The Greatest Love of All
What We Teach • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 viewsIn Romans 3:19-26, the apostle Paul teachs us 3 dynamics at play in God's power to save: enervation by Law, exoneration by grace, and expiation by blood.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH
WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Good is never quite good enough, is it? For every good essay we write in class, there’s always somebody who writes something better. For every song we learn on the piano, there’s always that one friend who can play it 10x better. And for every chore we remember to do, there’s always 5 more that we completely forget about! Our good efforts just never seem good enough.
And often, it seems to be that way in our spiritual life as well, doesn’t it? For every Bible verse we memorize, there’s always someone who can call to mind the next 5 verses after the one we quote, isn’t there? For every ministry opportunity we serve in, there’s always someone who seems to get recognized before we do. And for every prayer we make, there’s always someone in our group who’s prayers make ours look like chump change! Truly, our good efforts just never seem to be good enough.
And if we had to evaluate why we do what we do… why each and every one of us is trying to do what they do… then we’d all probably come to the conclusion that its because we just want to do whatever it is that we were created to do… whatever it is that we were created to do.
Our problem is this, though: You and me and every other human were created for one purpose: to glorify God and Him alone, according to Paul in . How do we do that? - fearing Him and obeying His Law.
But how are we doing in that regard? By a show of hands, how many of you have broken one of God’s commandments, at least once? Don’t lie, or you’ll just prove the point.
So based on the evidence, it’s clear: We’ve got a bit of a problem on our hands. There is a Law we are supposed to be keeping, but we cannot keep it. There is a God we are supposed to please, but we cannot please Him. Now, the punishment for breaking His Law abides on us, and we have no ability to appease it. Truly, truly, good is simply not good enough.
So what are we supposed to do? Is everything hopeless? Are we all going to die? Not quite. Freedom from the Law is available in its fullness through one means: the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The assignment I was given this week was to teach you all about the doctrine of redemption and propitiation. So, what better place to start than Paul’s letter to the Romans, his theological masterpiece?
So today, we’re going to be in chapter 3, verses 19-26 specifically. Here in , the apostle Paul teaches us about 3 dynamics that are at play in God’s power to save: enervation by Law, exoneration by grace, and expiation by blood.
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
Now, Paul’s letter to the Romans was written sometime between 54-58 AD, while Paul was in Greece, which we know from . Paul was hoping to evangelize Spain on his next missionary tour, and Rome seemed as good of an entry point as any! So, Paul penned this letter to the believers in Rome in order to introduce himself and, as Robert Mounce says, “set forth the doctrine of justification by faith and it’s impacts on Christian living”.
Our passage today comes right on the heels of , where Paul lays down our inability to be good enough: we cannot make ourselves right with God because of our sinfulness. But now, here Paul reveals the solution: man can’t be made right with God, God makes man right with Himself.
So essentially, Paul’s main point in writing was to instruct the Romans that redemption from the condemnation of the Law does not come from the Law, but from faith in Jesus Christ.
Follow along now as I read from .
19 Now 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;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
ENERVATION BY LAW ()
ENERVATION BY LAW ()
The first dynamic at play in God’s power to save is enervation by Law… enervation by Law. Look at verses 19-20 for a moment:
19 Now 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;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
What exactly is enervation? A feeling of being drained of vitality or energy… fatigued. Heavily fatigued. This is what the Law of God does to us. Notice Paul’s words here in verse 19:
“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law...”
In order to understand what Paul is getting at in this passage, we’ll need to define some terms here. One key term right off the bat here is “Law”. What even is God’s Law? In this context, it is the words and commands he gave to Israel in the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
But wait - does that mean we all get off easy because we don’t live in national Israel today? Hardly! Listen to what Paul has to say to us on this !
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
Ouch. Whether we know what the Word says or not, we are still accountable for following it. Whether we know the Law or not, we are still liable to follow it.
Why though? Why would God place this burden on our backs? Look at verse 19 again:
“in order that all mouths may be shut...”
Essentially, the Law of God speaks and has spoken in order to end the talk of men.
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.
16 “So the helpless has hope,
And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
And not only does the Law silence the sons of men, but it forces them to have perspective. Look at the next part of verse 19:
“and all the world may be accountable to God...”
Basically, the Law of God speaks in order to end the talk of the sons of men and to hold them accountable before their God and Creator.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Not just some, but everyone! But then that begs the question: “what is the purpose of the Law, anyway? I thought it was to help our lives, not ruin them!” I agree. The Law does help our lives, but not in the way that we’d expect. Look at verse 20 and see what I mean.
