Justified by Faith: The Reformation Truth
Notes
Transcript
Romans 3:19-28
Romans 3:19-28
Key Verse:
Key Verse:
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "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."
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I. The Heart of the Reformation
I. The Heart of the Reformation
Reformation Background:
Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday, a day that calls us back to the heart of the gospel: that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It’s a truth so foundational that it redefined what it means to be in a right relationship with God.
Martin Luther, the monk who sparked the Reformation, was burdened with a deep awareness of his sin. He believed that if he worked hard enough, he could earn God's favor. But the more he tried, the more he failed. It was in these very words from Romans 3 that Luther found freedom. He discovered that righteousness was not something he could achieve; it was a gift from God. Luther would later write, “I felt that I had been born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”
Today, we return to the same foundational truths of the Reformation, examining Paul’s words in Romans 3:19-28 to see the heart of our salvation.
II. The Law Reveals Our Sin Romans 3:19-20
II. The Law Reveals Our Sin Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
One of the first and perhaps the most important things that Luther figured out was this distinction between Law and Gospel. Where the word of God speaks of both, Law telling us what we should and should not do, then gospel which means good news, that is the word that God speaks to us that is good news first and formost is that Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins. For what becomes clear is that the Law gives us no hope, in fact all is does is kill for it brings us to nothing. Thus why it is still important, is that it leads us always back away from ourselves, killing us so that we can finally hear the gospel that we cannot accomplish on our own, or by works of the law, and only by the work of Jesus alone.
As much as we can credit Luther for putting forth this idea in the reformation, I do not think this was anything new, but something that Paul was onto as well. As you read nearly all of his writings he points in this direction. Especially as we read passages like this, it becomes very clear.
Paul writes that the law speaks to those under it to silence every excuse, to hold every person accountable to God. The law, as holy as it is, has one primary purpose: it shows us our sin and reveals our need for a Savior. We will read here in just a minute Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The law stands as an unbreakable standard that no one can reach.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Imagine being pulled over for speeding. You may try to justify yourself: “I didn’t see the sign,” or “I was only going a few miles over.” But the law doesn’t care about excuses. It reveals your guilt and holds you accountable. Similarly, God’s law strips away our excuses. We are guilty before God, and no amount of good works or self-justification can change that.
The law tells us that we can’t save ourselves. No amount of trying to live a good life will erase the fact that we fall short of God’s holiness. And this is where our need for Christ becomes so clear.
III. Justification by Faith, Not by Works Romans 3:21-24
III. Justification by Faith, Not by Works Romans 3:21-24
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
Paul introduces this radical shift to the gospel in verse 21: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…” The righteousness God demands does not come from us or from our efforts—it comes from God Himself and is received by faith.
This is the heart of the gospel and the heart of the Reformation message. Paul says in Romans 1:17, “The righteous shall live by faith.” This faith is not simply believing in something vague; it’s the trust that Jesus has done what we could not do. Justification is a legal term meaning “to be declared righteous.” By faith in Jesus, we are declared righteous before God.
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,
Again no one is exempt all fall short, we all have sinned, we are all guilty, and yet there is a righteousness that can be obtained. It though is not by our merit, but only by faith. The writer of Hebrews 11:1 tells us the meaning of this.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Then when we bring it back Paul says:
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Imagine a courtroom where you stand guilty of a crime. The judge pronounces your sentence, but just as you are about to face your punishment, someone steps in and takes your place. This is what Jesus did for us on the cross. He took our punishment and, in exchange, gave us His righteousness. This righteousness is not our achievement but a gift from God. We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The solas of the reformation.
IV. Redemption Through Christ's Blood Romans 3:25-26
IV. Redemption Through Christ's Blood Romans 3:25-26
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.
Paul goes on to describe how this justification comes to us through Christ’s blood. Jesus was the “sacrifice of atonement” for our sins, a phrase that means He bore the penalty that we deserved. He satisfied God’s holy justice while extending His mercy to us. In Isaiah 53:5, the prophet speaks of Christ, saying, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.”
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.
Imagine you’re trapped at the bottom of the sea, out of air, with no hope of reaching the surface. Suddenly, a rescue diver arrives, giving you oxygen and pulling you to safety. You couldn’t do anything to save yourself. This is what Jesus did for us: He came down, pulled us up from the depths of sin and death, and saved us at the cost of His own life. He died so we could live.
This is the good news of the gospel, and it’s our call to trust not in what we can do, but in what Christ has already done. The blood of Jesus is the foundation of our salvation, and it is a complete and finished work.
V. Faith Alone: Boasting is Excluded Romans 3:27-28
V. Faith Alone: Boasting is Excluded Romans 3:27-28
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.
Paul concludes by stating that since justification is by faith alone, boasting is excluded. Salvation is God’s work, not ours. We have no reason to boast in our righteousness because it is not our own.
Paul echoes this in Galatians 2:16, where he says, “...a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” When we receive salvation as a gift, it changes everything. Just like a birthday gift, we don’t earn it or deserve it—it is given freely out of love. All we can do is accept it with gratitude.
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
In a world that values self-achievement and independence, the gospel reminds us that we are not saved by our efforts. We are saved by grace through faith, and that is why all boasting is in Christ. Our salvation is secure, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what He has done for us.
VI. Reformation and the Ongoing Need for the Gospel
VI. Reformation and the Ongoing Need for the Gospel
As we remember the Reformation, we look to Luther’s discovery that salvation is a gift, not a reward. Luther’s struggle, which gave rise to this Reformation movement, wasn’t just about starting a new church; it was about rediscovering the gospel—the very heart of the Christian faith.
This Reformation Sunday, we remember that the truth of justification by faith alone is just as relevant today as it was 500 years ago. We live in a world that constantly seeks to justify itself, whether by achievements, success, or reputation. But the gospel frees us from this endless striving. Jesus did all that was needed, and by faith, we receive His righteousness as our own.
So let us cling to the cross of Christ, rest in the righteousness He provides, and proclaim the truth that transformed Luther’s life—and ours: “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the truth of Your Word that we are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. As we remember the Reformation, may this truth be alive in our hearts. Help us to rest in Your finished work and to share the good news of Your grace with others. Amen.
