"The Work of Christ"
sticker Bibles turn to the Book of Romans. Book of Romans if you're using a Bible in the pew You're going to be looking at page 1128. 1128
the Pew Bible
Romans chapter 3 we're going to be looking at verse 21 through 26. We're going to be primarily though sticking to verse 23 through 25 the beginning of 25 as we put that into this series that we've been doing what I want to read them as a whole. And then we'll begin.
Romans chapter 3 verse 21
But now apart from the law of the righteousness of God has been manifested. Be witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe for there is no distinction. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God being justified as a gift by his grace. Through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Who God displayed publicly as a propitiation in his blood through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness. Cuz in the forbearance of God, he passed over the sins previously committed. 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 Where's 23 again for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God being justified as a gift by his grace is ademption, which is in Christ Jesus and God display publicly is a propitiation in his blood through faith. This is the word of God was prey.
Father as we speak today and continue speaking about the good news of the Gospel. We look today about the work done on our behalf. the grace given us by you through our lord Jesus. We look at his work today on behalf of sinners. And we pray that you would open all Hearts today if those who are believers, let us rest in this truth and rejoice in our salvation. For those who are outside of of your grace. And I'm not been redeemed that you would open their hearts to hear this truth and Trust In by trust by faith. And be redeem today. Profess their love for Christ. We lift him up at this time. I'm in.
The winner six message in the series. What is the gospel? What is the gospel?
Wii U been using this definition to walk through of what the gospel is so me read it for you the gospel Is the good news that a person can be reconciled to God? Through the person and work of Jesus. Pretty simple. We've been unpacking it a little bit of the time the gospel is the good news that a person can be reconciled to God through the person and work of Jesus. This one imply that God is an important piece in Salvation And in the gospel and he is It would imply that we're not reconciled. To God without the person and work of Christ. The gospel is the good news that you can be by faith. So we looked at. Just by having a review here. Four different items for different aspects of this next week will finish. We finish what we started with God. We started with God and we looked at those verses in Genesis that we were created in God's image. Meaning that we have his attributes to love and to show her and and and we were in that beginning that ordained goodness in perfect relationship with God but Sam had an effect on that original sin in our own sin now and we do not glorify God and image of the way we should it creates a spectral a spiritual. separation But we looked at all people are created in God's image. Then we must be reconciled to him. Then we spoke about God's holiness. We spoke of Isaiah going to the temple and having the vision of the Risen Lord on his throne and what Isaiah saw was his own Brokenness and see in his lack of Holiness compared to the Holiness of God Israel and the others would and even he had looked at his own human goodness, but when compared to the Holiness of God, there was no comparison. He said, woe is me. Woe is everyone compared to this God. So we made the the point that human goodness and God's holiness are not on the same level. You cannot reach the Holiness of God on your own. There's no Works. Nothing inherently good about us that can get us there on our own. And then we looked at sin. We looked at Romans 6:23, which is familiar passage. The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. Jesus our lord. What that is speaking of is if you are obedient to sin and sin is your master then the wages that you received from sin is death. in comparison to being obedient and being a slave to the Lord. That is the free gift of eternal life through Christ. There is no comparison but a life lived in obedience to send results in Eternal death and separation. A life lived in obedience to God leads to eternal life. through Christ Jesus in the last week. We started looking at the person of Christ.
