Title: “Justification By Faith” Script: Romans 3:21-26
Type: Series/Expository Where: GNBC 2-28-21
Intro: Thomas Chalmers was Scotland’s greatest 19th cent Churchman. He was having trouble explaining faith to a woman. Somewhat frustrated, he finally left her by exiting through her backyard. He came to a little bridge over a river. When he came to the bridge, he looked at it, touched one side of it, but then jumped back because he was reluctant to put his full weight on it. The woman watched him, thinking his behavior strange. But Chalmers continued his strange way of approaching the bridge, then jumping back. Finally the woman shouted from her back porch: “Go ahead. Lean your all on the bridge.” Chalmers then shouted back, “And you, ma’am, should lean your all on the Lord Jesus Christ!” That is what faith does—it leans on the Savior. The believer throws all his weight on Christ, trusting Him fully for salvation and forgiveness of sin.
Prop: Examining Rom. 3:21-26 we’ll realize 3 Important Aspects of the Gospel.
BG: 1. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones said that these verses were the heart of the entire letter. 2. Dr. Leon Morris said that this was the MOST IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH ever written! 3. Incredibly important theology
Prop: Let’s Exam. Rom.3:21-26 so as to realize 3 Important Aspects of the Gospel.
I. The Gospel is Revealed Apart from the Law. v.21
A. The Gospel is Revealed Apart from Keeping the Law. v. 21a
1. It isn’t manifest by “Law Keeping”.
a. “apart from the Law” – Paul begins by saying that the saving righteousness of God is obtained by all people through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works of the Law. Thus, anyone who is saved is saved by faith in Christ alone, not by their “good deeds”.
b. This verse is so important to our proper understanding of God’s salvation. Illust: Calvin said it “Was the hinge on which all else turned.” Luther said: “The true Church will affirm these verses.” Illust:
2. It is not received by Law Keeping. V. 21b
a. “the righteousness of God has been manifested” – this is in the perfect tense. It refers to the historical death and res. of Christ and the ongoing consequences of that history changing event. Great events in history change people. The Res. certainly did.
b. Illust: Augustine said: “What the Law of Works commands with threatening, the Law of Faith accomplishes through faith. The law was given that we might seek after grace. Grace was given in order that we might fulfill the Law.” (Luther, p.77) Incredible statement! We usually have it 180’ reversed!
B. The Gospel is Recorded in the OT v. 21c.
1. The Gospel was pictured in the Law. v. 21c
a. The righteousness of God “now” revealed is that to which the Law and the Prophets bear witness. There is then a clear relationship between the righteousness of God and the Law. Precisely what the relationship is between the righteousness of God now revealed and the Law must be carefully determined and defined.
b. Keeping the Law cannot justify men or reveal the righteousness of God. While the Law defined righteousness and declared that it would come, the Law did not produce this righteousness. The Law’s function is something like the role of the Olympic judges. The judges recognize the best performance and announce the winner, but the winning performance is achieved apart from the judges. The judges cannot perform that which they praise; they can only identify that which is praiseworthy. The judges can take no credit for the excellence of the performer.
2. The Gospel was proclaimed by the Prophets.
a. OT prophet Habakkuk 2:4 “But the righteous man will live by faith”
b. Illust: Both Abraham before the Law and David, after the Law, were declared righteous on the basis of their faith and not their works. Now think about this, Abraham was the patriarch of the Hebrew people, yet he was also a prophet. David was the greatest king of the Hebrew people, yet he too was a prophet. Later in Romans (4:3) the Apostle will quote Gen. 15:6 which says: “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Abraham was not justified by works, and therefore had nothing to boast of in God’s sight. He was justified by faith. His righteousness was not real, but imputed. “it was counted unto him;” in Romans 4:9, “faith was reckoned to Abraham;” in Romans 4:22, “it was imputed unto him;” in Galatians 3:6, “it was accounted to him;” in James 2:23, “it was imputed to him.” Illust: All sorts of shows today dealing with “Forensics”. Now “forensics” is defined today as “the use of scientific knowledge or methods in solving crime.” But in previous generations it meant: “Suitable evidence for a court of law.” Faith in Christ is distinctly a forensic act. The righteousness attributed to Abraham is not an actual righteousness that he created, but something else that is considered and treated as if it were equivalent to such righteousness. It is so treated by God acting as the judge of men.
C. Applic: God’s righteousness was not being revealed for the first time. His righteousness is evident in everything He does. God’s righteousness is evident in His giving men over to their sin, as well as in His wrath toward sin ( 1:18). But now, with appearance of Jesus Christ, God’s righteousness is revealed in yet another way. It is revealed in Jesus Christ and in His work of redemption. So how is that redemption secured and received?
