Oh, that someone would have told me about HDR photography sooner! This picture not only has great color contrasts, but a little surprise as well. How often do you see a sunset AND a rainbow at the same time; I never have! Two beautiful things at once is a rare thing indeed and yet this is exactly what we see in this passage from the book of Romans:Rom 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Rom 3:25 whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;
Rom 3:26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Rom 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Rom 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn't he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
Rom 3:30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
Rom 3:31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
World English Bible
The Law given to Moses was wonderful, but humans slip up... face it, that is what we do. So, within the Law was unspoken faith. If you doubt this, think of Abraham, the father of the faithful, who lived many, many, many years before Moses. So within the Law there was faith and once the New Testament covenant was inaugurated by the blood of Jesus there was a wonderful new way without Law. Both beautiful, both effective--through faith. Like a rainbow and a sunset they compliment one another so our lives can be full of the two fold wonder of God.
