Let’s play a game. See how well you know your Scripture punctuation.
So here’s a phrase:
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
What punctuation goes next?
Did you say that’s the end of the sentence? Hmm. Continues with the colon, meaning He’s still unpacking the box.
Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.
What’s the punctuation? That’s the name of the game. What goes there?
Shouldn’t that be the end of a concept? I mean, we’re Americans. We can’t handle too much. He’s already put a lot on the plate. Can we please put a dot?
Nope. It’s a colon. Continues on.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Certainly there has to be a finality, because God could not possibly believe that we as the audience are brilliant enough to receive even more.
But He does.
It’s a semicolon, which means, “Please allow me to continue in the same line of thinking.”
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Please, please tell me there’s a finality. There’s an end, right? God could not possibly be tacking on more content.
Let’s see. Are you right?
You are incorrect. There is a colon of continuance.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness, not mine, for the remission of sins that are passed, through the forbearance of God.
That’s a great spot for a dot. If I was an author, I would put a dot right there. But what did God do when He is writing? Is He all in one breath, rolling right along?
It’s another colon. Literally, this sentence goes on.
To declare, I say, at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Are we done? Did we finish? Are we there? Can we put a dot?
Nope.
Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Boom.
Actually, there is a dot after Jesus. There’s a period. The justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Period. Later on in Romans 3.
Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Amen. Smiley face. Scratch and sniff sticker.
