal with it.
The LORD justifies, puts into right relationship, everyone who is in Christ. Jesus enables everyone to start this journey regardless of the background, their bloodlines, their histories. We all stand on the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world. These are not theoretical sins, but real sins committed by people like you and me. By you and me.
All are included in this payment, but not all avail themselves of the access to this salvation. They choose to limit the extent of the sacrifice’s application by drawing the wall around themselves and putting up a sign that reads “Payment Not Accepted.” They choose to reject the ‘free to us’ offer.
In our world where being offended is something to be boasted, I would rather be someone who doesn’t get offended by much. I would much rather let things go, allow the proverbial water to slide of my duck backside. Life is too short, too precious to allow the petty things of life offend me.
I want to live a life that shines grace and mercy, not just for me, but for all those around me. I want to be know as someone who gives freely without obligation. I want to be someone who opens doors for others, expands those who are included.
But I also want to be someone who has clear boundaries, solid walls, defined expectations. That is because there are things that are wrong even if we don’t at the moment understand the “why.” We don’t get to make up the rules of the universe. Only the One who created the universe gets to do that. And I am not Him!
The Arnold Journey 