Untitled Sermon

Romans 3:1-8

Last week we took a sobering look at the reality that some of us have been living in a lie. We lived in this lie for the simple fact that this lie starts out with an element of truth. God calls us to Himself; we are made new creatures and he will never hold our sinful past against us. So, certain is God that He will never use your sinful past against you that he says, he will throw them as far as the east is from the west. Which after all if we start out on the east coast and head west to find the west, we just keep going in circles because we live on a spherical planet after all.

Of the fact that God saves the lost and throws their sins away so far out of the equation it is as if they have never happened. The problem with the phrase, the “sea of forgetfulness” is several layers deep but not least of which is the fact that it was never heard of until it rose in the middle of the early occult movement of the 7th Day Adventist, which gave the world the likes of people such as David Koresh, the occult leader responsible for the Waco massacre. Even more appalling than the fact that it comes from an occult and infiltrated the New Testament Church is what it does to the verse itself.

So, what is it that makes adding the words “of forgetfulness” to

Micah 7:19

so awful?

Well, every other verse that talks in terms of God choosing to not hold our sins against us was speaking of those that were not saved and then come to Christ. While Micah was written before the New Covenant, it is speaking to God’s people, and therefore makes it easier for heretics to take it out of context for the soul purpose of saying that we as Christian’s can do whatever we want, because, after all, we can just ask for forgiveness. And what’s more convenient, we need not be ashamed for our actions because, God just somehow magically doesn’t remember them anymore.

While the thought maybe poetic, Scripture in context tells us something entirely different about the believer and judgement day.

2 Corinthians 5:10

says;

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

This passage is clearly talking about the believer and not the unsaved coming to Christ. By knowing what the New Testament teaches on this is paramount to how we discern and interpret not just Romans but the entirety of Scripture.

Psalm 51:4

the psalmist says of God’s righteous judgement;

Psalm 51:4 ESV

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

So, the truth is that when we get saved God takes our sins and throws them as far as the east is from the west, away from his judgement.

And it is also true that as believers when we sin, we should know we will also be judged. And although we will not be condemned, we will be judged all the same.

This matters very much, because it helps us to properly discern whether we are living properly as God’s Children. Both as individuals looking at our own lives, and as brothers and sisters looking at one another, not to condemn but to judge what is right in the eyes of God.

If we are to believe, that there is no judgement for the saint because we say little prayers so God just sort of throws them out. Then we may be led to think that you cannot judge another believer based upon their actions, and therefore there is no need for Church discipline. If that is your stance by the way, then there is no need for a great majority of the New Testament.

However, if we believe the Word of God to be true as it is written, in context, with no added word gimmicks of our own, then we should be humbled before God knowing that we will all be judged.

And therefore, the doctrines of Church discipline are not a waste of space, nor are they meant to condemn, only correct in accordance with the Word of God.

Perhaps even more important is that fact that if we are to understand the doctrines of Salvation, and its sub-doctrines such as justification, and righteousness rightly in Scripture, then we had better have a solid understanding of what our judgement is going to look like.

So, if you would, and are able, Please Stand For the Reading of God’s word together this morning.

Romans 3:1–8 ESV

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Let Us Pray

Romans Chapter 3 shows us that;

#1 God Always Upholds His Righteousness! v.(1-8)

#2 God is the Only One Righteous! (v.9-20)

#3 Our Righteousness is Found in our Faith in Jesus Christ (v.21-31)

So,

God’s righteousness always stands. Despite none of us having any righteousness to stand on of our own. Our only hope of being found Righteous is not found in anything that we can do, but in our faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul points out the very real fact that God maintaining His righteousness, and Him keeping His word, has nothing to do whether we decide to obey Him or not. Instead, whether we are blessed to be a part of His righteous will, has to do with our own obedience.

When we obey, we find ourselves in the center of His will, and thus peace, joy, and contentment, earmark our character during those times.

When we disobey, we find ourselves outside the will of God, and while we may obtain temporary emotions such as pleasure, and happiness. Our joy fades, and our peace we find to be little more than fleeting.

And so, thank God that His righteousness is never wavering, for if it were none of us would be here this morning. None of us would have ever stood a chance. Not just because our worldly-minded hearts would have caused Him to change His mind about us long ago either. Paul reminds the church in Rome, and all of us here today, that nearly the entire nation of Israel fell away at different points and yet God kept His divine word, thus proving that His word and His Righteousness are never in question.