Why who Christ is really matters? We looked at his person and we looked for two weeks in Colossians chapter 1. Read those beautiful passages. We saw this premacy of Christ his pre-eminence in all things. That is supreme over all of creation. And he is supreme and Lord over Redemption. That means simply we need nothing and no one else but Christ for salvation. But his person and who he is matters and it can't be diminished the world would diminish who cries really is. But when we see the supremacy. The supremacy over creation and and Redemption. We have a greater understanding of why who Christ is matters when we talk about the gospel being the good news. He's the only one in the only reconciler. t'god
Today we're going to look at Romans 3, which we read and we're going to talk briefly about the work of Christ. We're going to finish next week. We're going to talk about what Christ accomplished on our behalf in regard to Salvation and really what God did for us what Christ did for us? And then we'll finish with response. Jesus calms his first message in his ministry is repent and believe there has to be a response. They're going to talk about what true repentance looks like. So what is the gospel? the gospel is the good news that a person can be reconciled to God through the person and work of Christ was talk about the work of Christ. Let's break it down and real simple terms so we can understand it the purpose of this you as a Christian can take this text and take this understanding and truth and explain it to someone else. If you're not a Christian that God will open your heart to this truth and you'll understand it clearly. And you can place your faith. That is true. Let's break it down into this way. I want you to imagine if you're having a making notes. You can draw a little triangle here and I want you to put God the father at the top. And then I want you to put Jesus and the bottom corner and Christians in the other Corner. That's the Salvation triangle. God the Father. Jesus Christ in Christians What Jesus did? In relation to the father is called propitiation and we just read that verse. We just read that word and use the word propitiation which was in. first 25 so you draw an arrow from Imagine from Jesus to God is propitiation from God the Father down to the Christian is justification. That's what God does for us.
From Jesus to the Christian on the bottom is redemption. I want you to visualize it or if you if you've drawn it out. Jesus is propitiation to God the Father. Justification comes down from God the father and Redemption comes to the Christian through Christ. You will see that there is no Arrow from Christian to anyone else and that's the entire point. We do nothing for our Salvation always done by Christ and our Father in heaven and that's the point and that's where we're going to talk about. We're going to break it down in the simple terms propitiation justification and Redemption volumes and volumes outside of the Bible's been written on the next time we can exhaust that and still have communion and let you go eat lunch. So you supposed to laugh. That's a joke. You can loosen up a little bit. We're going to take this in very simple terms. Okay and make it simple. Let's look at these three terms. We want to make them understandable and hopefully rejoice and what God has done for us as we remember Christ.
First with look at propitiation. I'll tell you simply what that means. It means to appease or turn away God's Wrath on sin.
It means to appease or turn away God's holy wrath on sin. When we talked about God's Wrath people get squeamish and they want to turn the page and not listen and we'll talk about that. We want to start let's look at verse 23 over text. And then we'll get there. It says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God in a simple way Paul is started riding Roman Romans to Gentiles and Jews now he is he is saying we are all under God's Wrath for seeing if we're going to read some of the verses. So he's saying Jew and Gentile we are all we have all fallen short of the glory of God. He is including all of mankind there. Everyone lacks God's glory falling short literally means you are lacking. God's glory if you let God's glory you cannot be in his presence. And that is eternal life itself to be in God's presence. Jesus said as he gave a definition of what eternal life was that eternal life is knowing god. Not mentally knowing who God is but knowing him in the intimate in Eternal in perfect relationship. That's eternal life. I should be your greatest desire to know your Creator and your father in Heaven in that intimate way that is eternal life. This is how God intended it to be but send the original CNN arson, which were responsible for has kept us from glorifying God properly and really seeking or obtaining his glory.
We get a picture of that human broken condition in Romans 1 you can turn back just a few pages. and look at Romans 1 verse 18
We're going to read several verses. We want to make the point. That the scripture was making of the human condition when Paul then says in the scripture that all have fallen short oral at God's glory. This is why this is the picture. of the human condition outside of Christ
and it speaks of God's Wrath. in verse 18 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which was known about God is evident within them for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes his eternal power and divine nature has been clearly seen being understood through what has been made so that they are without excuse. Or even though they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their Foolish Heart. darkened professing to be wise they became fools. an exchange the glory of The Incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man, and his birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures there for God. Gave them over in their last of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonoured among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. For this reason God gave them over to the grading passion. For the women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural in the same way. Also the men abandon their natural function of the women and burn in the desire toward one another men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things which are not proper being filled with all unrighteousness wickedness greed evil full of Envy murder Strife to see malice. They are gossips. slanderers haters of God insolent arrogant boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents
Without understanding untrusting unloving unmerciful and although they know the ordinance of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death. They not only do the same. But also give a hearty approval to those who practice them. That is not good news.
That is not good news in verse 18 says that the holy wrath of God is laid out on that.
We get a great picture in that verse of the dire condition that no one can escape from on their own outside of Christ my friends that was you outside of Christ whether you will admit it or not.
