Romans
Chapter 3:21-31
Memory
verses for this week: Gal
3:28 There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Introduction:
Last week, in the
first part of chapter 3, Paul asked several questions and answered
them all showing how that all men are sinners and must face the
judgement of God.
I.
The Righteousness of God Apart from the Law
Rom
3:21 But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets;
Many
today seek to find righteousness by following the law (or
commandments of God), but there is no righteousness by the law.
Gal
3:21 Is the law then
against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law
given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have
been by the law.
Gal
3:22 But the scripture
hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus
Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal
3:23 But before faith
came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed.
Gal
3:24 Wherefore the law
was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.
Gal
3:11 But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The
just shall live by faith.
The
truth is that righteousness comes apart from the law, and this
perfect and pure salvation comes apart from the law.
This was witnessed to us by both the law itself and the
prophets. The
offering of bulls and goats pointed to God’s perfect sacrifice,
Jesus Christ. But
those offerings could never take away sin.
Heb
9:12 Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once
into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb
9:13 For if the blood
of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb
9:14 How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God?
Acts
10:43 To him give all
the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in
him shall receive remission of sins.
Rom
3:22 Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
The
scriptures teach that our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ, and
is not dependent upon human merit or attainment.
If is by faith that we obtain
our
‘righteousness.’
Titus
3:5 Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Note
that there is no difference in the Jew or the Gentile when it comes
to being guilty of sin.
1.
All
are depraved.
Eph
2:1 And you hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Eph
2:2 Wherein in time
past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience:
Eph
2:3 Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2.
All
are sinners
Rom
3:23 For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3.
All
are guilty
Rom
3:19 Now we know that
what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the
law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God.
4.
All
are sons of Adam
1
Cor 15:22 For as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
5.
All
are mortal
Acts
17:31 Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the
dead.
6.
All
must meet God
Heb
9:27 And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
7.
All
need a Savior
Luke
19:10 For the Son of
man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
8.
All
must spend eternity somewhere
Mat
25:46 And these shall
go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal.
Rom
3:23 For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
When
you visit people and discuss Jesus Christ, some do not realize that
they have sinned against the Heavenly Father.
But this verse teaches that all have sinned.
Sin is the transgression of the law and all unrighteousness
is sin.
1
John 3:4 Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law
.
1
John 5:17 All
unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
II.
Justified by Grace
Rom 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus:
To be justified, we must be declared righteous.
This is the sentence of the judge (God) in favor of the
prisoner. (sinner) It
is important to realize that we are not justified because we become
righteous in our heart and walk perfectly in this life.
God justifies us, and then he enables the justified to walk
in righteousness. We
are justified freely meaning without price.
The only way we will ever become justified is to accept
Christ as our Savior. It
is not done by the works of the law.
Redemption comes when we are bought back by Christ.
The price paid was Christ’s life and blood.
1 Pet 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
1 Pet 1:20
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1 Pet 1:21
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the
dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1 Pet 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye
love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Pet 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever.
Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God;
God sent Christ to be our propitiation… our atoning
sacrifice. Propitiation
is the act of appeasing God and bringing reconciliation.
When a sinner believes in Christ as his personal Savior,
reconciliation is made between the offended and the offending
sinner. Christ paid for
all sins from the time of Adam through the death of Christ.
And his blood pays for our future sins also.
One sacrifice, for all time.
All of the sins of the Old Testament saints were put on
Christ’s account. He
paid for them on Calvary. They
looked forward into time knowing God would send Christ, we look back
knowing He has already come and died for us.
All saved come through Jesus Christ.
Rom 3:26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he
might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
We see that God is the Just One, and it is He who justifies
all who believe in Christ.
Rom 3:27
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of
works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
Rom 3:29
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the
Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
When God justifies the sinner, it removes all boasting from
us. It is not us that
did the justifying, but the Holy and Righteous God.
In verse 29, Paul declares that man is justified by faith in
Christ without the deeds of the law.
Much of Christendom teaches today that faith in Christ plus
deeds of the law are what justifies us and brings salvation.
This is contrary to the Word of God.
III.
God is God of Both the Jew and Gentile
Rom 3:30
Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by
faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Rom 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea,
we establish the law.
Since God is the God of both the Jew and the Gentile,
it means we are all saved exactly alike.
(all by faith in Christ.)
Justification by faith honors the law.
The law is our schoolmaster showing us how we are sinners
before a Holy and Righteous God.
It is like a mirror reflecting the dirt on our face.
The mirror cannot cleanse our face, just as the law cannot
cleanse our sins. The
sinner establishes the law in its right use and by confessing his
guilt, he acknowledges that is he justified.
Christ established the law by enduring its penalty of death.
Gal 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Mat 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.
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Prov 4:18
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Practice
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