Paul asks the Jewish Christians of his day; “what advantage has the Jew?” The answer of course is every advantage. They had the Law. They had the prophets telling them about the coming messiah. They had God’s Word written down revealing God’s nature to them. And yet, despite all this working to their advantage Paul ask; “What if some were unfaithful?” After everything given to them, does their faithlessness scratch out the faithfulness of God? “By no means!” Says Paul.

The Jews acknowledged that they had the advantage, but they thought it made them better than the Gentile’s. Then Paul speaks to the kind of worldly logic that would cause one to think in such a way. The thought would go something like this; according to Theologian Robert Jamieson back in the 1800’s “It would appear, then, that the more faithless we are, so much the more illustrious will the fidelity of God appear; and in that case, for Him to take vengeance on us for our unfaithfulness would be (to speak as men profanely do) unrighteousness in God.”

So, First Paul ask if the Jew has an advantage, and the answer of course was Yes.

Another way of asking the Second rhetorical question is “So, (pause) God likes you better (slow down confused) because there is more to forgive?” Followed by; “by no means!”

And now starting in verse 9.

“9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, Then Paul goes to systematically start quoting the Psalmist from several different references in verse 10.

Saying; “as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

11 no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave;

they use their tongues to deceive.”

“The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

In short, none of us are righteous!

So,

#1 God Always Upholds His Righteousness! v.(1-8)

God’s righteousness always stands. Despite none of us having any righteousness to stand on of our own.

#2 God is the Only One Righteous! (v.9-20)

Our only hope of being found Righteous is not found in anything that we can do, but in our faith in Jesus Christ.

Listen. I do not care what your background is in. I know that some of you were raised, as I was, in protestant denominations. Several of you were raised Catholic, and a few of you grew up Baptist. While others never had an encounter with God until well into your adulthood, and still, I do not care. Listen to me here!

There is no amount of begging, pleading, praying, good will or works, that can make you worthy. There is no magic formula. All that is required of you is genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

Verses 19 and 20 read:

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

So, this second point is simple. Only God is Righteous. As simple as it seems, still so many of us love to pat ourselves on the back by thinking of how much better we are than brother or sister so and so. When we are doing this; are we not taking faith in a righteousness that we do not possess?

So, if none of us are righteous, then how is that any of us can be made righteous before God?

Starting in verse 21:

Romans 3:21-26 speaks out to us about--

--The Righteousness of God Through Faith

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.

So, the Law was given and tells us what true righteousness looks like, but because none of us could come even close to being righteous in the sight of God, we have more to this passage. “But now” says Paul. “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.” In what way? Through the person of Jesus Christ and His obedient sacrifice on the cross!

With these 3 points

#1 God Always Upholds His Righteousness! v.(1-8)

#2 God is the Only One Righteous! (v.9-20)

#3 Our Righteousness is Found in our Faith in Jesus Christ (v.21-31)

we have sort of a summary of Romans chapter 3.

And in just three short sentences we have a sort of thesis for the summary of this chapter.

“God’s righteousness always stands. Despite none of us having any righteousness to stand on of our own. Our only hope of being found Righteous is not found in anything that we can do, but in our faith in Jesus Christ.”

This is a very basic understanding of Romans 3. But I want us to focus on the sort of crux of the matter Paul is covering in the chapter. That is of course the theology of Justification by Faith.

This is one of those things after all that separates Christianity from all other religions. Their false gods say here’s the bar meet it, and the real God say’s you can never meet that bar, so I am bringing it down to you.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS BELIEVE. All you need to do is have faith in my son, Jesus Christ! That is a theology that no one else can lay claim too, and therefore is worth us spending a little time on it this morning.

Voddie Baucham says that; “Every other religion in the world follows this very familiar pattern.”

Step 1: Have a religious experience.

Step 2: Try to do more good things than bad things.

Step 3: Hope for the best when you die.

That is essentially the pattern of the world’s religions. Now you may think that he is oversimplifying it, but I would say, “only slightly.”

Why? Because it does not matter what their religious experience is like, they all believe you must have an experience into their religion. Whether be it prayers, chants, ceremonies, there is this experience into their religion.

