The Forgiving God

Introduction:

“You know I’m guilty and I know I’m guilty, but you ought to let me go anyway.” This is the appeal of many traffic stops. This logic gets seasoned with tears or “I know your boss” or “I pay your salary”. It gets mitigated by “I’m on my way to the hospital, my wife is in labor” or “I just worked a double shift at the hospital.

I found myself in one of these situations. In my first pastorate our church was on the West side of a campus about the same size as ESU and our home was on the East side of Campus. Of course, the speed limit through campus was 20 mph. But at that time our church held Sunday evening services. Well of course on a Sunday at 5:30 p.m. there wasn’t a soul to be found on the streets of a commuter campus and my mind was focused on the message I was about to give so I wasn’t paying enough attention to my speedometer as I drove through campus. Until red and blue lights began to flash in my rear window.

I pulled over and was professionally greeted by Patrolman Fisher who asked me where I was going and if I knew how fast I was going. I sheepishly admitted, “I’m on my way to church, and I don’t know how fast I was going because I wasn’t paying attention”

He ran my record and found I was not a frequent flyer, so, even though we both knew I was as guilty as sin, he let me go with a verbal warning to pay more attention.

Apart from God forgiving my sins, this is the most graphic illustration in my mind of a situation where all parties were fully aware of guilt, but one party extending grace anyway. Perhaps this sticks in my mind because it was the first time I was let off with a warning. All 3 of my previous stops resulted in citations.

Transition: In today’s text, Romans 3, we will meet the God who declares guilty people righteous. But first let me setup the context of Paul’s words.

The Context of Today’s Text (Rom 1:18-3:20)

1. Jew or Gentile, Religious or not, we are all guilty before God.

Transition: With the understanding that religious and irreligious people are equally guilty before God apart from Christ, let’s turn to today’s text.

We don’t always do this, but for today, if you are able, I invite to stand out of respect for the Word of God and the God who has spoken as we read together.

God’s Righteous Declaration (Rom 3:21-31)

Romans 3:21–31 ESV:2016

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The Unveiling of God’s Righteousness (Rom 3:21)

1. The cross and empty tomb are the fulcrum of God’s plan for mankind.

About 18 months ago, a popular Evangelical preacher raised eyebrows when he said in a televised sermon that “Peter, James, and John elected to unhitch the Christian Faith from the Jewish Scriptures, and we must too.”

I heard him two weeks after this quote went viral. 1. He admitted that he misspoke—What he wanted to communicate is that one doesn’t have to know and live out the old COVENANT in order to be saved. 2. He was trying to explain what the Jerusalem Council determined in Acts 15—one doesn’t have to be a good Jew before becoming a Righteous believer.

a. One doesn’t need to know/understand/obey the Law in order to accept the righteousness displayed in Christ.

b. Yet the Old Covenant bears witness to the righteousness of Christ.

2. Most of the people who wanted to tar-and-feather the preacher I quoted, do not understand what Paul writes in v.21 that the righteousness of Christ is apart from, yet witnessed to in the Hebrew Scriptures.

3. If a 10-year-old child asked you, “How do I get to Heaven?” I doubt that many of us would start with Exodus, Leviticus or Deuteronomy.

Does anybody know off the top of your head what the Biblical law requires as punishment if your bull gets out and gores someone so that they die? Does it make any difference if it is a second offense by the same bull? What if the person gored is a child or servant of another person? What if the bull gores another beast? What if it is not the first time the bull has gored another animal? (Ex 21 answers each of these questions specifically)

We don’t believe that all ranchers would have to follow this code before they could get saved.

4. Yes! Jesus fulfilled prophecy and both His ministry and death were foretold so that the way events unfolded were “according to the Scriptures”. When we grasp the crucifixion and resurrection, we can go back and find the “scarlet thread of redemption” woven throughout the Hebrew Bible so that it is totally possible to witness to a Jew using his or her Bible, especially Isaiah 53.

5. But it is also fully possible to guide a sinner to repentance using only the New Testament.

6. Paul (himself a former Pharisee and follower of Judaism) writes that the righteousness of Christ is apart from the commands, yet the Law and Prophets bear witness to Christ.

7. The righteousness of God is now extended on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ.

The Scope of God’s Righteousness (Rom 3:22-23)

Romans 3:21–23 ESV:2016

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1. The “all’s” of these verses connect back to the previous 2 chapters.

2. Whether you are Jew or Gentile, God no longer works primarily through His chosen people, the descendants of Abraham (salvation was always available to any person of any nationality who converted to the Temple system). Now, Paul (himself a Jew) writes that God does not mediate through the Jewish sacrificial system, but through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus.

Imagine with me what Heaven will look like. I have had the privilege of proclaiming Christ on several continents. The first person I led to Christ was a pale skinned 10-year-old like myself on the 20 yard line of Arrowhead stadium after a testimony by Johnny Cash. Later I had the opportunity to preach Christ to hundreds of dark-skinned people from India, many of whom had once been Hindu. Years later Ann and I took our youngest to Costa Rica and we got to see people of medium-tone skin singing praise to our God.

