Prepared to Launch

I have been excited all week as we prepare for our launch of The Church at River Mills on Sunday. I pray that it is an awesome day. But, more importantly, I am prayerful that Christ will be exalted above all else. In that, I know that Jesus Christ is exalted and glorified whenever His Gospel is proclaimed. Therefore, today’s text is a reminder of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His righteousness.

I have been reminded this week that preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the call of the church. Healthy church life begins with a healthy pulpit. Healthy pulpits are those that proclaim Jesus Christ. Redemption and righteousness are only found through faith in Jesus.

As we prepare to launch this Sunday, our goal is to proclaim Christ. It is not to set forth a church with fancy lights or crafty sermons. Our goal is to be faithful in worshiping God and rightly dividing His Word. In this task, we are in need of the Holy Spirit’s work.

Paul was writing to the Roman church. As he writes to them, he explains to them the reality of sin and the salvation that is offered in Jesus Christ. In chapter 3 of Romans, Paul has already outlined the universal nature of sin. From the fall of Adam in the garden, no one is righteous, not one. The only one to come and be righteous has been Jesus Christ. Now, in Romans 3, Paul creates a turning point in verse 21. He now begins to provide the good news of the Gospel.

Look with me at Romans 3:21-26

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

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.

Pray.

Main Idea: God’s righteousness is imputed to those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ in faith.

It has been the case that many churches including church plants have viewed other aspects of ministry as of upmost importance. For instance, stage lighting, style of worship, and appeal of the pastor are seen as vital aspects of ministry. However, in Scripture, we see that the Gospel is of upmost importance. The Gospel is the message of the church. In that, the church must keep her focus upon the Gospel. This means fight against those who distort the saving message of Jesus. Calling out other believers who turn from the gospel they claim to believe. This devotion to the Gospel should cause churches to go to their communities with zeal for the lost. Likewise, the Gospel harkens believers to biblical faithfulness in the face of cultural relativeness.

From this passage, we will identify three truths regarding God’s righteousness in the Gospel before turning to application of the text.

First,

God’s righteousness is imputed to those in Christ Jesus.

Look back with me at Romans 3:21

Romans 3:21 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

After Paul has outlined the vast reality of sin, he know turns to present the glorious truth of the Gospel. We cannot rightly understand the gospel if we do not first rightly understand the gravity of our sin. In Adam, we all sinned against God. This sin against God had cosmic effects. The earth now groans. Likewise, ever person that is born is born with a sin fallen nature. This sin fallen nature inclines man away from God and toward idolatry.

Romans 1:22–23 ESV

22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Man became foolish and began to worship the creation instead of the Creator. We see this even today in the world system that advocates for the worship of man in humanism and secularism. The theories of man are championed such as evolution and theories that seek to deny God. This sin fallen nature inclines the human heart to sin against God. There are consequences for such sinfulness.

Romans 1:28 ESV

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

God gives up sinful humanity to their sinful desires. This is were we are currently. Paul was writing to Romans; however, the culture is very similar to our day. Sinful humanity doing whatever he wants to do with no regard for God’s law.

Please understand also that God’s law is still important. While some disregard the Old Testament, the Old Testament cannot be removed or pushed aside. It is the inerrant, authoritative, Word of God. Therefore, the law is still God’s Word.

As sinful humanity continues to push aside God’s law and disregard His commands, consequences and judgment are certain.

Paul points to this reality in Romans 2. The Jews had the law of God, yet they too were under the sway of sin.

Romans 3:9–10 ESV

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, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

All are sinful before God. We understand the bad news. It is heavy. Every single person is sinful and none is righteous or right before God.

Though man be so sinful, Paul outlines the glorious mercy and grace of God.

Romans 3:21–22 ESV

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:

The Old Testament or the Law and the Prophets bear witness to the righteousness of God. The Law testifies to righteousness of God and brings about the knowledge of sin. The Law of God reveals the sinfulness of man as we see how we have fallen.

