Romans 3:21-31 - May 7, 2023
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro:
Romans 3:21–31 (NKJV)
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
Prior to the NT, God manifested his righteousness in many ways before the full revelation of the Gospel:
His Law
His judgement against sin
His appeals through the prophets
His blessing on the obedient
The righteousness of God, now, in the NT was manifested in the person and work of Jesus.
In the OT righteousness came through obedience to the Law but in the NT it comes through believing.
Let us put it this way, Dr. Warren Wiersbie said it this way: The Law itself reveals the righteousness of God, because the Law is “holy and just and good” (Rom. 7:12). Furthermore, the Law bore witness to this Gospel righteousness even though it could not provide it. The Law could witness to God’s righteousness, but it could not provide it for sinful man. Only Jesus Christ could do that. - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 523.
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (NLT)
“a righteousness from God through faith.”
There is no difference (cf. 10:12), introduced in the Greek by the word “for” to tie it to what precedes.
Since all are “under sin” (3:9), salvation is available “to all” on an equal basis.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
fall short. This single Greek verb is in the present tense, stressing continuing action. It can be translated “keep on falling short.”
God lets us all know that we have all sinned, thus showing us a need for a Savior.
One concept we see here is that in Vs.22 it says that all who believe and again in Vs. 23 we see All have sinned. It is interesting to note that God is offering salvation to all who have sinned.
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
The Greek word translated “freely” is translated in John 15:25 as “without a cause.” We are justified without a cause! There is no cause in us that would merit the salvation of God! It is all of grace! - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 523.
“keep on being declared righteous,”
“Justify” (dikaioō) is a legal term, meaning “declare righteous” (not “make righteous”; cf. Deut. 25:1).
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan was trying to explain “free salvation” to a coal miner, but the man was unable to understand it. “I have to pay for it,” he kept arguing. With a flash of divine insight, Dr. Morgan asked, “How did you get down into the mine this morning?” “Why, it was easy,” the man replied. “I just got on the elevator and went down.”Then Morgan asked, “Wasn’t that too easy? Didn’t it cost you something?”The man laughed. “No, it didn’t cost me anything; but it must have cost the company plenty to install that elevator.” Then the man saw the truth: “It doesn’t cost me anything to be saved, but it cost God the life of His Son.”
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God must be perfectly consistent with Himself. He cannot break His own Law or violate His own nature.
A God of love wants to forgive sinners, but a God of holiness must punish sin and uphold His righteous Law.
How can God be both “just and the justifier”? The answer is in Jesus Christ. When Jesus suffered the wrath of God on the cross for the sins of the world, He fully met the demands of God’s Law, and also fully expressed the love of God’s heart. - The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Three: Father Abraham (Romans 3:21–4:25))
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,
30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
God obeyed His own Law in working out the plan of salvation. Jesus in His life and death completely fulfilled the demands of the Law. God does not have two ways of salvation, one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles; for He is one God. He is consistent with His own nature and His own Law. If salvation is through the Law, then men can boast; but the principle of faith makes it impossible for men to boast. The swimmer, when he is saved from drowning, does not brag because he trusted the lifeguard. What else could he do? When a believing sinner is justified by faith, he cannot boast of his faith, but he can boast in a wonderful Saviour. - Wiersbe
The purpose of the Mosaic Law is fulfilled and its place in God’s total plan is confirmed when it leads an individual to faith in Jesus Christ