Week 4//Romans 3:21-4:25

Description of Righteousness//3:21-31

vs 21-31 - Description of Righteouseness // Read Romans 16:26, 2 Timothy 1:10, Acts 15:7-11

What is Righteousness? Do we have a differing view of man’s righteousness as it compares to the righteousness of God? In the broad sense, righteousness is “the state of him who is such as he ought to be - the condition acceptable to God.” Right living, right thinking, and right respect and treatment of others. Verse 21-22 are telling us that the righteousness of God is being shown in something (and/or someone...wink wink) apart from just following the Law. The law was a bunch of rules, that someone who could hate God or others in their heart, but still begrudgingly follow the law and according to the law be blameless. This is why Paul is continuing to explain to the Jews and Gentiles, alike, that following the letter of the law isn’t what saves you - it’s Jesus, alone.

Verses 23-26 evens the playing field. We have all sinned, maybe not always outwardly, but God cares about what is in the heart. Also, it’s not what nation you were born in, or whether or not you had been raised devoutly religious. It’s the free gift of salvation, the sacrifice that was made on your behalf by Jesus dying in your stead - the perfect spotless lamb - that was the cover/atonement (propritiation) for us.

Illustration of Righteousness//4:1-25

vs 1-8 - Abraham’s Righteousness Apart From Works // Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31,

What set Abraham apart? Was it because of who his mother or father was?(Joshua 24:2) Was he of royal blood? Why is Abraham, seemingly, a special individual in the Bible? (Bonus Question : Why does Paul continually bring up Abraham or Moses in his writings?)

Abraham had faith. He believed whatever God told him. He acted on whatever God told him. Was he perfect? Where might have Abraham stumbled? Genesis 11:30 tells us that Sarai (later Sarah) couldn’t have children - this provided a basis for great struggles of faith, promise and fulfillment in both Abram & Sarai’s lives. From Genesis 11 till chapter 25, it tells us of all the wonderings and wanderings of Abraham. He was called for a purpose, he listened, he believed, and he acted. This is really the situation for everyone - we are all called according to His purposes, so we need to listen, believe, and then act on this. James 2:14-26 tel

vs 9-12 Abraham’s Righteousness Apart From Circumcision

vs 13-15 Abraham’s Righteousness Apart From the Law

vs 16-25 Abraham’s Righteousness Was By Faith

Word Study:

Propritiation : (gr hilastērion ) : Literally, the cover of the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle; metaphorically, a means or place of atonement. In the description of the structure and furniture of the earthly tabernacle in Heb 9:1–5, hilastērion has exactly this meaning. In light of the OT, this use of hilastērion conveys the idea of the place of propitiation or atonement in the tabernacle. In Rom 3:25, the term is used Christologically: Christ is the hilastērion in (NAS, NIV) or by (ESV, NJB) his blood. This passage presents Christ, in the context of his sacrifice, as the means of expiation or the place of propitiation.

Expiation : Atonement, purification, or removal of sin or its guilt. All NT references to expiation have to do with the sacrifice of Christ for human sin. In the Bible both expiation and propitiation are part of God’s atoning work. Christ’s sacrifice both propitiates (turns away) the wrath of God and expiates (covers) human sin. God’s redemptive work is both personal, or relational, and objective. When a biblical context concentrates on God’s wrath, propitiation is involved; when human sin is the focus, then redemption provides expiation.

Redemption (gr apolytrōsis) : to redeem one by paying the price -  liberation procured by the payment of a ransom;

Justification : (dikaioō) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be. Especially is it so used, in the technical phraseology of Paul, respecting God who Judges and declares such men as put faith in Christ to be righteous and acceptable to him, and accordingly fit to receive the pardon of their sins and eternal life, thus absolutely.