A Study of Romans (8)

Concept

One theologian feels these passages should be considered as one of the climax points of the Bible because of the description of justification;

Why, because every sinner is told how to stand before God as righteous and every believer should grasp a thorough understanding of the truths we are going to talk about;

Let’s look at the key word here “justify” which means “to declare righteous” - which boils down to standing before God innocent of wrongdoing.

Abandonment

There is a method to justification that Paul is discussing, he brings out four point - one negative and four positive;

First the law of Moses cannot lead to justification;

People need to abandon the thought of justification through the law - Webster defines “abandon” as “to give up with the intent of never again claiming one’s rights or interests in”;

God has provided righteousness apart from the Mosaic law - through His Son;

Now man must abandon the thought of ever being able to save himself before he can grasp this concept;

The Book of Romans Abandonment (Verse 21)

The common hope of man is to save himself by his own efforts, and this hope led so easily to a distorted understanding of the Law’s purpose.

Paul is making it clear that justification, then and now, has always be separate from the law;

This truth, while maybe not obvious, has been taught throughout the Old Testament;

The Book of Romans Abandonment (Verse 21)

The Old Testament was often wrongly understood by the Jews; but rightly understood it too gave witness to the gospel way of getting right with God.

Acceptance

Paul makes it crystal clear that there is only one way to justification - Jesus Christ;

Faith is more than head knowledge - faith means to trust, to have reliance, to have confidence and a personal commitment to your belief;

Small Kid’s chair and a large church chair have someone come up and display faith by choosing a chair.

The Book of Romans Acceptance (Verse 22a)

Faith in Jesus is faith in a person, not a mere fact; and so saving faith is a personal commitment of oneself to Christ, based on confidence in Him and His work, which is in turn based on a conviction about the facts of who He is and what He has done.

Our faith should reveal a few things - conviction, confidence and commitment;

It should be very clear Who the object of your faith - Jesus Christ;

Once it is clear in you then there the abandonment self hope begins and complete hope Jesus Christ grows.

Access

The next truth Paul talks about should be motivation to share Him - His righteousness is free and available to all (everyone);

The point of equality - v. 22 says - “unto all and upon all them that believe...” everyone has access;

The reason of equality - v. 22 and 23 - “there is no difference, for all have sinned…” everyone is guilty;

The only hope we have must come from outside of ourselves.

Atonement

Now we look at the most import fact - Justification came through Jesus’ death;

His death was by grace, it was not deserved but was given freely by God;

We cannot earn this grace through anything of ourselves only through Him;

The Book of Romans Atonement (Verses 24, 25a)

Man must be justified freely, as far as his part is concerned, because he really has nothing to offer: “In my hand no price I bring.” But it was not “free” from God’s side, or Christ’s: “Simply to thy cross I cling.”

Jesus’ death brought redemption - meaning to pay price to bring liberty to a slave;

We owed a sin debt to God that was beyond our reach;

Jesus took our guilt and received God’s wrath on our behalf;

The Book of Romans Atonement (Verses 24, 25a)

Someone has said that justification is by the death of Christ, in so far as its basis is concerned; that justification is by the grace of God, in so far as its cause is concerned; and that justification is by man’s faith, in so far as its application is concerned.

This gift of righteousness had to match God’s character and nature;

Prior to the cross it appeared that God let sin go unpunished and unatoned - he was accused of not living up to His side;

However Christ through His death cleared that up as He took on the wrath of God;

Christ made your righteousness possible;

God cannot allow sin to go unpunished - His holiness had to be meet;

Also God would not be just if He had not provided away for our debt to be paid;

The Book of Romans Establishing Heaven’s Holiness (Verses 25b, 26)

By substituting himself in our place, Christ bore God’s infinite wrath in our place and thus fully satisfied the requirements of divine justice (holiness).

Therefore is both just and justifier.