Even apart from the law, the righteousness of God is made known through Jesus Christ. While under the Old Covenant, the righteousness of God was made known through the Law. Now, the new covenant has come. Righteousness is made know through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Likewise, this righteousness is to all who believe.

Understand, the righteousness of God is not given to all people. Universalism would advocate that this righteousness is given to all people. However, that is not what Scripture teaches. The righteousness of God is given only to those who believe in Christ the Son. Only those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved or have the righteousness of God imputed to them. Meaning that God no longer sees our sinfulness when we stand before Him. God sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ because of our faith in Him. We are a new creation in Christ. His righteousness has become ours. We are unified with Him.

God’s righteousness is displayed in Jesus’s death.

Paul continues to display the glorious grace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have understood the bad news of our sinfulness, the good news of salvation in Christ alone. Now, we turn our attention to understand the way in which the righteousness of God is put on display.

Notice, that Paul begins with a statement.

There is no distinction:

This is important for the gospel to be understood. Paul has been expounding this truth. The Jews would advocate that they were more righteous because they had the law. Therefore, they deemed themselves as less sinful. However, their possession of the law brought about the call to righteousness and obedience to the law. The law actually provides the standard of judgment.

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

While they possessed this knowledge, it did not merit them salvation or righteousness. In fact, Paul will make the statement that there is no distinction because both Jew and Gentile are sinful before God. All, every single person has sinned against God.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All have fallen short of the glorious standard of God. All of us have transgressed the law of God. Therefore, all are in need of salvation. You have sinned. I have sinned. We all need reconciliation to a holy God. The original creation has been marred by sin and needs recreation.

We can praise God because Paul does not stop at verse 23. He continues on to verse 24.

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Though everyone has fallen short of God’s glory, God’s grace and mercy are on display through Jesus Christ. Paul uses the word justified. Justified means that those who believe on Jesus Christ are declared righteous.

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The Christian is declared righteous. This is not by his own doing. It is by God’s grace as a gift. It is the redemption or the buying back of the sinner. Jesus came to purchase sinners. He paid the redeeming fee to buy sinners out of their slavery to sin and they stand righteous before God because of Jesus.

Notice, we are the ones who sinned against God. Yet, God has provided the salvation.

Romans 3:25 ESV

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.

Justification is found in Jesus. Notice Paul’s phrasing. God put forward. In God divine plan, He determined to put forward His very own Son to die. Likewise, Paul uses the word propitiation.

Propitiation can simple be understood as Jesus in my place. Even more so, propitiation is Jesus bearing the wrath of God on our behalf. Jesus took my place and your place on the cross as God poured out His wrath upon His Son in order that we would be saved from our sin. Jesus was put forward by His Father for His blood to be poured out. And all of this was to display the righteousness of God.

The Holman Christian Bible Commentary explains propitiation so well when it writes:

“Propitiation is a term borrowed from the sacrificial system and the temple. The Greek word hilasterion was used for the cover of the ark of the covenant. Luther translated it as the ‘mercy seat’. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would sprinkle blood over the ark to atone for the nation. By this rite sins were deemed expiated; people became reconciled to God and God’s wrath was averted. But human sins could not literally be atoned for by the death of animals…Thus Jesus came to accomplish what no priest slaying an animal could ever hope to accomplish: full satisfaction of God’s requirements for atonement. God the Father ‘made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ This involves a double imputation. Our sin was imputed to Jesus on the cross, and His righteousness was imputed to us. Justification is not a legal fiction; Christians are made righteous by the imputation of God’s own righteousness in His Son.”

This is the righteousness of God on display. He gave up His Son for us to be made right with Him. The phrase “in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” speaks of God’s mercy in delaying His judgment for sin until all who will repent do repent.

God’s righteousness is displayed in His Son’s death on the cross.

God’s righteousness is given by God alone.

Paul closes this section of Scripture with an affirmation that God alone can impute righteousness and receive the glory.

Romans 3:26 ESV

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.

