ROMANS 3 PT 1 // THE LAW & THE SAVIOR
Romans | Hope for the City • Sermon • Submitted
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LAST WEEK
LAST WEEK
We saw the difference between External and Internal Faith
Faith that both works in us and through us
Paul went toe-to-toe with the Jewish Status Quo of the day
Putting to silence the excuses and entitlement that riddled the Romans Jews.
THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK
We will continue challenging our Religious practices.
What I hope to do, is lead us in living out the balance of Biblical Orthodoxy & Spirit Filled Mission
ASK: What do we know about the Jewish Culture?
The Jewish culture was trained to know the word of God
But their application of the Word of God sometimes didn’t align with the heart of God.
They had read all of his promises
But the things that were supposed to change their hearts towards the unbeliever got swept under the rug.
Specially within the Church
Among all of todays Christian Dogmas is the belief that the Old Testament is Bad, and the New Testament is good.
Though some may see it that way
Our goal as a Church is to present to you the whole counsel of God
As a Pastor, I want to be like Paul in this way
As he was ending his life, the one thing that comforted him
The thing that gave him peace, was what he said in
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
I believe we miss the whole story of the Gospel when the OT is ignored.
ASK: HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BIBLICALLY LOOK AT THE OLD TESTAMENT?
1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
PRAY
ROMANS 3:1
1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
PAUL BEGINS DISMANTLING THE COMMON THOUGHTS OF THE DAY BY GOING BACK TO SQUARE ONE
WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A JEW?
WHAT MAKES A JEW DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE?
WHAT PROFIT IS THEIR IN THE CIRCUMCISION?
PAUL GOES ON TO SAY:
There is a huge benefit
For to them was given this covenant as a sign
To them was committed the Oracles of God
They grew up surrounded, nurtured, saturated by the word of God.
They grew up amongst the promises of God.
They were the ones that had first hand experienced the leading of God through His Word.
They were the ones that had first hand experienced the leading of God through His Word.
Whether you were a Believing or Unbelieving Jew
It didn’t change the history of God’s leading
He had still been the faithful God who led and provided for the Jewish people in the wilderness
He is still the God that parted the red sea
He is still the God who fought for you and your family
ONE THING THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHES US IS THIS:
SLIDE: God’s Faithfulness is not dependent on your Faithfulness
He remains faithful even when we are faithless
SLIDE: THE BIBLE PRESENTS, UNEQUIVOCALLY, THAT THE TRUTH, SOVEREIGNTY, AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IS UNCHANGING EVEN WHEN HUMANITY IS EVER CHANGING
SLIDE: OF THE FATHER IT IS SAID:
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
SLIDE: OF THE SON IT IS SAID:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
IT IS SO COMFORTING TO FINALLY FIND AN UNCHANGING SOURCE OF AUTHORITY
A God who cant be bought out
A Man who cant be bribed
An unchanging God
IT IS SO LIFE GIVING TO KNOW THE UNCHANGING GOD
IT IS SUCH A BLESSING TO LIVE LIFE LED BY A GOD WHOSE LOVE FOR US IS UNFAILING.
WHENEVER WE COME TO A DECISION WHERE THERE IS OUTSIDE PRESSURE.
MAYBE A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE BEING INFLUENCED TO COMPROMISE OUR BELIEF SYSTEM
REMEMBER, GOD WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE, AND MAN, BECAUSE OF HIS TRACK RECORD, WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE INCLINATION TO LIE.
SLIDE: 8:17
17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
His Word never fails
IN COMPARISON TO OUR WORD, GOD’S WORD IS DIFFERENT
IT, NEVER FAILS.
THE WORD OF HUMANS DOESN’T HAVE THE TRACK RECORD THAT GOD’S WORD HAS
This was the greatest benefit of being Jewish
They had a trustworthy source
They had an unchanging source
A Source that proved that God was always just
Always able to overcome the judgement of man.
CHURCH, MANY OF US JUDGE GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS SAID
It is the fruit of the fall
It is the result of not knowing Him fully
Though, we may have great reasons for doing so.
He will always be God, and we will always not.
3:5-
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
IN THIS SECTION OF SCRIPTURE PAUL IS PUTTING HIMSELF IN A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION.
HE SAYS:
If our unrighteousness puts on display God’s righteousness, what can we say?
Our sinfulness will always make the sinlessness of Jesus that much better
Every time we sin, you ought to think to yourself
“Jesus went through that temptation, and did not fail”
“Jesus was tempted in all things, and yet without sin”
I am not like God, and God is not like me.