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
No flesh! No man! Not you! Not me! Not anybody! No flesh will be justified in His sight. He sees everything! Understand it like this: the purpose of the Law of God is not to commend men but to condemn them.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
4 “How then can a man be just with God?
Or how can he be clean who is born of woman?
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
The answer? None of us. But thanks be to God, who has provided a way out by the riches of His grace. Look at verses 21-24 now, where we find the 2nd dynamic at play in God’s power to save: exoneration by grace… exoneration by grace.
EXONERATION BY GRACE ()
EXONERATION BY GRACE ()
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
What is this exoneration? Think of it like a prisoner on Death Row, about to receive a punishment that he deserves, getting clothed in a fresh, new outfit and set free by the judge himself, who tells the prisoner, “Be free. The penalty for your crime has been paid.” But this imagery is even greater: cosmic treason, cosmic pardon.
Look at what Paul says in verse 21:
“But now apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed...”
These are the most important words in this entire passage. “The righteousness of God has been revealed.” Understand it like this, beloved: the holy justice of God is put on display through the Law. But the holy love of God is put on display through Christ.
19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
But is this truth something brand new? Something that has never before been known? Something that God’s people in the past had no way of knowing! Hardly! Look at the next phrase:
“having been testified to by the Law and the Prophets...”
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
18 ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
19 ‘It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
10 But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
From nearly 6,000 years ago, it has been expected, and nearly 2,000 years ago, it came. The righteousness of God has been manifested in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Isn’t it amazing how exact God is? There is literally 0% lack of clarity here, there is no discrepancy, there is no confusion, there are simply facts. Thousands of years before Christ was born, Moses told the people of Israel exactly what to look for in their Savior. Hundreds of years before Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah told Israel exactly what would happen to their Savior: He must suffer. Hundreds of years later, what happened? Jesus came to Israel and suffered at their hands… exactly according to God’s promise and plan.
So let’s not use a “lack of evidence” as the reason we don’t want to believe. Evidence is not the problem. I challenge anyone who questions the evidence to go study it themselves and read the Prophets! The evidence is clear! Prophecy after prophecy, fulfilled to the last letter - by Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, our issue isn’t a lack of evidence, but a lack of faith.
But look now at verse 22:
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
But in contrast to a lack of faith, look at what comes for those who are full of faith! The righteousness of God is available for all to possess, through faith in Christ Jesus! What’s the price? Simply believe! Who can attain it? Anyone! Whether Jew, Gentile, or whoever - redemption from the penalty of the Law is free to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Something we can easily take for granted is the privilege we have to hear God’s Word. And not just listen to somebody waxing eloquent about God’s Word, but actually hear God’s Word and what it has to say. But don’t be naive: this privilege comes with a price. Each and every one of you are much more accountable to God than the random child soldier in Africa who’s never even seen a Bible. You are not special! You are not more savable! You still must beg to the Lord for forgiveness of sins because He is the one who justifies! Look at verse 23:
“for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...”
It’s clear: redemption from the penalty of the Law could only have come from God because we can’t accomplish it ourselves.
20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.
This is why we need a Savior! When it comes to breaking God’s Law, we are guilty as charged! The punishment for sin is death, and only God can rescind that punishment. Thankfully, He does so, and in the best way possible. Look at verse 24 now:
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Understand it like this: God brought redemption from the penalty of His Law by His grace though His only Son.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
“Freely without cause.” We don’t deserve His grace! This is an elementary truth, but we forget it so often! We don’t deserve His grace. When we think about it, a lot of our problems with God, our questions about His goodness or His character, stem from a heart issue that we all struggle with: we think we are good people! We understand that God’s Word says we are bad, but are we really that bad? “I haven’t killed anybody,” we say. “I don’t do drugs,” we say. “I don’t curse that much,” we say. But at the end of the day, who cares? That stuff doesn’t make you or me any more righteous than the next guy. The only standard that matters is God’s standard, and we are all guilty of falling short. God doesn’t need us, the truth is that we desperately need Him.
EXPIATION BY BLOOD ()
EXPIATION BY BLOOD ()
So we’ve seen that the 1st dynamic at play in God’s power to save was enervation by Law. The second was exoneration by grace. And the third is expiation by blood… expiation by blood. Look at verses 25-26 with me.
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Just curious - who’s got any idea about what expiation means?… nobody… I figured. No worries. I’ll explain in just a moment. Let’s take a look at the first part of verse 25:
“Whom God publicly set forth as a means of expiation through faith in His blood...”