II. The Gospel is Received by Faith. Vv.22-23
A. The Gospel is Received by Faith. V. 22
1. Saving Faith must be in Jesus Christ alone.
a. Paul is saying here that the saving righteousness of God has become a reality thru Jesus Christ and not thru Mosaic Law. Thus, faith is the exclusive instrument by which we receive salvation. It affects the mind, the will, and the emotions.
b. In our arrogant, carnal minds, even if we agree that we are sinners, our desire is to justify ourselves with our prayers, our fasting, our confessions. Illust: To so many in the Church today, “Lent” the season of the Christian calendar that precedes Easter, is a time when people associate “giving up” certain things for 40 days so as to improve one’s spiritual standing before the Lord. NONSENSE! If you equate skipping a few bars of chocolate or eating fish on Fridays or fasting from social media for a month with the salvation of your soul, then you really don’t understand how desperate your spiritual condition is. (Sadly far too many Christians feel their soul was in good enough condition that a spiritualized Teletubby was all needed to save them when in fact it would’ve taken a spiritualized Capt. John Miller (Saving Private Ryan.)
2. Saving Faith is the Requirement for all people who will come to salvation.
a. Illust: I remember as a kid the first time I ever went over the Mackinac Bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s Lower and Upper Pen. The bridge is an engineering marvel being over 550’ tall, 155’ of clearance and over 26k’ long! Although the bridge and the view were impressive alone, what stands out in my five year old’s memory is it was the first time in my life I realized my father could be scared of something. As about to go over got very quiet. My brother and I: “Look, there’s an Iron Ore ship going under us! Look how far down it is! Wind was howling. Jeff: “Just think if car fell off the….” “Dad: “Shut up! Can’t you see I am trying to drive!” Dad was scared of heights. One chink in his armor. To my brother and mom and me going over the bridge was a scenic ride. To my father, it was a faith experience!
b. Now just as the Mackinac Bridge linked the LP & UP, v. 22 serves as a bridge connecting the “righteousness of God” w/ “faith in Jesus Christ.”
B. This Requirement is for All. v.23
1. This is Required of All Because All have Offended God with Sin.
a. Man’s universal condition is sin. We all have that in common. Mankind wants to segregate ourselves into various categories of distinction and difference. Opportunity for pride and arrogance. A way of inflicting supposed superiority of one person or persons over another. I will give you a great equalizing statement: “All have sinned!” Illust: “GK Chesterton was once asked to write piece for the London Times entitled: “What’s Wrong with the World.” His article was exactly two words long: “I am.”
b. There is no place for boasting before God. Illust: Braggarts and boasting. I have to admit, I am a bit of a Connor McGregor fan. First, because he’s Irish. Second, braggart who can usually back it up. Of course, Dustin Poirier taught him the Biblical truth of “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov.16:18)
c. I Cor. 1:29 declares: “so that no one may boast before him.” Rom. 4:2-3 “If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
2. It is because Everyone Fails to Meet God’s Standard. V.23b
a. “all fall short” – It’s interesting that one of the words for sin in the NT is the Greek word hamartia, which originally meant “to miss the mark.” It was first used to describe archers whose arrows missed the target. Although “missing the mark” does not exhaust the meaning of sin in Scripture, it offers an important perspective on transgression. Sin is not only crossing the line and breaking God’s law (i.e. stealing, etc.), but it is also the failure to do all that the Lord requires. No matter how obedient we have been to God, we always lack something. We ultimately “miss the mark”. The harlot, the liar, the thief, murderer all fall short…and so do you. And so do I.
b. As
C. Applic: The Gospel is received by faith. Have you received the finished work of Christ by faith?
III. The Gospel is Realized at the Cross. Vv. 24-26
A. The Gospel is Reserved by Grace vv.24-25a
1. Believers are justified as a gift. V.24a
a. Justification is, as I said earlier, a legal, forensic term, belonging to the law courts. Opposite is condemnation. Both are pronouncements of a judge. 1. Justified. 2. Condemned. Because of the cross of Christ it is instantaneous when the repentant sinner believes on Christ.
b. Don’t think that just because the gift is free to you and me that it was free to God. Illust: A gift you get and give to another, if stolen, is not a gift. It is transferring stolen property. Friend, God did not redeem us in such a way that did not require atonement to be made. Nay! Christ paid the full price of redemption through his blood so the gift of redemption could be received. Illust: When son Joseph got engaged, he gave Cassidy my mother’s wedding ring. Couldn’t be more pleased that she got it. True, there were some minor repairs and sizing cost that had to be paid. The price of the ring was paid decades before by my faither. Cassidy received that “gift” from Joseph. But years before, my father had paid the price for that diamond. Friend, that’s how you can receive by faith in 2021AD God’s gift of salvation, because Christ already paid the price of the gift years ago.
