Sermon Tone Analysis
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Romans, Part 15 – But Now
8/28/22
After some time away from our study of Romans we make our way back to that glorious
epistle.
For 14 Sundays in the spring, we considered what Paul tells us about the lost
condition of humanity.
We observed how he labors to show that Gentiles are lost and
need a Savior and Jews are lost and need a Savior.
When we left off, the apostle had
removed from us any hope of being rescued from our sin by keeping the law.
That way –
obeying our way into God’s favor is hopeless.
Indeed, he reminds us that such a rescue
was never the purpose of the law.
Instead, it was given to show us our need, by showing
us our guilt.
Remember that when the law was given to Israel on Mt.
Sinai, the very
Scriptures that record these commandments of a holy God also contained instructions for
the sacrifice of animals for Passover and atonement.
God gave the moral law but then he
gives the law of substitution which suggests that God always knew we would fail to keep
his good law.
You will see this as we read again starting at the 19th verse of Romans 3.
Romans 3:19-24 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are
under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become
accountable to God; 20because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His
sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now apart from the Law the
righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the
Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who
believe; for there is no distinction; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
So – finally we are here.
This is what Paul has been leading up to.
This, starting in verse
21, is now the good news portion of the letter.
This is the wondrous part.
And I am thrilled
to be teaching it.
A lifetime ago I was a young man who was a fan of Johnny Carson and
the Tonight Show.
At 11:35 p.m. the band would play, Ed McMahon would come on,
speaking over the music.
He would announce the guests for that night and then he would
say, “And now…here’s Johnny!”
As a basketball fan in the 90s I remember well the
opening of games in Chicago Stadium when Michael Jordan was leading the Bulls to
1
championships.
They had fabulous high-drama music, and the announcer would speak
over the music and say this, “And now, the starting lineup for your Chicago Bulls.”
Oh, the
expectancy!
The build-up.
And here the apostle comes up with his own and now.
Now can
be a critical word.
It announces that the time for something big has come.
That is certainly
the case here – bigger than Carson.
Bigger than Jordan.
We will see what is introduced in
verse 21, but first notice that it is not and now but it is but now.
This is one of those big
buts of Scripture.
They highlight amazing contrasts.
My favorite may be in Ephesians 2
where Paul has said we were dead in trespasses and sins, that we were by nature
children of wrath.
Then in Ephesians 2:4 we get But God.
But God.
Oh yea – 4-5 But God,
being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we
were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.
How glorious is that!
And in Romans 3 we have a but of similar glory.
Not a But God.
This one is a but now.
But
the force and impact is the same.
So is the context because in Romans 3 Paul has shown
us that we were not righteous, not good, not worthy, that we all are in big trouble due to
our rejection of God.
He strips us of any false hope to be found in religion and, just as we
are despairing, he comes out with but now.
Would you say those wonderful words with
me?
But now.
Say it louder – but now!
One more time – BUT NOW!
Okay, enough with the hype – let’s get to the substance here – and there is plenty of it.
I
said that what Paul introduces here is better than Carson or Jordan.
What is it?
It is the
righteousness of God.
Or a righteousness of God.
And Paul is saying that this
righteousness is now revealed — made manifest.
Now where have we heard that before?
Well, go back to Romans 1 where we read of something else being revealed – 1:18a the
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