Romans part 10

Romans 3:21-31.

Last week, we read how the law helps us recognize our own unrighteousness

tonight, Paul moves to the the understanding of righteousness through faith

vs. 21

The New International Version Chapter 3

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

As I stated already, the text last week shows that the law helps us recognize our own unrighteousness.

Paul is clear here in the statement that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

This means all

And this means on the onset, we have a problem

since we fall short of God’s glory, we have no way, ourselves, to reach God.

However, praise be to God that through faith in His son Jesus Christ we can see him

This is where righteousness comes from.

So what have we learned then?

We lead ourselves to unrighteousness

The law leads us to recognizing that unrighteousness

Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to righteousness

The Cross Justifies us through redemption.

That redemption of us who are disobedient came in the form of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

vs 25

The New International Version Chapter 3

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, m through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

The cross is our atoning sacrifice

through it, we can find forgiveness thanks to the blood of Jesus.

Forgiveness comes at a cost, this is why it is so difficult for us to forgive at times

most of the time, the cost is not something that is on the surface.

Sometimes the cost is minor and sometimes the cost is great

the blood of Jesus is the cost of forgiveness for our sins

He, therefore, deserves the glory for our salvation

Jesus came to demonstrate righteousness, not to show us how to earn our way to heaven.

Heaven is a wonderful thing to look forward to, however, it is not the reason to turn to Christ and have faith in Him

He is the reason

therefore there is no boasting for us as it is not us who have made righteousness possible

vs. 28

The New International Version Chapter 3

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Again, if you hear, see or are around any teaching that uses only verse 28, then leave, turn it off or run away, because they are using snibbits of text out of context to push their own agenda

God is the God of the Jews and the Gentile

God justifies because of Christs sacrifice through our faith in Him

And this DOES NOT remove the law

Through all of this, the law is upheld!

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus and we understand His grace

we do the right things. Not out of duty to the law, but out of gratefulness to God

When we are fully in line with him, we cannot help but worship Him, Give to Him, love him

love others selflessly

Grace is not a free pass to sin whenever and however

Grace is a gift of God’s goodness

pray