God requires a perfect obedience of man that man does not have the moral ability to supply.  The analogy we have used is the necessity of keeping thirty-two ping-pong balls under the surface of the water of a swimming pool.  There IS a solution, but it is a two-sided solution, like the two sides of a coin. And it is absolutely necessary to keep this duality of the Christian life in view to avoid all kinds of errors and even heresies, as we discussed in last week’s devotional.

This two-sided approach to the Christian life is what Paul analyzes in depth in Romans 5-8.  First, in Romans 5 he summarizes the argument that he began in Rom. 3:21, that we are declared righteous (perfectly obedient, for righteousness is the result of perfect obedience), by faith in Christ alone.  We can say alone for Paul says in Rom. 3:21 that he is speaking of a righteousness apart from law, which is an a-legal righteousness.  An a-legal righteousness would be one not based on obedience to law or to the commands of God.  Paul develops the concept with the example of Abraham who apart from law was declared righteous by faith in God’s promises.  Our righteousness, Paul argues, comes in the same way. Then in Romans 5 he concludes that we have been justified by faith and by faith gained access into grace in which we stand.  We rejoice in hope and as well in our suffering in this life.  Being justified by faith, we are assured of deliverance from God’s eternal wrath and of salvation through the ever-living, ongoing intercession of Christ.

But does justification by God’s grace through faith mean that we can then continue to sin that grace may abound?  In chapter six Paul says profoundly “no,” and we turn the coin over from what we often call positional righteousness to personal righteousness.  We who are dead to sin can no longer give ourselves to a sinful lifestyle (Romans 6).  In chapter seven Paul uses himself as an example.  He has been rescued from sin by Christ, but he still struggles with sin.  And he even mentions a personal sin that he cannot seem to master, that of greed (Rom. 7:8-11).  Yet even though our personal righteousness is a work in progress (not all the thirty-two ping-pong balls are suppressed), our positional righteousness is perfect, for there is no condemnation to those in Christ (Rom. 8:1).  At this point I would suggest a careful reading of all of Romans up to chapter 8, and if you don’t have the time to do that, just read six, seven and eight carefully until you see how this duality of the Christian life works.  You see Jesus did get the thirty-two ping-pong balls under the water, and He keeps them there!  We avail ourselves of his perfect obedience by trust in Him, while at the same time we go from there to struggle with our sins.