3. What Paul is saying here is that the Gospel is available to all people, not just dark-haired, olive-skinned descendants of Abraham. He is saying ALL have sinned and ALL are potential recipients of the Righteousness from God.

The Provision of God’s Righteousness (Rom 3:24-25a)

Romans 3:24–25 ESV:2016

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Redemption

1. This is a word that is becoming less common in everyday English.

Some of you may remember saving S&H greenstamps. After you had collected enough books, you would go to the “Redemption Center” and exchange green stamps for something you really wanted. In a similar sense you may redeem a coupon or gift certificate today.

2. In times when human slavery was much more common, people would sell themselves or their children into slavery to satisfy an unpayable debt. A benefactor who valued the indentured person could pay an agreed upon price and the person would be set free from their status as a slave or servant.

Propitiation

1. Other translations explain this word by using the phrases “sacrifice of atonement” or “sacrifice for sin”.

2. It is an act whereby “God looks upon us favorably”.

3. In the LXX (the Greek translation of the OT) This word is used to describe the top of the Ark of the Covenant where the Priest would offer the blood to appease God for another year.

4. “expiation” is a related, but different, concept. Expiation is the idea that penalty must be made, or the fine must be paid.

Imagine if you drive up the road and order a sandwich for lunch. When your meal is finished or you drive up to the window, depending upon where you get your sandwich, you will be given an amount that you are expected to pay in exchange for goods received. If you pay that amount, when you leave the establishment the employees may still have no opinion as to if you are a nice person or want to spend any time with you socially. You have simply paid what was owed. It’s like when you receive your paycheck or social security check in the mail, you are unlikely to write a thank you note to your boss or the Social Security Administration. Expiation is simply “paying what is due”

On the other hand, there have been a few times when I arrived at the window and the cashier told me “the last car paid for your food” or a waiter has said, “your meal has been paid by the person at that table”. This act “propitiates” me. It makes me think of that person in a kind/positive/favorable manner.

5. When Jesus offers His blood to the Father it does 2 things; 1. It expiates my sin penalty, and 2. It causes the Father to look upon me favorably, as clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.

The Display of God’s Righteousness (Rom 3:25b-26)

Romans 3:25–26 ESV:2016

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

1. Through the act of “double imputation” God now views me as righteous.

Last Thursday people put on costumes and pretended to be something that they weren’t. And nobody was fooled.

2. God does not view me as someone who pretends to be something I am not. He judicially declares that my sin is transferred to Jesus AND the righteousness of Christ (which was proven in His resisting temptation to the very end) is transferred to me.

To use a modern analogy. When God keys your name and D.O.B. into His divine computer, what pops up on the monitor is not a child wearing an oversized costume. What appears on the monitor is the all-sufficient and beautiful image of Jesus who has loved us and game Himself for us.

Transition: In the final 4 verses of this chapter, Paul briefly introduces the role of Faith in this exchange which is further described in the next chapter.

Man’s Response of Faith (Romans 3:27-31)

Faith NEGATES Boasting (Rom 3:27; 4:1-2)

Romans 3:27 ESV:2016

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

· Since the exchange is based solely upon my faith, and not my works or worthiness, it prevents all boasting.

Faith PRESERVES Grace (Rom 3:28; 4:3-8)

Romans 3:28 ESV:2016

28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

1. If somehow I merit salvation by being more obedient or more devoted or more deserving then salvation is no longer by grace, but by my merit.

2. If ALL who are saved receive that righteousness solely through faith, then the disbursement of that righteousness is a picture of grace.

Faith is not Privileged (Rom 3:29-30; 4:9-17)

Romans 3:29–30 ESV:2016

29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

1. It is popular in today’s social discussions to speak of those who are privileged and those who are oppressed. Being born in a particular place or belonging to a particular class or identity group somehow gives some and advantage over others.

2. Historically descendants of Abraham considered themselves privileged as it related to God.

3. V.30 clearly says it is not a matter of being in or out of the covenant community, both those inside and outside of the covenant must have faith.

Faith FULFILLS the Old Testament (Rom 3:31; 4:18-25)

Romans 3:31 ESV:2016

31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

1. “faith” is used in various ways.

a. To some your “faith” is your religious system

b. To others your faith/belief is your devotion to any subjective belief with or without veracity. (ghosts, UFOs, flat earth, age of earth, etc.) “I don’t care what the science says, I don’t believe in…”

c. In the Bible faith depends upon the veracity or truthfulness of the object of belief.

2. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul writes, “If we believe Jesus is resurrected and he isn’t, then we are to be most pitied.”

3. For faith to be valid it must be based on something truthful. The message of the Hebrew Scriptures from Genesis 4 to Malachi 4 is that God is at work in the human experience to redeem a people unto Himself. Today’s text tells us that the righteousness of God imparted to sinners who have faith in Jesus is proof that the Law & Prophets is a true expression of God’s plan.

Conclusion:

There is a Righteousness of God that far surpasses all our attempts at being good. After all, all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Is 64:6). The means by which you can be credited with this righteousness is only through faith that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is sufficient to pay the penalty of sin and cause God to view you favorably.