Your translations probably have something like “propitiation” or “sacrifice”, etc. Those are all correct! However, the best way to understand this word here is “means of expiation”… “means of expiation". Here’s what I mean.
GOD IS GOOD ENOUGH
GOD IS GOOD ENOUGH
Expiation is the idea of total removal. Total forgiveness. Propitiation is the idea of appeasing the wrath or penalty of something… in this case, breaking God’s Law. So, understand it like this: propitiation for sin comes as a result of expiation of sin. I’ll say that one more time. propitiation for sin comes as a result of expiation of sin.
Basically, God has now made a way for our sins to be completely forgiven! How? Through faith in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
; - the Israelites had to offer sacrifices for the expiation of sin, but it was never complete! No bull or ram or goat or lamb could ever fully pay the price of breaking God’s Law.
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, we cannot gloss over this reality - For every sin that you and I have committed, the punishment is death. But God, both holy in justice and holy in love, sent His Son to die for us. Just take a moment to think about that. Would you send your only son to die for a people who hated you? Would you turn your face away from him when the people you sent him to killed him? Would you forgive them of all the wickedness they have done on behalf of the blood of your son? God not only did all of that, but He was well-pleased to do so. God is truly a God of holy wrath and holy love.
But look now at the rest of verse 25:
“for proof of His righteousness because of the passing over of past sins...”
Why did God offer salvation through faith in the blood of His Son? For proof of His righteousness! God had passed over the sins of so many for so long and continues to do so! Why? So that His righteousness would be fully manifested in the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ, His Son.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
Notice the anchor in the beginning of verse 26:
“in the forbearance of God, for the proof of His righteousness in the present age...”
God knows all… sees all… and is in control of all. He has been carrying out His perfect plan, according to His perfect will, all in His perfect time. Yet, despite display after display of His glory, mankind continues to laugh and say, like the nations in , “Where now is your God?” Well, He’s got an answer for them. “Doubt my righteousness? That’s fine. I will display it by transforming the hearts of wicked men just like you and turning them into vessels for My glory.”
4 “The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
21 The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the law great and glorious.
24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
And now, the finale. Look at the final phrase of verse 26 with me.
“so that He is just and justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.”
And this is the sum of it all! God has vindicated His name completely and comprehensively in the work of Jesus Christ, His Son, on the cross. Christ died as a man, fulfilling every letter of the Law, which no man could do. Christ died as a man, bearing the full penalty for breaking the Law, which every man deserved. And Christ rose as God, conquering sin and death, and purchasing back His people from the slavery to sin to slavery to righteousness. God is a God of holy justice and holy love — Justice through Law, Love through grace in Christ.
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
GOD IS GOOD ENOUGH
GOD IS GOOD ENOUGH
So… we’ve seen 3 dynamics at play in God’s power to save. The first was enervation by Law. The second was exoneration by grace. The third was expiation by love. Before we go though, I want us to be able to answer the question we should all be asking after a passage like this: what do I do with all of this? So, we’ll close with 3 words, 1 command, and an eternity of impact.
REPENT AND BELIEVE!
REPENT AND BELIEVE!
… Repent and believe. Naturally, a lot of questions probably, well hopefully, popped up in your heads throughout the passage.
“How do I know if God has chosen me?”
“How do I get my sins forgiven?”
“How do I get justified by faith?”
The answer is simple! Repent… and… believe. What does it mean to repent? It means to turn away from your ways and turn towards Christ. Paul sums it up brilliantly in .
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
So if you don’t know the Lord, then my advice to you is to repent and believe. Understand this - the punishment for sin is death. And, if you’re not dead right now, even though you’ve been sinning throughout your life, then that only means one thing - this death is eternal… eternal. Do you really want to play Russian Roulette with your eternity like that? This is a game you simply cannot and will not win. So stop playing while you still can.
And if you do know the Lord, then my advice to you is also to repent and believe. That may sound contradictory… Hardly! As believers, we sometimes forget what it looks like to really repent, especially as we get farther and farther away from our initial repentance when the Lord saved us. Let’s get back to that radical abandonment of sin! Too often, we get complacent and allow sin to linger, but when sin lingers, idolatry builds, and when idolatry builds, disaster is soon to follow. Let’s be encouraged by the words of John Owen: “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” God has already expelled our sins from our record and redeemed us from the slave market of sin to slavery to Christ. And He’s the best master we could ever know. Let’s pray.