We Have a Savior

Saved!

Video – “He Saved Me!”

I don’t have any idea who this woman is. I just enjoyed seeing and hearing her excitement about being saved.

We will pick up our study of Romans midway through the 3rd chapter this morning. In this passage, we will finally be presented with the solution to the problem of sin and the need that we have for help – a Savior.

All men and women search for a Savior. They desire salvation but, most often, (Jesus said the “Way” is narrow) they search in the wrong places.

One day a Hindu philosopher visited a women’s school of village evangelism and asked if he might lecture [the] women on Hinduism. [He was] granted permission, and returned with two others. All sat on mats round [the] floor, and [the] Hindu [teacher] gave [an] interesting talk on God, ending with a transcendent Being so far away and unapproachable, and man in the depths of such abysmal ignorance and degradation, that they were left gasping for breath.

When he suddenly stopped, the women cried out, “But go on, go on, you can’t stop there.” “Our religion stops there,” he replied.[1]

How sad! I’m glad to say that Christianity does not stop there! Salvation is not simply contemplating a transcendent Being but a Savior who is knowable, relational, loving, and powerful.

You may remember that in John 3 Jesus met a man by the name of Nicodemus. Nicodemus asked a question about salvation that people still ask today. “How can I be born again?” Jesus helps him to understand the spiritual significance of salvation, and Paul helps us a lot in Romans 3 and 4.  

We Have a Savior!

Romans 3:21–31 NIV

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

God Has Declared Freedom to the Believer

Eagle Rising!

In 2013 I met a veteran who came into Operation Reconnect with legal issues. The first were in Harris County. Prior to the court date he was visibly upset so the night before the court appearance we prayed for favor. In the criminal courtroom the next morning I waited in the audience as the veteran and his lawyer entered the courtroom. The lawyer moved from the district attorney to the court reporter and back several times as the judge waited virtually silently. After a few minutes the judge announced, “You are free to go!”. My friend turned to me with a smile, and we headed as quickly as possible to the elevators and out the building to the wide-open world outside. What wonderful news!

In those 10 verses at the end of Romans, there is a lot of information to unpack. The primary announcement at the end of Romans is that we are justified by faith and not by works. This is a large part of the Gospel, the Good News.

Let’s begin though with a word that Paul uses 8 times in those 10 verses…faith. What is faith? Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher, wrote:

Faith is not a blind thing; for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing, for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing; for faith trusts and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation.… Faith … is the eye which looks.… Faith is the hand which grasps.… Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ. (Boice 1991, 1:108)[2]

I like what Spurgeon points out about faith… it is not blind. It builds on knowledge…which I believe will happen today. Faith is not speculative…there are facts. Faith is not a romantic idea…it is based in truth.

Benefits of Salvation

Christian songwriter Andrae Crouch captured the essence of salvation by faith when he wrote, “I didn’t think it could be until it happened to me. And you’ll never know that it’s true until it happens to you.”[3]

Until someone has had a spiritual experience with Jesus Christ, their concept of salvation will be built on a foundation of works. The natural mind has no concept of grace and faith. The Christian believer’s experience validates the truth of this line from a great hymn: “Just as I am without one plea.” You will note that the rendition does not say “Just as I will be,” but “just as I am.” Hallelujah! We cannot add one thing to our salvation. Christ comes to each one of us … just as we are.[4]

We are going to use “The Salvation Triangle” to understand what Paul is showing us.

The Salvation Triangle

#1 – Salvation

Salvation is a broad term that includes not only deliverance from sin but also abundant life in Jesus Christ. A variety of words describe the many facets of our salvation in Christ. Conversion, for example, depicts our response to God’s offer of salvation and consists of turning away from sin in repentance and turning toward Jesus Christ in faith. While conversion is our response to God, regenerationis God’s response to us. When we repent and believe, God imparts life. We are “born again”—as Jesus explained to Nicodemus (John 3:1–21). Paul characterizes this as a death-to-life experience: “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:4–5). After we are united with Christ, God continues to work in us, molding us into Christ’s image. This process of spiritual growth is called sanctification.[5]

#2 – Justification

Romans 3:23–24 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Justification is a legal term used in a court of law. Paul uses it to explain how God makes sinful people acceptable to Him. “Justified freely by his grace” (Romans 3:24) describes what God does for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior (3:22). The word justify means “to pronounce, accept, and treat as just, i.e., as on the one hand, not penally liable, and on the other, entitled to all the privileges due to those who have kept the law” (Harrison 1987, 304).[6]

In Romans chapter 4 (we won’t cover except in this) Paul shows that Abraham was also justified by faith and not by works. God didn’t owe him for his hard work. He believed God (v. 1-8).