2. Believers are Justified by His grace. V.24b
a. Justification is forgiveness. Some limit this to a simple pardon. No, no! It goes beyond a simple pardon. Pardon is negative, It is the remission of the penalty or debt. Justification is also positive, the bestowal of a righteous status on the individual. It is the sinner’s reinstatement in favor and fellowship with God.
b. Illust: Sir Marcus Loane has written: “The voice that spells forgiveness will say: “You may go; you have been let off the penalty your sin deserves.” But the verdict which means acceptance (i.e. justification), will say: “You may come, you are welcome to all my love and presence.” Charles Hodge makes the distinction more clear: “Pardon and Justification are essentially distinct. The one is the remission of punishment, the other is a declaration that no ground for the infliction of punishment exists.” (Stott, Romans, p.110)
3. Believers are Justified through Xst’s Redemption and His Blood. V.24-25a . Notice that word “propitiation”. Technical term. Theological term. Gk – hilasterion- means “atoning sacrifice”. Was used for the name of the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. Friend, in the OT, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood on the “Mercy Seat” which was…THE LID OF THE ARK, thus making atonement for the nation. So how is Christ God’s “hilasterion”? We are all sinners in need of His righteousness. In Xst’s suffering He became the promised perfect propitiation for mankind. Now God forgives us thru that work and it is received by us in faith! PTL! Illust: “The Blood Will Never Lose it’s Power” Illust – Interstate Car Batteries very good. Been told some of best batteries made. I have had them fail. Lost its power. The Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant in Palo provided countless kilowatts of power since opened in 1975 but this summer’s Derecho hastened its closure. No more power being produced by its reactors. The blood that Jesus shed for me Way back on Calvary The blood that gives me strength From day to day It will never lose its power It reaches to the highest mountain It flows to the lowest valley The blood that gives me strength From day to day It will never lose its power” (Andre Crouch)
B. The Gospel is Realized at the Cross. vv.25-26
1. The Cross Demonstrates God’s Great Patience with Sinners.
a. Read v. 25 - God had passed over many of the sins of men. He did not immediately execute the death sentence, though men deserved to die. Had he done so, all opportunity for guilty sinners to be saved would have been lost forever. Thus, God withheld His full and final punishment in order that some might be saved (see Romans 9:22-23). His passing over sin is seen in various times and places, the Day of Atonement, etc.
b. Illust: Now personalize it my friend. God didn’t strike you dead when you deserved it. Think of how long you ran. Maybe you are still running today. He didn’t NOT notice your and my sin… Rather, in His beautiful FOREBEARNACE He gave us time. Don’t ignore that precious grace Christ is extending to you today my friend.
2. In the Cross Christ was both Just and Justifier.
a. V.26 - Verse 25 deals with the question of God’s justice in justifying sinners before the cross. Verse 26 focuses on His justice in justifying sinners after the cross: “for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
b. “On the cross, God’s justice was satisfied so that His mercy could flow to every sinner who trusts in Jesus. The propitiation that God set forth in Jesus’ blood means that “He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Paul uses the name Jesus alone to emphasize His identification with us as a man. Because He was fully human, His death may be applied to the sins of humans. Because He is the eternal Son of God, His death has infinite merit. Jesus’ death vindicates God against any charge of injustice or unrighteousness.” (Steven Cole)
C. Applic: William Cowper was an 18th century English poet who suffered greatly from depression. His mother died when he was six and he was sent to a boarding school where the older boys mercilessly bullied and beat him. In his late twenties, he tried to commit suicide and was finally admitted to an insane asylum. Cowper struggled with his guilt and often cried out, “My sin! My sin! Oh, for some fountain open for my cleansing!” The main doctor there was a committed Christian, who gently guided Cowper to the only fountain that can wash away our sin and guilt.One day Cowper opened a Bible and saw Romans 3:24-25: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to manifest his righteousness.” Cowper said, “Immediately I received strength to believe, and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone on me. I saw the sufficiency of the atonement he had made, my pardon in his blood, and the fullness and completeness of his justification. In a moment I believed and received the gospel.” ( Boice, Romans [Baker], pp. 371-372.