So who am I to judge God and what He does, and how He does it?
Abraham said in Genesis 18:25
New Living Translation Study Bible Chapter 3
“Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
So is it unjust for God to Judge Sinful man?
Is it unjust for God to judge us for not responding to His Good News?
Is it unjust for God to sweep our sin under the rug, and allow every one into Heaven at the expense of His character?
Imagine, you as the Son or Daughter of God
You were sent to this world
You were sinless
You killed it
Accomplished all that your Father asked you to do, because you knew that your obedience would result in the saving of the Whole World
You get nailed to the cross
Held responsible for the Sin of the World
Put in a Grave
Rose from the Dead
Disarmed all principalities that held humanity hostage
Because of everything you did, all the work you put in
All people have to do is confess their sins, for you will forgive them
All people have to do is live by faith that what you did on the cross has the power to save them
As you sit next to your Father, and people start showing up to the party in Heaven
Your Father breaks code
He looks at you and says
I know you did all of this stuff
But I really love all of these people
So I know I kept my word in sending you as the Messiah
I know Ive kept my word throughout all of History
But from now on, I’m flipping the script on this story
Everyone can come in
Whether they believe or neglect that you are my Son/Daughter that died on the cross for their sins
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
RIPPED OFF
LIKE SOMETHING CHANGED
LIKE YOUR FATHER IS NOT WHO YOU THOUGHT HIM TO BE
LIKE WHAT YOU DID MEANT NOTHING
Church, this isn’t how it is going to go down.
But it is how Jesus feels when we live in unrepentance
Imagine, Jesus having done everything it takes to earn the Title as Advocate
Though Our sinfulness cries out against us.
Yet you never invited Him to do so.
You never called on His name that you would be saved
Though It testifies against us in a way that not even the greatest acts of goodness could appease the jury.
You never asked for forgiveness, so you never found out what it is to be set free.
Church, don’t rob Jesus of His title as Savior, Advocate, Intercessor, and Messiah.
Invite him to come in and do business with you.
This is the Gospel.
THE LAW LEFT US GUILTY WITHOUT ANYTHING TO PLEAD OUR CASE
Until God kept His Promise in sending a Messiah
THE LAW LEFT US HIGH AND DRY
THE LAW REQUIRES US TO PAY THE PENALTY OF SIN
Jesus took the penalty for us.
Jesus took the penalty for us.
THE LAW TELLS US WE HAVE EARNED OUR HELLISH DESTINY
Jesus gave us the right to be heirs of His Kingdom.
Jesus gave us the right to be heirs of an Eternal Kingdom.
WHEN THE LAW WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE THE CASE
Jesus, Our Advocate, Pleads our case, rescues us, and calls us righteous.
IT WOULD BE BLASPHEMOUS FOR GOD NOT TO JUDGE SIN.
IT WOULD RENDER HIM UNFIT TO BE GOD.
IT WOULD RELEGATE HIM TO AN IDOL.
BUT NOT SO.
The Story of God leaves Humanity with 2 options
We either allow Jesus to plead our case
Resulting in a Full Exonoration
Or we allow our belief of the God of the Bible plead our case.
Resulting in a denial of our divine potential
A Denial of what God intended for us
An acceptance of justice.
God is God and we are not.
PAUL WAS A JEW
HE KNEW THE JEWISH MENTALITY
HE KNEW FIRST HAND THEIR ENTITLEMENT
HE KNEW THAT THEY COMPROMISED THEIR WALKS, BECAUSE IN THE END, THEY WERE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
WHAT UNBELEIVING JEWS WERE ARGUING IS THIS:
IF MY SINFULNESS MAKES GOD THAT MUCH GREATER, WHY SHOULD I DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
WHY NOT JUST CONTINUE IN OUR SIN, THAT GOOD MAY COME?
IT IS LIKE TODAY:
“WHY SHOULD I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, IF GOD HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN ME?”
“WHY DO I NEED TO GO TO CHURCH, IF I AM ALREADY SAVED?”
“WHY DO I HAVE TO STOP SINNING, IF GOD IS GOING TO FORGIVE ME ANYWAY?”
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT HIM AND OTHERS.
PAUL EXPOSES THEM, AND TELLS THEM THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE CONDEMNED
CHURCH, THIS IS WHY THE LAW IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT POINTS TO OUR CONSTANT NECESSITY OF JESUS.
PAUL SAID MANY THINGS ABOUT THE LAW, AND THIS ONE STANDS OUT TO ME:
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
The law continually shows us that we need a Savior
Because the Author of the Law keeps his word, He sent his Son,
Why?
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.