How could God’s Way be Universally Exclusive?
29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:29-31 (NIV)
In Romans 3:29-31, Paul presents what might seem like contradictory ideas about salvation. After he argues that salvation is exclusively found in Jesus Christ in the previous verses, he says it is now inclusively available to all people. Furthermore, he states that while salvation is available apart from the law, those who are saved are still called to uphold the law. At first glance, these concepts may appear paradoxical, but upon closer examination, they reveal the profound wisdom and beauty of God’s plan of redemption.
The Exclusivity and Inclusivity of Salvation: Paul makes it clear that there is only one way to be justified before God – through faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of human effort, religious observance, or philosophical understanding can bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God’s perfect righteousness. This truth might seem narrow or exclusive, but it is actually a demonstration of God’s love and grace. By providing a single, sufficient solution to the problem of sin, God has made salvation accessible to everyone.
This is where the inclusivity of salvation comes into play. God’s offer of redemption through faith in Christ is open to all people, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or past mistakes. The gospel message knows no boundaries and excludes no one who comes to Christ in faith. This inclusive invitation reflects God’s heart for all people and His desire for everyone to experience the joy and freedom of a restored relationship with Him (1 Timothy 2:4).
Salvation Apart from the Law and Upholding the Law: Paul also addresses the relationship between salvation and the law. He clearly states that salvation is available apart from the law, meaning that we cannot earn our way to God through perfect obedience or moral behavior. The law serves to reveal our sinfulness and our need for a Savior, but it cannot justify us before God (Romans 3:20).
However, this does not mean that the law is irrelevant or that believers are free to live however they please. On the contrary, Paul argues that faith in Christ actually upholds the law. When we understand the true purpose of the law – to reflect God’s character and guide us in righteous living – we see that faith in Christ empowers us to fulfill the law’s intent. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, believers are transformed and equipped to live in a way that honors God and demonstrates His love to the world around us.
In conclusion, the paradoxical ideas presented in Romans 3:29-31 are not contradictory but rather complementary. They reveal the depth and richness of God’s plan of salvation, which is exclusive in its means but inclusive in its invitation. As believers, we are called to embrace the transformative power of the gospel, allowing it to shape our lives and empower us to uphold the law as a response of gratitude and love for the salvation we have received through Christ alone.
How have you come to understand these seemingly paradoxical ideas? What ways or metaphors you would use to explain this to others?
I thought that the drunken man who was rescued from the Zombie Apocalypse into the helicopter metaphor on Sunday was helpful in grasping the idea of Salvation Apart from the Law and Upholding the Law.
But for the Exclusivity and Inclusivity of Salvation idea, perhaps this illustration would work. Picture sin as a deadly disease that affects all of humanity in the Zombie Apocalypse. There is only one cure for this disease, which is the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. This cure is exclusive, as no other treatment or remedy can heal the disease of sin. However, the cure is freely offered to everyone infected, no matter how severe their condition or how long they have been suffering. This represents the inclusive aspect of salvation, as it is available to all who are willing to receive the cure and put their faith in Christ’s healing power. Would that work?
One of the ways that I use to help clarify understanding of both the exclusivity and inclusivity of salvation through Christ is by using the program of recovery as an example. In AA, one of the twelve traditions states that “the only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.” This is exclusive in that the person must have “a desire to stop drinking,” yet it is inclusive in that anyone that has that desire can be a member of AA. Similarly, Jesus is the only way to salvation, but that way is available for all who are willing to receive it and put their faith in Him😊 As for salvation apart from the law yet upholding the law, I’m not sure that I have an adequate metaphor to use, but I often tell people that “the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.” Salvation through grace, apart from anything we do to earn it, addresses that problem. The love of God enters into our hearts and lives, and His Spirit tranforms us. It’s “an inside job.” As such, the affections of our hearts begin to change, and we begin to have a desire to uphold the law and do the things we ought to do as an expression of our love for the One that has loved us. Furthermore, we come to know the true freedom and joy found in living a life in accordance to God’s will, and begin to love the things He loves and even, dare I say, hate the things He hates. Sin loses its lustre, and we begin to recognize the beauty of God’s law and long to uphold it.