Sola Fide!

Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck defined the saving grace of God as “his voluntary, unrestrained, unmerited favor toward guilty sinners, granting them justification and life instead of the penalty of death, which they deserved” (see Bavinck, The Doctrine of God, 208).

Louis Berkhof defined it as “the free bestowal of kindness on one who has no claim to it” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 71).

J.I. Packer put it this way: “The grace of God is love freely shown towards guilty sinners, contrary to their merit and indeed in defiance of their demerit. It is God showing goodness to persons who deserve only severity and who had no reason to expect anything but severity” (see Packer, Knowing God, 120).

Sam Storms calls saving grace “ the free and unmerited operation of God’s person and presence that initiates the spiritual life of God’s people.”

As we step back into Romans after a month and a half away, and we step back into particularly Romans 3, we find Paul clearly defining the grace of God. Paul has made an argument in the first 3 chapters of Romans that man, no matter his background, is sinful and that we all are due the righteous punishment of God for our sins.

As he closes out the 3rd chapter, he brings these first chapters to their logical end by proclaiming the truth of God’s salvation on the cross of Christ.

Romans 3:23–25 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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.

In this passage, we find Paul noting that God’s salvation, the propitiation, the atoning for sin is received by faith.

True Saving Grace is sufficient and is given to those who by faith believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is, as Paul notes by faith alone. But why by faith alone?

Salvation is by Faith Alone so that God's Righteousness might be revealed (v. 21-26)

God's righteousness is revealed to us by God's gracious forgiving of sins. Thought the law illuminates the righteousness of God, it is the grace of God through "faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" reveals the depth of God's righteousness. God's righteousness is seen in two ways:

God's righteous punishment of sinner for their sins (v. 5-20)

God righteously judges the sins of all of us for we have all sinned and fall short of God's glory)

God's gracious forgiveness and propitiation of sin by Jesus on the cross that is received by FAITH. (v. 21-26)

God righteously in his "divine forbearance" passes over former sins.

The full depth of God's righteousness can only be seen upon the backdrop of the cross.

Forgiveness of sins is by faith alone. It is completely the work of God. Only God can assuage the wrath of God. Only God can make right ruined sinners. Because we have all sinned, we are all guilty before God, but God's gracious love is clearly seen in his forgiveness of sins so that we might see him as "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ."

In punishing sins God shows himself to be just.

In forgiving sins God shows himself to be the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Legally, we owe a debt we cannot pay, but God has paid that debt.

Salvation is by Faith alone so that our boasting is excluded (v. 27-28)

The whole purpose of the universe. The whole reason that the earth revolves around the sun, the sun revolves around a super-massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the reason the universe exists is to bring glory to God.

And at the heart of our salvation is not the boasting of our goodness, or worth, but God's grace.

Our salvation is about God's love for us, and the faith, given to us by God, that leads to our salvation.

Philippians 1:29 ESV

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

John 6:29 (ESV)

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Notice, God’s work in our lives is that we would believe in him whom he sent. Our saving faith, is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Paul is making the argument that we are saved by faith, not our abilities to keep the law, but in the free gift of almighty God.

We cannot boast in our salvation, but we are called to have faith. We must believe in Christ.

Nick Beatzig notes:

“Jesus kept the legal conditions of the covenant of grace for His people, He does not keep the evangelical conditions for them. Jesus does not believe for me. Jesus did trust in His Father throughout His earthly ministry (Isa. 8:18; Heb. 2:13) as the last Adam and true Israelite. However, Christ’s faith is not imputed to us. His righteousness (i.e., His law-keeping status) is imputed to those who believe in Him.”

Today, if you are here and are not saved you are called to believe on Christ Jesus, to put your faith in him. Have you done this? If not, would you right now repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in him?

Salvation is by Faith Alone for All Peoples (v. 29-31)

Finally, salvation is by faith alone to all who believe. No longer is faith tied to our background or our history, it is not limited by race, or family , or creed. Salvation is available to every tribe, every nation, and every tongue.

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There is no sin so great that God’s grace cannot cover.

Whatever you’ve done.

Whoever you are.

Wherever you’ve been, God’s mercy is more.

It reminds me of the lyrics of the new hymn we sing as a church: His Mercy is More:

What love could remember no wrongs we have done Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What patience would wait as we constantly roam What Father, so tender, is calling us home He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What riches of kindness He lavished on us His blood was the payment, His life was the cost We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Today, for us, GOd’s mercy is more.