Romans, Part 10 Series

Romans, Part 10

Romans 3:25-31

Introduction

- This morning we saw a challenge issued to men to be willing to serve God totally

- We heard about the need to go and tell, explaining that it because of Rom 3:23

- All have sinned, and there are none righteous who can escape God’s judgment

- It is because of the need for a Savior (Chap 1-3) that Jesus was sent to die

- Because of this great calling we have; because of this responsibility – we must:

-- Stand strong on the Word of the Lord

-- Be willing to show others who Jesus is to us

-- Devote our lives to the cause of Christ; for it is to Him we owe

- When we consider the cost of Christ’s life; can we say that we are 100% faithful?

- When we think of what God has done for us, how does it move us to respond?

- Stand and read Romans 3:25-31 / Pray

Point 1 – God’s Justice is Clear (25- 28)

- APP: When God passed over the sins of humanity it is not because He is no longer concerned with our sin or with the sins that you and I commit daily

- Because of Jesus’ death, two things were abundantly clear about God:

-- 1. God is a God of JUSTICE

-- 2. God justifies – makes right – those who have faith in Christ

- God brings a death sentence upon all because of the sin in our lives

- But, he transfers that sentence of death to His Son, who is without sin

- Jesus became the atonement for the death that you and I deserved (Rom 3:23)

- We must understand that the punishment of Christ was BECAUSE we sinned

- It is not God saying that He is now indifferent to our sin; just the opposite

- Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.”

- God’s understanding of this principle meant that punishment MUST be executed

- No sin is EVER absolved with God unless blood has been shed!

- There must be the shedding of blood for the remission of OUR sin with God

- Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

- Those who imagine in this life have kept God’s Law tend to be very prideful

-- These people tend to stuff their chests out and consider themselves above all

-- Remember in the early part of Chapter 3 we discussed knowledge = pride

- APP: When GRACE is understood, pride falls by the wayside in comparison

- This is the key principle to Christianity and where we must have 100% grasping

- It is through FAITH that we receive, which sets us APART from the Law

- No longer are under the Law of God, but GRACE becomes our life’s leader

- TRANS: So you might ask, “On what assurance do I have this?”

Point 2 – God’s Affirmation (29-31)

- If ever in a conversation with someone who questions how many God’s there are,

Paul writes very clearly (to the Gentiles) that there is only ONE God

- Deut 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

- He is the God of all – not just the Jews – but of the Gentiles as well

- He is the One who spoke creation into existence

- He is the One who has given us life; the very breath in our lungs

- He is the One who gave us dominion over all that He created

- He is the One, who even in OUR depravity, justifies us through His Son’s death

- He is the One who we will answer to and to whom we owe our very lives

- However, the application is simple … we MUST accept Christ’s sacrifice for us

- APP: It begins with this acceptance; it doesn’t END with it!

- But, there is one more important aspect that we must grasp here …

- The matter of faith comes to mind so often that we must keep its perspective right

- Paul asks if the principle of faith then robs the Law of its place in God’s eyes

- The answer is a resounding “NO!”

- Paul says, “Not at all!” (KJV: “God forbid!”)

- Faith puts the Law into its proper place; allows us to see the Law and thank God

- BIG APP: Faith is what allows US to fulfill the obligations of the Law!

-- Remember that the shedding of blood is required to fulfill; Jesus shed blood!