Righteousness Through Faith

Intro

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Romans 3:21-28.

We are continuing our preaching series through the book of Romans. Over the last few weeks we have seen the apostle Paul beginning to build his case for the saving power of the Gospel.

As we saw weeks ago when we began chapter 1, the Gospel is the “power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

So far in the book of Romans we have been reading about the bad news that makes the good news so good. In order for us to know our need for salvation, we need to know what we are saved from.

We have looked at the sinfulness of mankind. Whether Jew or Gentile, with God’s moral law or without it, all of us have sinned. God’s law is a witness against us, and our own consciences are a witness against us. Because of our sin, all of us are deserving of judgment and the just wrath of God.

Pastor Darrell, in taking us through the first part of Romans 3 last week, made it clear that “none of us is righteous, not even one”. And there is nothing that we can do about our unrighteousness for ourselves. We are guilty.

We cannot even point to the good things we do in order to excuse the wicked things we have done.

Let’s say you have been brought up on murder charges. And it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you did it. Your not going to sway the jury to declare you innocent by pointing to how many other times you did not committed murder.

“Men and women of the jury, it has been proven that I did it. You know it, I know it, and you might think that I should be put away for a long time. But I want you to think about all the other times where I totally could have murdered someone, but I didn’t. I mean I’m not murdering anyone right now, therefore you should declare me innocent.”

There’s not going to be one jury member who finds that reasonable. You never know nowadays, a judge might. But we all know thats ridiculous.

This is what Romans 3:20 tells us just before we get to our passage.

Romans 3:20 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

No matter how many good works we have done, good works cannot justify us, they cannot make us innocent of the sin we have already committed. They cannot make us righteous, when we are already sinners.

Our study of Romans thus far has been a diagnosis of our wickedness. Our sin has been exposed, our guilt has been declared, and our inability to save ourselves has been demonstrated.

But in our passage this morning everything takes a turn. We go from the diagnosis to the cure. Let me read, Romans 3:21-28:

Read the Passage

Romans 3:21–28 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Now this is an incredibly dense passage. But I can’t tell you enough how important it is. In it, we see the beauty of the doctrine of Justification by Faith. So we’re going to take time to go through it point by point, as well as define some of the complicated words that are used here. So let’s dive into it.

Exegesis

Righteousness through Faith (vv.21-22a)

Our passage begins with a “but”. Paul often takes these dramatic turns in his writing, showing us the darkness of our sin and then suddenly turning on the light. And thats what we see here.

Romans 3:21–22 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Righteousness of God Through Faith

This is what Paul has been leading up to, that now, since Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the true righteousness of God has been made manifest, has been revealed.

And this righteousness is not a righteousness that is earned by perfect obedience to the law of God, but it is a righteousness received by faith in Jesus Christ. It is a righteousness given to all who believe. We’re going to talk about what faith is in a moment but first lets look at who can receive this righteousness by faith.

All Have Sinned, All Are Justified (vv. 22b-24a)

Reading from the second half of verse 22 to verse 23.

Romans 3:22–23 (ESV)

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

There is no distinction

Now when Paul says here that “there is no distinction” he means there is no distinction between Jew and gentile. God makes no distinction in his righteous judgment, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And since all of us fall into one of those categories, that is every single one of us.

This is the hard part for most people. No-one wants to be told that they are a sinner, that they are wicked and deserving of the judgment and wrath of God.

So, many people, when they are confronted with what the Bible says about them, would rather run away from God altogether than accept the truth that they are sinful and deserving of God’s wrath.

But in rejecting God they are rejecting the only one who can remove their sin from them, and declare them righteous.

All have sinned, All are justified

Just as Romans 3:23 says that all people have sinned, verse 24 tells us that those same sinners are justified by God’s grace as a gift.

Justified as a gift

But what does it mean to be justified as a gift?

1. Justified

First of all to be justified in this sense means to be declared innocent, not guilty, righteous before God.

Though you and I are sinners, and proven guilty of sin, God in his mercy and grace justifies us, declares us innocent; and he does this as a gift.

In the next chapter of Romans Paul quotes a Psalm of David in order to describe the blessing it is to be justified, declared righteous apart from works.

Romans 4:7–8 (ESV)

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

God is in the business of justifying the guilty; forgiving their lawless deeds, covering their sin, not counting it against them. And he does this as a gift.

