Condemened as unjust; Credited as Just.

Paul was all excited to share good news with the Roman Christians. Then he goes on about how angry God is with Pagan perverts. The church is ok with that, maybe, until he keeps on with the same theme and says God is angry at the religiously rite-ous folks as well. Matter of fact, Paul says the whole lot of us are in as much danger as all of Lot's neighbors were. God did not created us for unrighteousness, but that is where we have all fallen; far below the glory of God.

So, Paul, what about the good news? But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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. (Romans 3:21-25)

So God's wrath is diverted to Christ Jesus for those who believe? That is good news, but how can that be true?? What about the long history of Abraham and the Law? Paul makes it clear, Abraham believed God against all hope, had more challenges, believed more, more challenges, believed more... He was credited with righteousness for believing and nothing could stop him. His faith grew from credited righteousness justifying him by grace before God, and over a lifetime Abe's righteous works showed the fruit of righteousness extended from the solid roots of that initial faith. In doing so, Abraham's works justified him before men (James helps us see that faith without works, is, uh, well no adequate faith).

So, where are we headed? Hope. How can we have the kind of confidence like Abe? How can we really trust God and then stand in that trust, even when life is puzzling and really hard? The 5th chapter tells us how that happens and why Paul told us so much bad news. IF we didn't realize how bad off we were, we might miss the point of what a great salvation we do have in Christ. Romans 5 helps us see how God turned bad to good. That is good news.