This is a wife that wax God's glory chooses not to glorify him but only to glorify ourselves and the Flesh and everything. The world would have the offer why because we are a slave to sin.
the wife that wax God's glory in a life without Christ
God's holiness who's person? Cannot Be in the presence of anything M. Perfect. Because of his infinite Holiness is Holy wrath must extinguish and purify anything on. Godly we avoid this. We avoid talking about this about God because we see him as loving and caring.
He is Jeff. And he is fair in the most loving thing. He did.
For us. We'll see. We must see God in his holiness. And not diminish the effects of sin and righteousness.
Is righteous anger. We can sometimes not see how this can be. We cannot feel that and think that on our own but I want to turn you to Luke chapter 22.
We'll see in this verse that picture. a Christ who knew the separation from God who knew the wrath of God?
And Luke 22 in verse 39 Jesus Is In The Garden of Gethsemane? Now they have had the Lord's Supper. And they are going then after they every implements that Lord's supper and he shares that time that special Unity with his people and then he goes into the garden to pray soon after he's in the garden who will be arrested and tried and crucified but this is the moment that everything is come to pass. And this weight gets Christ as he prays and verse 39 of Luke 22. It says that he came out and proceeded as was his custom to the Mount of Olives and disciples also followed him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them pray that you may not enter into temptation. And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw and he knelt down and began to pray. Same father if you are willing remove this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done. Now an angel from heaven appeared to him strengthening him. And being in agony, he was praying very fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground.
When heroes from Prairie came to disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and he said to them. Why are you sleeping get up and pray that you may not enter? into temptation
Jesus knows what's going to happen? The Eternal Son of God who had always been in perfect relationship with the father in The Spirit came close and Flash to give his life. As atonement for sin to appease God's Wrath on the cross. He prays take this cup from me to pray take this cup of your wrath from me Jesus. would be the appeasement of God's Wrath on the cross on your the half he would drink the cup. He would feel that separation and he would be separated from a relationship that he had never experienced and his exist. He would bear God's Wrath which we cannot explain a human words.
He would do it for you.
So you would not have to.
That's propitiation. God
through Christ his wrath is appeased that is in relation. What Jesus did in relation? To God as a result. about propitiation
we are Justified.
Want to give you another example of I had a professor? Who is trying to explain how? This would work and he had a young son. He was going to profess Faith later on but he's trying to understand these things. How could How is this working Christ bearing the Wrath and trying to explain all of these things and his son had been acting up? And doing a lot of bad things acting Unholy in the home. He already said that out the the rules and talk to him about what would happen in. And finally your son does something again and he's not acting well with his mom and his siblings, which can happen course. And his father was in the habit of spanking is son at that age, which is perfectly fine. I think. And he takes the Sundown and he says son you have you broken all the the rules here. It's not it's not that we're count taking track of everything but you're not acting in a way that we've said you're not bringing honor to your father and mother by doing this. He said you feel you should be punished. He said yes.
And the boy prepares to be to get a spanking and be punished from the father takes his hand. And he starts hitting himself. And he gives him self-punishment. For what the boys done? And the boys stands there and he's in shock. He doesn't understand by. He's the one. He's the one who's done all of these things. Not not you father. You've been nothing but good and and loving to me but now I see he says son you you have to understand it.
Christ bore that wrath for you on the cross. He took your punishment so he wouldn't have to now you've been graced and you can go because God put the punishment on him self if you'll believe that put your faith in Christ. Then God's Wrath will never fall upon you. That's what this means. I took that image it took that to help that boy. I understand but that's what Christ did in relation to God for us.
As a result of that you can look at your texts. I should go back to Romans 3 as You Follow the simple thing you remember we drew that triangle Christ in relation to God is the propitiation the appeasement of God's Wrath on your behalf. What comes down from God then is justification Justification you see for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Paul speaking in the past tense people that are already Christians hear you have been Justified as a gift by his grace through the diction with his which is in Christ Jesus. Now, what does God and still on us is justification This legal term Justice. You can understand that term very simply. And we have all the weak cannot keep a sin that condemns us for eternity.
