But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. . .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. 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. Romans 3:21-26
Complex sentences (grammatically speaking) to tackle a baffling truth. Why does a righteous, holy God tolerate so much evil?
Wait a minute– there is a question underneath the question. Does God tolerate evil? Does evil go unpunished?
No. God does not look the other way regarding sin. Never. Not one. In the passage, the term “passed over” means choosing not to punish at the time, but does not remove guilt.
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. . .1Peter 3:15
If I am to be completely honest, many times my pious-sounding “maranatha” Jesus come quickly is because I am weary of my circumstance. I am tired of the pain, of the fatigue, of the limitations. But in my self-centered plea for relief I am ignoring the eternal plight of those who have not yet accepted Christ as their Savior.
My pain is temporary. My future is secure. So I again repent of my selfishness and ask God to
open ______eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness for sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus (From Acts 26:18)
Plea for Grace 