Job 32:2-3

"But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him."

As guilty as a person may be, if there is insufficient evidence to convict of sin, there can be no condemnation.  A person is "innocent" until proven "guilty" and because Job had not yet been refuted by his friends, he started to actually believe himself to be innocent.  He justified himself rather than God whom he accused of wronging him, something Elihu recognized rightly to be utter nonsense.

Elihu became God's defense attorney and also Job's prosecutor, showing him his fault and defending God's name.  But it wasn't enough.  God himself stepped out of Heaven to Job's front door and began his cross examination of Job, once and for all convicting him of sin.   But Job was not sentenced.  He was not punished.  Rather he humbled himself and all things were restored to him and more!

So how much more, then, has a God who has proven the world's sin and guilt, exonerate those who humble themselves and repent?  How much more will he restore to them not only their lives, but eternal life?  Through the Law our transgressions multiplied so that we should be proven utterly sinful, but through our Judge Jesus Christ we bear no burden if we humble ourselves and obey.

Romans 3:23

πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶ ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Again, we see the word πάντες show up, further increasing the sense of equality among Jew and Gentile alike.  To Paul, all are equally guilty of sin, and yet because of this, all need access to salvation.  It is clear from 1:18 to 3:20 that not a single person is righteous and Romans 3:23 is a summary statement for that entire section borrowed in large part from Isaiah 59.  Paul stresses that it is not our righteousness that saves us as we do not possess any, rather like David says in Psalms 143:11[1], it is by God’s righteousness that we gain salvation.  Brendan Byrne points out that there is a faint allusion to Genesis 1:26-28 in ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ which talks about humanity being made in the image of God.[2]  Where once we were creatures which could fully reflect the glory of God because of our being made in His image and likeness, so now because of sin do we lack that same glory.[3]

We are only simple mirrors.  When we turn away from God, we can not reflect his glory.  When we face the darkness, we are darkened ourselves.  Mirrors which cannot reflect are utterly worthless as mirrors, and yet God uses us anyway.

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[1] “For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!”

[2] Byrne.  Pg 125.

[3] Mounce, Robert H. New American Commentary Vol 27: Romans. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.

Romans 1:16

"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, first for the Jew and then for the Greek*)

Paul talks about a gospel which is the power for the salvation of all who believe. It is this gospel which sets us free from the consequences of sin which is death.  In it there is no longer any condemnation in Christ Jesus because he took it all with him to the cross.

Yet, we find an incessant need to do things because that’s what good Christians do. We go to church because Christians go to church. We read our Bibles because Christians should read their Bibles. We often feel guilty for not praying as often as we should. But should guilt really be the motivating factor in how we live out our faith? Is this gospel just a divine guilt trip (Jesus died for you so you owe him big time)? In the words of Paul, “Me genoito!" (May it never be!)

We were not set free from the law only to become slaves to another law.  Nobody who does a "spiritual" act of worship or kindness because of guilt will gain anything by it.  A person who gives out of guilt or ambition plants rocks instead of seed.  If love is not our weapon and God our prize, we will not harvest anything that lasts.

Do not give or act out of guilt.  It is a waste of time even if you are praying or going to church out of guilt.  Give because you want to give and act because you want to love.  Leave guilt nailed to the cross where it belongs.

*Many translations use gentile

Romans 6:14

"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."


How hard it is for us to teach grace rather than law in our churches.  You've probably heard at least one sermon in your life that made you feel awful about yourself for an entire Sunday afternoon.  Many of us say, "If only I prayed more or read my Bible more then I would be a good Christian." Guilt over our own failure only leads to death and condemnation.  When we strive to do what is good in order to be good we fall into the Law and sins reign in us.

However when we do good in order to receive the blessings it affords we are truly under grace.  For a Christian, no sin can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ for there is no condemnation in Christ.  Sin has lost it's power and death it's sting.  Only in grace can we choose to do or not do without fear of eternal consequence.  Only then can we grow and mature because we are free to make mistakes.  It is expected. There's a big difference between guilt and godly sorrow.  Guilt is an inward feeling of condemnation and is not an option but Godly sorrow is an outward expression of having hurt someone or God and brings transformation.  It is now our love for God that keeps us in line and God's kindness which leads us to repentance instead of fear.