"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
The Righteousness Of God Revealed (Ro 3:21-31)
INTRODUCTION
1. A major theme in the book of Romans is the righteousness of God...
a. It is mentioned in connection with the gospel of Christ - Ro 1:16-17
b. It is the major subject of discussion in chapters 1-11
2. The phrase "righteousness of God" can be understood in two ways...
a. God's own personal righteousness (i.e., His justice)
b. God's system of making man righteous (i.e., forgiving man of sin)
-- Both concepts are addressed in the book of Romans, but the latter
in particular
3. In chapters 1-3, Paul describes man's need for righteousness...
a. How the Gentiles are in need of salvation - Ro 1:18-2:16
b. How the Jews are in need of salvation - Ro 2:17-3:20
-- Concluding that all the world is guilty, even Israel who had the
Law - Ro 3:19-20
[But now in our text (Ro 3:21-31), Paul explains how the righteousness
of God has been revealed. It was revealed in part even...]
I. BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS
A. RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM LAW...
1. "A righteousness that does not spring from perfect obedience to
law " - B. W. Johnson
2. "In a way different from personal obedience to the law."- Barnes
a. "It does not mean that God abandoned his law; or that Jesus
Christ did not regard the law, for he came to "magnify" it,
(Isa 42:21) or that sinners after they are justified have no
regard to the law;" - Barnes
b. "But it means simply what the apostle had been endeavoring
to show, that justification could not be accomplished by
personal obedience to any law of Jew or Gentile, and that it
must be accomplished in some other way." - Barnes
-- I.e., a system of justification that does not depend upon one's
perfect obedience
B. WITNESSED BY THE LAW...
1. How? Through shadows and figures (e.g., animal sacrifices)- He 10:1-4
a. The need for animal sacrifices showed that man's perfect
obedience was inadequate
b. Of course, animal sacrifices themselves were not adequate, but a shadow
2. How? Through prophetic utterances
- Gen 15:6; Isa 53:4-6, 10-12; Hab 2:4
a. E.g., that Abraham's faith was reckoned for righteousness
b. E.g., that suffering Servant would bear our iniquities
c. E.g., that the just would live by faith
-- God's ultimate system of justification (making one righteous)
was attested to throughout the law and the prophets!
[But what was witnessed through figures and prophetic utterances has now
been fully revealed...]
II. BY THE GOSPEL AND THE APOSTLES
A. DEMANDS FAITH IN JESUS...
1. God's way of making men righteous requires faith in Jesus Christ - Ro 3:22
a. We must believe in Him, or die in our sins - Jn 8:24
b. We must believe in Him, if we desire eternal life - Jn 20: 30-31
2. A way of salvation available to all who believe in Jesus - Ro 3:22-23
a. There is no difference (between Jew and Gentile)
b. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (chapters 1-3)
-- It is not just faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ, who
died for our sins!
B. INVOLVES JUSTIFICATION BY GOD...
1. Offered freely by His grace - Ro 3:24-25
a. Through redemption in Jesus (His blood, the purchase price)
- Ep 1:6,7; 1Pe 1:18-19
b. Jesus offered as a propitiation (a sacrifice to appease
God's wrath) - 1Jn 2:2; 4:10
2. Demonstrating God's righteousness - Ro 3:25-26
a. He is just (righteous)
1) How could God be righteous when He had "passed over" sins
previously committed (the blood of animals did not truly remove sin)?
2) He knew that Christ would one day bear the sins of the world! - cf. He 9:15
b. He is the justifier (the one who makes others righteous)
1) His grace makes redemption possible!
2) His propitiation (Jesus) makes forgiveness possible!
-- Yet this justification is only for the one who has faith in Jesus! - Ro 3:26
C. ELIMINATES BOASTING BY MAN...
1. Excluded by the law of faith - Ro 3:27-30
a. One cannot boast about the works they do - cf. Lk 17:10
b. That faith is required implies that works cannot save
c. The "law of faith" (principle of faith) revealed that
Christ's sacrifice was necessary
2. Establishing the principle of law - Ro 3:31
a. Justification by faith does not render obedience obsolete - cf. He 5:9
b. Whether it was the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant, or
the Will of Christ under the New Covenant, God calls for
obedience! - cf. Mt 28:20; Tit 2:11-12
c. "It does not mean that God abandoned his law; or that Jesus
Christ did not regard the law, for he came to "magnify" it,
(Isa 42:21) or that sinners after they are justified have
no regard to the law;" - Barnes
-- God's way of making man righteous by an obedient faith
eliminates boasting in one's works, while upholding God's call
for holy living!
CONCLUSION
1. The mistake made by many Jews...
a. Believing their obedience and animal sacrifices (i.e., the Law)
was all they needed
b. Failing to heed the Law and the Prophets, who bore witness
regarding God's justification - cf. Ro 10:1-4
2. The mistake many people make today...
a. Believing that faith only saves, and obedience is not necessary
b. Failing to heed the gospel and the apostles, that the faith which
saves is an obedient faith - cf. Ro 1:5; 6:17-18; 16:25-26
When one is careful to note "The Righteousness Of God Revealed", they
learn that God saves those whose faith in Jesus prompt them to obey His
Word. Their obedience does not earn or merit salvation, but receives the
grace of God who has given Jesus as the propitiation for their sins.
Has your faith in Jesus led you to obey His Word? - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac
2:38; Re 2:10
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016
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