A miracle in the courtroom of Christ Rms 3_21_26
Notes
Transcript
Text: Romans 3:21-26
Title: “A miracle in the courtroom”
Intro: In the courtroom of Jesus (John 5:22, Acts 17:31) mankind is on trial. The Charges: high treason against the King of the universe. The Jury: The Law of God and the deeds of man. There is a tenfold list of Crimes:
They suppress the Truth
They knew God but didn’t honor Him as God
They were unthankful
They became vain in their imaginations
They became dark in their hearts
They thought themselves to be wise but became fools
They preferred idols to the living God and exchanged His glory for that of
Man
Birds
Beast
Creeping things
They gave their bodies over to sexual perversion
They were filled with unrighteous acts
They knew the seriousness of their crimes but still continued and even encouraged others to join them
The defense
The plea: “I should be acquitted on grounds of ignorance”
The Prosecutor: “all men have the witness of conscience and nature”
The plea: “I should be acquitted on grounds of comparison,”
The Prosecutor: “You do the same things but I a more refined way,”
The Plea: “I should be acquitted on grounds of religion.”
The Prosecutor: “You do not practice what you preach.”
The verdict
Once the Judge has carefully heard all the evidence and patiently listened to all the pleas, he finds no other choice but to invoke the supreme penalty, lest true justice be denied. But before the terrible sentence can be carried out, this same judge quietly closes the casebook, lays down the heavenly gavel, rises to His feet, takes off His robes, and goes out to die for these three convicted defendants.
CPS: Only the righteous will stand upright before God but the graciousness of God is God’s righteousness at Christ’s expenses.
The miracle of Salvation is that it is not by works but by faith Vs.21-22
Righteousness of God revealed apart from works
Righteousness is through faith.
“Through” faith is not a work itself but it is how justification is appropriated, faith is simply the mode of receptivity, receiving what God bestows adding nothing to the gift. Faith is an extended hand to a willing father who wishes to give a gift to his child.
ILL. Little boy holding out His hand to receive what is being extended through the father.
Righteousness attested to through the Old Testament
The miracle of salvation is that while none is worthy it is offered to all freely. Vs. 23-25
None worthy
Cost us nothing
Cost Jesus dearly
Propitiation – place of atonement Mercy Seat
The Miracle of salvation is that while unrighteous one can be declared the righteousness of God. Vs. 26
Demonstration
Just and justifier reconcile at the Cross
Declaration
Conclusion: Only the righteous can enter into fellowship with God. The miracle of salvation is that righteousness it is not by works but faith, while no one is worthy of salvation it is freely given to all who will receive it, and in it you will be made innocent shedding the status of guilty being declared righteous at the expense of Christ Jesus.