Romans 3:19-26

Intro

I. Intro

a. Story about Crashing bike into a car at family camp (Stop after the assessment of the damages)

b. Relate that to us

i. We have damaged God’s world; the price is way too big for us to repay. How do we fix that?

ii. Is there any hope for us to repay the debt to God?

iii. How does faith play into this salvation from the punishment for our sin?

c. Passage – Romans 3:19-26

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

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.

i. According to one of my professors, “This is the HEART of the Entire Bible”

ii. When we say the Gospel. This is what we mean.

II. No One Can Earn Salvation (vv. 19-20)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

a. This is Unique to Christianity

i. Every other religion earns salvation

1. Buddhism/Hinduism – Karma

2. Islam – Good outweighs bad

3. Certain kinds of Catholic Churches teach that you have to earn your way to heaven by paying for Good

4. Even the popular opinion is that good people go to heaven - In a 2016 survey, 52% of Americans said that their good works earn their way into heaven

ii. The Bible makes a different claim – “by the works of the Law, no flesh will be justified in His sight.”

b. What does it mean to be justified?

i. Justification is the idea of being made right with God

1. It’s as if you were acquitted from crimes in a courtroom

2. Being Justified, means you have been placed into right relationship with God

ii. The Jews thought that if they followed the law perfectly, they would stay in the right relationship with God and God would call them perfect or “righteous”

iii. Problem – If you read the rest of Romans 1-3, Paul makes it very clear that everyone has broken the law. So, no one can earn their way into heaven.

c. So, what is the law good for?

i. “through the Law comes the knowledge of sin”

1. The Law tells us what is right from wrong

a. The Old Testament contains 613 laws to follow

i. These represent God’s standard for perfect living

ii. They cannot be perfectly followed

b. New Covenant – Love everyone

i. You can’t tell me you’ve done that perfectly

2. The Law cannot make us perfect – the shows us how wrong we are

3. Imagine you’ve broken a local law

a. Can you just try to convince the judge how you’re a good person, so this doesn’t count? Is that justice?

b. You can’t just convince God that you’re a good person so breaking his law shouldn’t matter

4. This is one of the most freeing truths in Scripture. It takes of the burden of trying to be perfect. We can be honest with ourselves about our failures.

5. It’s also a serious truths in Scripture

ii. God is Just

1. Psalm 37:9 NIV – “For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

a. The thing is everyone loves justice when thinking about other people, but if justice is true, and God will destroy the wicked, what happens to us?

2. The law shows us that we are wicked. We have all sinned. We have all damaged God’s perfect world. And God has to pour out punishment.

3. So is there any hope for us?

iii. STORY – Car was Damaged, and the owners rightfully demanded payment

III. God Freely Offers Salvation (vv. 21-24)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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,

a. God has offered us salvation from his just punishment

i. “Apart from the Law”

1. Because we cannot keep the law

2. But somehow God still remains Just, and He shows His righteousness

ii. The crazy part – this was the plan the entire time. Salvation has always come by faith rather than trying to follow the law

1. Paul demonstrates this in Romans 4 an 5 by talking about Abraham and David

iii. What does all of this mean?

1. God has offered a way to restore the relationship that does require us to be perfect. How?

2. Jesus was perfect.

a. Have you ever wondered why it’s such a big deal that Jesus never sinned (besides the fact that he’s the only person to do that?)

b. It’s by his Righteousness that we are restored to God

b. His Righteousness is offered as a GIFT!!!!!

i. We have to accept the gift

c. Problem – How can a God who is just, ignore sin?

IV. God Righteously Offers Salvation (vv. 25-26)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

a. Jesus paid the punishment

i. “Someone has to go to jail” – Justice has to be served

ii. So Jesus willingly paid the price for us

iii. “Propitiation” – Satisfaction

1. CAR STORY – Found out it cost almost $2500 to fix, but my grandparents paid it

2. STORY – Kid in Honduras

iv. How can a just God freely offer forgiveness and a restored relationship?

1. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ

V. Conclusion – What does this mean for me??

a. Have you ever heard the word “Gospel?” It literally means “Good News”

i. This is the “Good News” – Summed up in Ephesians 2:1, 4-6, 8

1. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ and raised us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one can boast.”

2. Who is the “US?” – Believers

b. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN???

i. You don’t have to earn it. You can rejoice in grace

ii. No one is better or worse than anyone else. We are all sinners in need of a savior.

iii. What do we do? We accept the gift by following Christ