Paul closes this thought with a reiteration that Jesus being the propitiation for our sin was to display the righteousness of God. Likewise, Paul now states that in this present age or time that God is both just and the justifier. God is just in that He does not leave sin unpunished. Likewise, He is the justifier as He has made the sinner declared just through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus’s finished work on the cross satisfied the wrath of God and saves sinners. God’s righteousness is given by the grace of God alone. He only could make a way for sinners to be saved.

Application

You may ask, what does this have to do with The Church at River Mills launching on Sunday. Well, going back to my opening statements. In an age in which many churches are drifting theologically, The Church at River Mills will be starting with a biblical foundation that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

While a church can have nice things and still be biblical, we must always ensure that we are worshiping with the right heart and seeking to honor God with everything that we have. In launching this Sunday, we are launching with a focus upon biblical worship. We will gather at 10:30AM to pray the Word of God, Sing the Word of God, Read the Word of God, and preach the Word of God. In doing such, The Church at River Mills will set the stage for what our church is to be until Christ returns and that is a church devoted to the Word.

The Word of God contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the saving message. Therefore, through devotion to the Word, The Church at River Mills will be devoted to the Gospel. Devotion to the Word results in the study of Scripture. Orthodoxy always leads to orthopraxy. In other words, right doctrine leads to the right practice of doctrine. We are launching with a devotion to right doctrine which will result in the making of disciples.

As the pastor, I am praying that God would do such a work that only He can receive the glory. He has already shown up in our soft launch or preview services. Now, it is my prayer that we launch a healthy church that remains pure until the return of Jesus Christ. While it will take time, healthy churches are lasting church. Healthy churches are Bible-believing churches that preach the Word. Healthy church take time to formulate and are sustained by their perseverance in the faith. While the culture seeks to infiltrate the church, the healthy church holds firm and does not grow weary in holding to the Word.

Last night, I was reading to my son before bed, and over the past two weeks we have been watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy each night. We had just finished watching the last one, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. God reminded me of an amazing truth. And as Frodo was making the trek up the mountain to get rid of the ring for good, he became so tired from the burden of carrying such a powerful ring that he could go no further. Yet, Frodo was not alone. He had a friend in Sam. Sam picked Frodo up and carried him up the mountain helping Frodo carry the burden of such a strenuous task.

After watching that movie, I read to Oliver our nightly chapter of Little Pilgrims Progress. In there, Christian, the main character, is trying to get to the Celestial City. As he goes down the narrow way, danger lies at every turn. Yet, the king from the Celestial City always sends him help through people or encouragement.

From these two instances, I became overwhelmed at the amazing grace of God. The burden of planting a healthy church is no simple or light task. At times, I have felt alone. Yet, the King, King Jesus always has sent support. I have had friends like Sam to help with ideas, encouragement, and the burden of workload. Likewise, the King has reminded me that He will hold me fast every step of the way. The King, Jesus, will be there with me reminding me of the task at hand and the end goal of reaching the Owens/West Limestone Community with the Gospel. It will not be easy. Danger will lurk in every corner. Yet, Christ will remain faithful at every turn to hold me up and carry my burdens and remind me of His calling on my life.

In your life today, how often are you reminding yourself of the Gospel? It is easy for us to hear the Gospel time and time again. We can get to the point in which we grow cold to the Gospel. If that is you, please be reminded of your previous wretched condition. You were utterly without hope, yet God chose to save you through the sending of His Son on the cross of Calvary. He did not have to, but He chose beforehand to give of His Son.

Maybe this message is new to you this morning. Jesus Christ is the only way in which one can be saved. He lived the life that you and I cannot. He was born both fully man and fully God. Lived a perfect life that we cannot to bear the penalty we could not pay on the cross to satisfy the wrath that we deserve. Then, He rose from the grave after three days with victory in hand. Now, we rejoice in our Savior, Christ the Victor. Will you repent and believe in Him today? If you are already trusting in Jesus, will you be reminded of His grace toward you?