2. As a Gift

We all like to receive gifts right? Think about it, what was your favourite Christmas or birthday gift that you ever received?

Mine was a black drum kit. I think my parents instantly regretted getting me it.

When I was 13 years old I walked up the stairs from my bedroom on Christmas morning and saw something hidden under a bunch of blankets. I knew what it was, and I knew who is was for. I tore the blankets off of it and began playing it immediately. It was 5 am.

I worked hard on that drum kit, but I didn't have to work for it. It was a gift. It cost my parents a lot, they sacrificed for it, but they gave it to me without me doing anything to earn it. They gave me a good gift merely to demonstrate their love to me. It’s the same reason I like to give good gifts to my kids; Not because they’ve done anything to deserve it, or earn it, but merely because I love them.

That’s what God does for us. You don’t earn this justification, this declaration of innocence, it is freely given to you because God loves you.

1 John 4:10 ESV

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This word propitiation is used in our passage this morning as well. It’s a difficult word to say, but it’s really not that difficult a word to understand. And its one of those words that it is so important for believers to know. It’s a word that helps us understand why Jesus died on the cross, and how his death made it possible for us to be justified, declared righteous.

We see this word propitiation in verses 24-25 of Romans 3.

Redemption (24b-26)

Romans 3:24–25 (ESV)

[We] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

This is what was done so that we could be declared righteous.

Jesus died on the cross as a propitiation. Meaning this: that Jesus satisfied the just wrath of God for our sins.

This is the entire purpose behind Jesus going to the cross. That, though he committed no sin, he would take the sin of the entire world upon himself, and die in our place. Taking away the wrath of God, the punishment that we deserve for our sin.

This is how God redeemed us, rescued us, when we were deserving of his wrath.

See, the reason justification, this declaration of innocence, can be freely given to you is because it was already earned; by Christ.

Our sin was atoned for, paid for, by Jesus’ death on the cross.

This is the centrepiece of the Christian faith. Without Christ’s death on the cross for the propitiation of our sins, there is no Christian faith.

There are many prominent scholars, speakers and pastors who want the cross to be something other than for propitiation of our sins. Often they will teach that Jesus’ death on the cross was merely a moral example for us to follow. An example of laying down one’s rights, giving up one’s life, and that all of us should be willing to do that.

Now, Christ’s death on the cross is a moral example for us to follow. But this is not why Jesus suffered and died. The primary reason Jesus went to the cross was to pay the penalty for our sins. It is clear throughout the scriptures, As 1 Corinthians 15 says, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.”

The Cross is Essential

The cross is absolutely essential for the just forgiveness of sin!

If God were to simply snap his fingers and forgive everyones sins, there would be no such thing as justice. In fact it would make him unjust.

When we watch the news and see some horrible crime, or we see people abused, or experience wickedness for ourselves, we can’t help but feel compelled to say, “that is wrong, that is evil.”

When we see hardened criminals let out on bail, and they go and murder innocent people, there’s something in us that not only wants to see justice done to the criminal, but we also want to see the unjust judge who let them go pay a price as well.

If God were to look at the sin of the world, or the sin of incredibly wicked people, or your sin, or my sin, and just write it off. Just dismiss it: “nah your all good”.

He would be unjust.

God does forgive sin, he does justify the guilty, but he does so with perfect justice.

And the cross is absolutely essential to this.

Verses 25-26 tell us that it is through Christ’s work of propitiation on the cross that God shows his righteousness, his justice, even as he forgives sins.

Romans 3:25–26 (ESV)

This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Just and Justifier

God was not unjust in forgiving sins, because someone took the punishment. Jesus the Son of God, took the punishment for you and for me, for all who have faith in him. Our sins are not merely forgiven, they are paid for. This is why Jesus as he hung on the cross could declare, “It is finished!”

In the cross of Christ God’s perfect justice, and his perfect grace comes together.

The cross is absolutely necessary for God to be perfectly just, even as he justifies the guilty.

Your sins are paid for, completely. The Sinless son of God came and laid down his life that you might be forgiven. This is so beautiful: in the cross of Christ, God has justified the guilty, but with perfect justice. In the cross of Christ, justification for the sins of the world has been completed. And we receive this justification, this declaration of innocence, by faith.

Justified by Faith (vv. 27-28)

Romans 3:27–28 ESV

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

There are no works through which you can earn righteousness. Christ has paid for your sin completely, theres no work for you to do. The righteousness of God can only be received by faith.