After that what do they all have to do? Try to do more good things than bad things. And what? Hope for the best when they die!

Sadly, for many Christians that is actually their theology as well.

I am Christian! Why? Well because I had an initiation. I was baptized, I said this little prayer and asked Jesus into my heart. What ever the case maybe for them, they think this initiation is what makes them a “Christian.”

Well how do you know you are going to heaven when you die? Well… because I try to do more good things than bad things, and you know I am hoping for the best.

That one may have several of us feeling uncomfortable. Uncomfortable however, is okay. In fact, if you have been thinking this way, and feel uncomfortable now that it has been brought up, that is probably a good thing. Why? Because that is a wrong theology of God’s word, and if you are born again, you will be wanting to rethink any wrong assumptions of our faith.

Right?

While it is unfortunate if you have been living our lives in this way, it does not mean that you are not saved. Merely that you are confusing religion, with salvation. You are confusing ordinances with redemption, and you are certainly confused about what happened when you were saved, if you were saved.

You see, therefore, not adding anything to the text is vitally important. We will mess it up every time, regardless of our good intentions.

So, if this is how you have been living your Christian life, then you have not been living your Christian life to the fullness that God intended. Because you have no real certainty in your salvation, and you have nothing but speculative religious ideologies.

My friends, we can know if we are saved. Because our salvation is not about meeting a bar of good deeds over bad. Our acceptance as children of God is not based upon some sort of religious experience.

We are justified by grace (v.24) through faith in Christ Jesus we receive the righteousness of God (v.22). You are found righteous not because you received some sort of gold star for good deeds. Therefore, we are found righteous, and are therefore justified, by the faith we have in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Being saved is not an experience it is a gift, given by the grace of God.

Romans 3:22-25 says;

“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.”

So, Salvation not an experience. Justification, not an initiation. Receiving the Righteousness of God, again, not an experience, not an initiation. We are justified by God’s grace as a gift through the redemption that is found only in Christ Jesus.

So, what is this righteousness of God?

The Righteousness of God is imparted upon us when are brought to faith. We are not infused with it. We are not righteous because we do righteous things. Nor do we do righteous things because we are righteous. Our righteousness is tainted at best, and in any case not soul saving.

Look, I do my best to stick to the text as closely as possible. And so, I will be the first to admit that we Christians say some confusing things.

Like, “We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone.” Well, if it requires both of those things are they alone?

Well yes. Because it is by grace alone and not by works that we are brought to faith. According to Ephesians 2:8-10

And through that faith, we are saved. As Romans 3 has taught us today.

Why is it, that faith, is what saves? Because the faith that brought you to Christ is from God and not yourself. Let us look at Ephesians 2:8-10

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves (that is this faith), it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So, it is by God’s grace that we are saved because - we are saved - through faith. And not our faith, this is not something that makes since to us, so we just do it. Nor are you saved brother or sister because you repeated a little prayer asking Jesus into your heart in vbs as kid because your friends were all doing it. Instead, God knows His children, and He knows when to adopt them. He is working on you before you come to Him, because He knows which of us are going to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ and furthermore, He knows when were going to do it.

The only thing for you to be in that moment is obedient. God knows that our logic is limited to the mental and physical, and so, the faith that Paul is talking about here in Romans 3 that we are saved by, (pause) is the same faith that Paul is speaking of in Ephesians 2:8-10 that comes only as a gift from God.

And so, as the praise team makes their way back to the platform; Is this salvation by grace, through faith alone foreign to you? Is this a term that you have struggled with understanding for years? Maybe you are saved, and the simple fact that you did not completely understand this doctrine kept you from sharing your faith. This morning, before the Praise Team begins to softly lead us in song, I want us to all pray together.

And if it is as if you are hearing the gospel for the first time this morning, then I want, I pray that you surrender your life to Jesus Christ. I would love for you to come forward so that our leaders can pray for and with you. But if you would prefer it then I will be up here. Ray and any of leaders in the Church will be around. Stop us, bring your questions and bring your life understanding that God is not asking you for one day a week. He is asking you for all that you are, and yes, He knows exactly what it is He is getting.

Let us Pray…

Church lets continue to pray, feel free to sing as we worship in song….

If you are a born again believer, and you need to know more about this doctrine of Justification and ultimately salvation, then please get a hold of me this week.