Romans 3

Introduction

Today we will be in Romans 3. When you think of the the phrase “fallen short,” what comes to mind? Maybe it means you didn’t win the competition you were in. You must fell short of it. Or maybe you wanted to purchase something but you just fell short of having the extra funds to get it. Today we will be talking about falling short. Falling short of the standard, God’s standard.

Romans 3:19-26 (NASB) 19Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

I. Vs. 19-20

a. Now in the beginning of this section of scripture, Paul directs us to look at the law. He makes a point to explain what the Law does. You see with the law, all are accountable to God. Paul also says that no one will be justified in God’s sight because of the works of the Law. You might be sitting there going, well then whats the point of this law. If it doesn’t make me righteous in God’s eyes then what does it matter? well Paul answers this immediately after. “Through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” With the law we are shown our sin.

A famous illustration of this is the mirror illustration. The law is like a mirror that shows you who you really are. You can think up in your head every detail of you face. You can imagine yourself to look however you want. If you want to have huge muscles, you can think that up in your head. Or if you are bald, you can still think up having luscious locks in your head. But the moment you step in front of that mirror, you will be hit with reality. You will see exactly who you are and you won’t be able to think up a different version with the mirror. The mirror doesn’t lie. In the same way, the Law shows you exactly what you are.

b. Sitting here today, you might be thinking, “Oh good I don’t need to worry about listening to this sermon, I’m good, I’m a good person, I follow the law.” I’ll tell you right now that you just broke the law right then and there. You lied. sure, maybe you haven’t murdered somebody, but Jesus said that if you carried hatred for someone you murdered them in your heart. Or maybe you haven’t committed adultery, but if you looked at them with lust Jesus said you did. It’s not just actions you have to get around, but also matters of the heart. You see knowing the law exists won’t save you. The Law shows you what you are. A sinner. Now will you choose to look in the mirror and admit that, or will you continue to think up that you are perfect in good in your head running away from the truth?

II. Vs. 21-23

a. Paul continues on in verses 21-23. He establishes that we need the righteousness of God. We can’t do it on our own. But the solution through in Jesus Christ. Through belief we can be saved. You see there is hope for us. Even though the law reveals that we are sinful, there is still hope in Jesus. Paul then proceeds to make a statement. To clarify even farther over whether or not you need Jesus, that you need help, Paul says that all have fallen short of the glory of God. The keyword being ALL.

b. You are not exempt from sin. God is set apart from us. He is holy and Just. The standard is God’s glory and we cannot hope to meet that standard on our own. There is no exceptions and every single one of us have failed to meet that standard. Many people today focus on making constant comparison. Especially with social media, people try to glamorize every single thing in life and make it appear perfect, even when it isn’t. Because of this people constantly compare their own lives, to the fake, perfect lives we see on social media. There’s always this comparison of Oh I’m better than this person because I don’t do this, or this person is horrible and a sinner because they do that. But you see every single on of us has fallen short. It doesn’t matter how good of a person you think you are, or how many “good deeds” you do, you have not reached the standard and you cannot fix that on your own. Paul makes it clear, There is a huge problem with us falling short. But there isn’t just a problem without a solution. God sent his son to die for us so that way you have a way to be with him!

Maybe you have been wallowing in despair because you know just how much you’ve fallen short of God’s glory. You think it’s over for you and there can’t be hope. You know what you’ve done, how could there be? But you see Jesus Christ is hope. Even though every single one of us has fallen short, we can still be saved through faith in Jesus!

III. Vs. 24-25

a. We are able to have salvation not because we were able to live up to the standard of God’s glory, but because of the Cross. the Cross is the answer. We are able to have Jesus’ righteousness accounted to us so that way we are justified. It is through grace that we are saved. The meaning of grace is that even though we deserve death because of sin, he has freely given us something we do not deserve. We are pronounced not guilty because of Jesus. Paul states that it is a gift of grace. And it is the greatest gift we have and will ever receive.

b. Being able to be forgiven came at a cost. Jesus took on the debt that we owed. The price that we had to pay because we were transgressors of the Law. He died on the cross for our sins. That debt had to be payed. God is a just God and to not enact justice would be against who he is. But because he loved us so much, he still provided a way of salvation. Because of what Jesus did we are saved!

Maybe you are still on the edge right now. You realize that you’ve fallen short, but you haven’t made a decision for Christ yet. The guilt and shame can feel overwhelming. Like you don’t deserve that be saved. You too messed up, you’ve done too many horrible things and you are a dirty rotten sinner. And in a way you’re right. You don’t deserve to be saved. No one deserves to be saved. But let me tell you that Jesus died on the cross for you. He wants to have a relationship with you and is offering you His grace. He loved you knowing every sin you would commit. We have freedom from this debt. Stop holding on to the debt when Jesus already took it all on for you!

Conclusion

Paul made it clear in this passage that Sin is real. The Law reveals it to us and we have to be held accountable for our actions. There will be Justice. But he also tells us that there is still hope. We can receive the gift of salvation through faith in him because of his Grace. If you haven’t made that decision yet, stop waiting. You can’t earn you way to salvation and satisfy the Law. But through Jesus there is hope. So let today be the day you stop putting it off and receive the gift that Jesus freely bestows upon everyone who believes and puts their faith in Him. Let’s pray.