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Being In Right Standings
Contributed by Howard Strickland on Oct 15, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Man, Flesh and Grace! Grace welcomes mankind to come forward and rest in the arms of Jesus Christ. Verse upon verse from the book of Romans.
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Being In Right Standings Text: Romans 3:19-31
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.
Free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favours. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future.
Vs. 19 teaches us that under the law all are guilty! Paul teaches that under the law every mouth might be stopped and the whole world becomes guilty before God!
Vs. 20 Because of the law no flesh can be justified and all will have knowledge of sin!
Even if the Jews had no broken the law they could not be justified by it because the law can only condemn!
Vs. 21 the rightousness of God without the law is being manifested and is witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Col. 2:14-17 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Vs. 22 We can only be in right standings by faith through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Vs. 23 Paul makes a blanket statement: All have sinned!
Vs. 24 One who places their faith in Christ is declared not guilty and is acquilted in the courts of heaven.
Vs. 25 God has set forth, made, appointed and published Jesus to be our sacrifice and covering for sin.
God become gracious to every sinner. I John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Man has to place their faith in Jesus’ atonement. Hebrews 9: 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Vs. 26 God has declared His present love for mankind by giving Jesus Christ!
Vs. 27 There is no boosting from mankind only faith in God! Here are some areas that men have a tendancy to boost. 1.Bargains Proverbs 20: 14, 2. Security Proverbs 27:1 3. Religion Romans 2:17-29 4. Strength 5. Conquest 6. Sins 7. Plans 8. Power, but the only boosting allowed is in Jesus Christ!