Probably the most famous passage in the Bible explaining this is Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

God has set up his saving work in such a way that no one can brag about their good works.

All of us here, who have tasted justification in Jesus Christ, know that we have nothing to bring to it. All of it is a gift, and because of that, it is God who gets the glory.

This is the opposite of every other religious system, or societal structure that is out there. There is some way to climb the ladder, there is some way to earn accolades, there is some way to feed one’s pride.

But when we stand before God, even the best of us have nothing to offer him - but our sin. All that we hold before a Holy God is the filth and corruption of our wickedness. Isaiah 64:6 says that even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags.

And yet when we go to him in repentance and faith, God takes that filth out of our hands, and declares us clean. It is a gift, so none of us can boast.

And it is a gift that is received by faith.

Now you might ask what is faith? How does one receive a gift by faith?

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 gives us probably the most clear and concise definition of what faith is.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

This is what faith is: Assurance, confidence in what is not seen.

Now, can you put your faith in foolish things? Absolutely, people do it all the time.

But saving faith, faith that leads to righteousness, is faith that is put in the promises of God.

It is assurance, confidence, conviction that God will keep his promises.

We see faith demonstrated to us throughout the scriptures, but Paul gives us a fantastic example of faith that leads to righteousness by pointing to Abraham in Romans 4, so turn with me in your Bibles over to chapter 4.

Abraham’s Faith

Romans 4:1–3 ESV

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Here Paul is quoting from Genesis 15, where God says to a man named Abraham that he will have a son. Then he took Abraham outside his tent and said “Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.”

And it says in Genesis 15:6 that,

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

Abraham believed the Lord, and [God] counted it to him as righteousness.

Now I want you to think about what an impossible promise this is. That this man was going to have a son from whom would come descendants as numerous as the stars. And this was a promise given to a man who was a hundred years old and who’s wife was ninety and unable to have children her entire life.

Impossible. But Abraham believed God.

I love the way Paul puts it in Romans 4:18-22.

Romans 4:18–22 ESV

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

Abraham received an impossible promise, that in his old age and with a barren wife, he would become the father of a countless multitude. And he believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.

This is saving faith. Assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen. Confidence that God will fulfill his promises.

And God has fulfilled his promise to Abraham, and continues to fulfill it. Not only did a nation arise out of the promised son who was born to Abraham and his wife Sarah. But from that nation Israel came an even greater Son of promise through whom the whole world, both Jew and Gentile, could share in the faith of Abraham.

Saving Faith

Abraham received an impossible promise from God. He believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.

You and I have also received an impossible promise from God.

That though we are guilty of sin and deserving of the wrath of God, and unable to redeem ourselves through any amount of good works;

Your sin, my sin, was paid for, by Christ’s death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.

And that through faith in him we can be justified, declared righteous, and receive eternal life.

This is the impossible promise. Saving faith is believing it, trusting in it, staking your life on it.

Do you believe it?

Application

Believers

For those of us who have received this righteousness by faith I want to encourage you to hold fast to it.

My prayer for us in preparing for this message is that we be like Abraham: As Paul writes in,

Romans 4:20–21 ESV

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Brothers and sister’s, hold fast to the promises of God and give him glory. Grow strong in your trust in him. Listen to him, read his word, speak to him, spend time in prayer, walk in obedience to him. Worship him with his people. Do all things to his glory.

These are not things that we do in order to win his favour, he has already given it to us. These are done so that we might grow in our faith.

The more you get to know him, the more you will trust him, because he is trustworthy and he will fulfill his promises.

Unbelievers

If you are listening to me and you have not yet had saving faith in Jesus Christ. I want you to know this…

Faith is not something that you can fake until you make it, it is not something that can be summoned from our will, or drummed up from our emotions. It can’t be coaxed or manipulated out by you or others. It is a gift of God. Just as Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us,

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Saving faith is simply believing the Gospel. That Christ died for our sins, and rose again defeating satan, sin and death. You have heard the Gospel this morning. If you find that you have been given faith to believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. I would love to talk with you and pray with you after the service.

If you find that you don’t believe but have questions, or want to know more. I or one of the other pastors here would also love to talk to you.

Conclusion

Let me conclude our time with the words of David in Psalm 32,

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Please stand and we be dismissed with prayer.