Romans 4:13 NIV

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

The history of Abraham shows that he was justified by faith even before the sign of circumcision (v 9-12).  And, Abraham existed before the Law so justification couldn’t have been because of the Law (v. 13-15). Paul shows that salvation (including justification and righteousness) comes through faith.

A question came up recently about the judgment of the believer.

The Bible teaches 3 aspects of the believer’s judgment:

First, the believer’s judgment took place at the cross.

At the cross believers plead guilty, confess their sins, and identify themselves with Jesus. (1 John 1:19)

Second, is that the believer continues in self-judgment.

Paul wrote: “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:31–32). This chastening is part of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life (see Rom. 15:16; 1 Thess. 5:14–23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 John 1:7–2:2).[7]

The third aspect of the believer’s judgment is before the judgment seat of Christ.

This is not a judgment of condemnation, but a determination of the believer’s awards. (1 Cor 3:12-15) [8]

#3 – Redemption

Romans 3:24 NIV

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Redemption - Jesus Christ redeemed us. He ransomed [purchased] us at the price of His own blood. It is what He did for us, not what we do.[i]

Redemption is the work of Christ.  An act of love. Isaiah 62:4 gives us a word picture to visualize God’s love. “You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married” (NIV).

Hephzibah means, “My delight is in her.” Beulah means, “married.” In God’s expressing His love for Israel we hear His heart speak concerning His love for the church today. We are the adopted children of Abraham. The love God had and still has for Israel and the church is seen in Isaiah’s powerful expressions. We were “forsaken.” We were lost in sin without hope. We were forsaken as a result of our rebellion and defiance of God. But when Jesus washed us clean of our sins we then became “God’s delight.”

Do you remember this song?

1. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong.

Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

2 Jesus loves me he who died heaven's gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin, let his little child come in. [Refrain]

3 Jesus loves me, this I know, as he loved so long ago, taking children on his knee, saying, "Let them come to me." [Refrain]

This children’s song stands on Romans 3:24 and the heart of redemption.

#4 – Propitiation

Romans 3:25–26 NIV

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Propitiation/Atonement - This describes what Jesus Christ did for us in relation to the Father. He turns aside God’s wrath against sin through His sacrifice of atonement (3:25). By taking our punishment on himself, He satisfies God’s justice.

A Quick Quiz

Paul now concludes his presentation up to this point. His conclusion consists of asking and answering three questions that might arise relative to what he has said about justification by faith.

1. Where, then, is boasting?

Romans 3:27 NIV

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

2. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?

Romans 3:29–30 NIV

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

3. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith?

Romans 3:31 NIV

Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

The law is not something that only the Jews can “do” for God; the law is for both Jews and Gentiles and can only be “done” through faith in Christ. Faith returns the law to its proper place and role in God’s plan for people. Faith does not wipe out the Old Testament; rather, it makes God’s dealings with the Jewish people understandable.[10]

Romans 3:21–31 lifts our eyes from our own efforts and failures to the righteousness of God that is freely given through Jesus Christ. It tells us that we are not saved by what we do, but by what Christ has done. At the cross, justice and mercy met. God did not ignore sin—He dealt with it fully. And He did not abandon sinners—He rescued us completely.

This passage silences all boasting. There is no room for pride when we remember that our righteousness is not earned—it is received by faith. It’s not about who we are or what we’ve done, but about who Christ is and what He’s done for us.

So let us leave here not trying harder to be right with God, but trusting deeper in the One who already made us right with Him. Let us live lives that reflect the wonder of grace: humbled, thankful, and eager to extend that same grace to others.

This is the good news: Justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—to the glory of God alone.

[1]John Stott, The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott, ed. Mark Meynell (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018).

[2]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 70.

[3] From Andrae Crouch and the Disciples: Live at Carnegie Hall. Light Records, a division of Word).

[4]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians(Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 123.

[5]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 71.

[6]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 74.

[7]Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, Foundations of Pentecostal Theology, Revised & Updated, vol. 2 (Los Angeles, CA: Foursquare Media, 2016), 228.

[8]Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, Foundations of Pentecostal Theology, Revised & Updated, vol. 2 (Los Angeles, CA: Foursquare Media, 2016), 228.

[9]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 75.

[10]Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 593.

[i]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 72.