Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) Who is “all” in verse 23?
2) How are we justified?
3) What did Jesus’ death on the cross show?
Romans 3:23-26
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 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.
Original Intent
1) Who is “all” in verse 23?
In the original language, the word all is defined as “each, every, all, the whole, all things, some of all types.” (www.studylight.org- Thayers Dictionary) When Paul used this word, he was intending for no exceptions. No human being is exempt regardless of social status, age, background, race, merit, or nationality.
2) How are we justified?
As verse 24 states, we are justified, or made right, by His grace through the redemption found in Christ Jesus. That grace only comes because Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross taking the penalty for all sin when He shed his blood, surrendered His life, and resurrected on the third day. This action made all humanity right before God, but in faith we must accept that justification and grace.
3) What did Jesus’ death on the Cross show?
In verse 25, Paul explains how Jesus’ death displayed God’s righteousness because He had to make right the sin of the world. God is a perfect and holy God and His Son, Jesus, was a perfect and holy sacrifice. God was the justifier.
Everyday Application
1) Who is “all” in verse 23?
The gospel is for everyone because everyone bears the weight of sin in their life. When Eve took a bite of the fruit and sin entered the world, the entirety of creation was subjected to death and humanity was covered in sin. All have sinned and fallen short of what God desires, but the good news is God provided for ALL to come back to Him. He is a righteous God who because of His great love for His creation, provided the way back. Not all believe in Him, but the gift of eternal life is offered to all. If Jesus offers His gift to all, how can we hold back?
2) How are we justified?
God provided a way for all to come to Him, but we must choose to walk that path. When we make the decision to follow Him and commit our way to Him, we are covered “just as if” our sin did not stand between us as sinners and the holy God. We are justified before Him, our debt is paid in full, and there is nothing that can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39) The judge, God, dismisses the case because the evidence against us was vanquished when Christ, the perfect sacrifice, was crucified 2000 years ago in our place and resurrected three days later, forever conquering Death for all who believe. He conquered sin once and for all. Living in this reality daily transforms our lives as we seek to live in the truth of our new identity in Christ—no longer a slave to sin, but set free in His grace and love!
3) What did Jesus’ death on the Cross show?
The beauty of the gospel is it reveals so many aspects of God’s character. One characteristic being God’s righteousness. There is a need for a debt to be paid and He is the collector of that debt, but the beauty part is how He provided the payment. It is our debt, yet God, in giving His Son, provided the payment in full. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ showed God’s willingness, another characteristic, to sacrifice His own son so His creation could be reconciled to Him. In viewing the cross and Christ’s sacrifice, we see God’s pursuit and love for reconciliation between Himself and His creation: and it is beautiful!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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