Romans 3:21-26: Christ is for God

Romans 3:25-26.. "This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

As we've been going through Romans, we've clearly seen how all men are sinners in need of a Savior. After explaining this for three chapters straight, Paul finally gives us the solution to the problem, that is, Christ. However, he does not do it in the way that we might expect. Although he does certainly go into how we can be saved in Christ by grace through faith, he offers a divine twist to the story: that this coming of Christ that saves us is not for us, but rather for God.

Let me first get this straight: Christ has come for the purpose of saving us. Christ came and died so that we might be justified (Romans 3:26). However, if we stop the story of the Gospel there we will never see it's true glory. You see: Christ has come to save us, yes, but Christ has come to save us for the purpose of the glory of God. Did Christ come to save you? Yes. But did Christ come to save you because you were so special that you deserved God's favor? NO! Christ's coming was first and foremost for God, and not for us.

How can this be? Read verses 25 and 26 again: "This [refering to the coming of Christ that brings salvation] was to show God's righteousness... It was to show his righteousness at the present time." The purpose of Christ's coming was to reveal the righteousness of God to all who might believe. Christ is first and foremost for God, and secondarily for us.

Ultimately through these verses (and through the rest of the Bible), we reach this conclusion: The gospel is not about you; it is about God's glory, and if you think that the gospel is about you, you have believed the wrong gospel. Oof. Quite humbling, no? Once again, let me get this straight: God did send Christ so that we might be saved, but that is not the end, but rather a mean to the end of God's glory. Our salvation is the secondary purpose, with God's glory as the primary.

So, in application, what does understanding that Christ is ultimately for God and God alone mean for your life? Does it humble you? Does it bring you to be in awe of a God who is so wise that he was able to use a wretched sinner like you and me for his great glory? Does it focus you on the glory of God rather that yourself? Oh, beloved, how it ought to!