that we are not just but through Christ God says you are just you and no longer condemned. He doesn't make you righteous at this point. He put you in right standing. Now you are in right standing in front of God. I want you to think of a courtroom and you have a judge but this judge is the Creator God the holy God and you stand in front of God. with a record of your life
I with with every saint and everything that that you have any ungodliness and Unholy anus in front of the holy God that would make a lot of sense if we understand human goodness and God's holiness what you've already talked about. And God looks at you. And he says I'm putting you in right standing but not because of you but of him. your advocate the Lord Jesus Christ, you are made dressed and put in a just position because of your Advocate who have trusted by faith. Not because of anything that we can do you see in the verse verse 24 being justified as a gift. As a gift, what is a gift Maine that means you can't pay for it? You don't pay for a gift. There's nothing you can offer you simply come to God with empty hands and all humility and in front of him as the judge and you say I offer nothing. I have no I have no payments. I cannot defend myself.
And it's an act of Grace a gift is means you can't pay for it and active Grace means you can't work for.
You don't pay for it, and you don't work for. It's given why Christ was the appeasement for sin and God counts you just because you have faith in him and it's a gift you don't pay for it and you don't work for it. You're not saved by works your saved by grace. There's no amount of religious ritual and and things that you can do you don't work your way to heaven you receive Christ by faith and you are Grace the gift of eternal life. I should change your perspective on an everything you do. Cuz you can never earn your salvation you simply resting and rejoiced that God saved you when you could not save yourself. You're Justified you were just standing. Now. What happens to Holy Spirit takes hold of your life and you are being Sanctified. We use that word sanctification. Now, you are set apart to be made. Holy and to be conformed to the image of Christ. And then you will be glorified in Romans 8. We see it's as good as done. You'll be glorified one day you have to live by faith. You have to believe this God's open your heart to the truth. You must rest in it as a Believer what price did a relation to God was to appease his wrath and what God did on your behalf. What's to justify you and what did Christ do as result he redeemed you. Be redeemed you look at the verse.
Being justified as a gift by his grace something you could not pay or work for and you get that you have that through the demption, which is in Christ Jesus.
Redemption it means Deliverance at a cost. Or released by a payment of a price in that word Redemption is Ransom. So we often sing songs and we read about Christ being our Ransom or or payment. It's a release or Deliverance is accomplished at the cost of a a ransom payment. And Christ redeemed you we're going to speak more about this next week. The word Ransom is used in Mark 10:45.
Mark 10:45 says the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many the answer is that the life of the son of man is the ransom paid in Redemption? to be redeemed
to be redeemed
There's a lot of examples there. It's often put as in the dead of slavery. Or being a slave we could say being a slave to sin and we've used that verse already the wages of sin is death. You are a slave to sin in the result is eternal death when you could not save your self. Christ redeemed you Help you to be obedient to God and now you have eternal life through him. He ransomed you for eternity. He did that through the payment of his blood. We come to communion today. We remember that. sacrifice We remember it with with humble heart. So joyful, sorrow we remember his body that was given for us, but we celebrate that one day because we're in him that we will receive a glorious resurrected body like his because of him not what we've done or Who We Are we take the cop and it's the New Covenant in his blood that all those who profess faith in him. We've had the truth of of Salvation open up to him and I live by faith. Why I've stayed through his sacrifice and our United because of his Redemption his redeeming power.
What Christ did for us was to appease God's Wrath? God and turn put us in jest position. In Christ, we have Redemption. from our sin free from the power of sin our sins are forgiven what can wash away our sin nothing but the blood of Jesus Would you buy your heads?
Father in heaven We pray today as we take communion. that we remember and reflect on what you've done for us so graciously. We pray that we will see that. And not diminish your holy wrath on seeing not diminish the effects of that to be the just and the justifier.
We know that that is a let your holy wrath must be satisfied. We know that we have nothing to offer. We can simply not do that on her own but in Christ and our place. For your wrath on the cross for us. because of your love for us
and we pray and we acknowledge that we are now standing just position. Eyeball, we cannot keep. we are made just we no longer receive the combination for our sins for eternity. The cause of Christ appeasement of your wrath in your grace and gift of justification and we pray and thank you for and our lord for our Redemption being redeemed and Ransom from a debt. We could not pay. And now placed and set apart to be made. Holy like him. We acknowledge that today as we come to communion. In Jesus name all men for men will come.