Righteousness through Faith
Romans 3:1–31
INTRODUCTION
• In Romans chapter one Paul told us of The Promise of God, which leads to salvation.
• Paul also outlined, in chapters one and two, the Common Bond of Sin that both the Jews and Gentiles shared.
• In chapter three Paul starts to shed light on The Promise of God.
• Paul will show us how God intends to keep his Promise of Salvation.
MAIN BODY
I. Here Paul addresses concerns of the Jews. Romans 3:1–8
A. “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew?” 3:1
1. The question of the place and value of the Israelites was a valid question.
2. What about Abraham and the Promise God made to him?
3. Why had God seen fit to keep his children together and separated from the rest of the world if they were no better off. After all Paul has just stated that both Jews and Gentiles alike were lost.
B. Paul answers them in forceful terms.
1. Romans 3:2 “2Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.”
2. At the very least the Jews were responsible for keeping alive the word of God.
C. God is faithful to His Promises even when His people are not.
1. “So what if we are lost as you say, God has promised to bless us, if he doesn’t then doesn’t that make God a liar?”
2. Paul’s answer is not very kind. He, kindly put says they misunderstand.
3. More plainly Paul says, “God is always true to his word and every man a liar.”
II. No one is Righteous before God. Romans 3:9–20
A. So, if there was an advantage to being a Jew then that must make us better.
1. Paul says, “not in the least.” I have already shown you as much.
2. But, just so you don’t miss it here it is again. Listen to what your own prophets say. Romans 3:10–18
B. The Law itself testified to what Paul was saying therefore it was definitely speaking to the Jews because the law speaks “to those who are under the law.” Romans 3:19
1. Now it is time for everyone to stop questioning the gospel.
2. It has been proven through Christ and testified to by the law.
3. The whole world is held accountable to God.
C. Through the law no one will be declared righteous.
D. The Purpose of the law was so we would know what sin is. Romans 3:20
III. Righteousness Through Faith Romans 3:21–31
A. So far in Romans we know three things:
1. All Men regardless of race are Sinners condemned before God.
2. God is just in His condemnation.
3. God has promised salvation and He will be faithful to his promise.
B. Now Paul gets on with explaining how God will keep His Promise.
C. It would be a righteousness from God apart from any law.
1. It couldn’t be from law because, as Paul just stated, no one can be declared righteous by observing the law.
2. James 2:10 “10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
D. This righteousness would come through faith in Christ to all who believe.
1. Not just faith, Faith in Jesus Christ.
2. James 2:19 “19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
3. John 14:15 15“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
E. Just as All are condemned as sinners by law, all can be justified.
1. This is the free gift of Grace!
2. This is offered because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
F. No one has an opportunity to brag about their righteousness.
1. Our righteousness doesn’t come from anything we have done to earn it or merit it.
2. Our righteousness comes through faith “apart from observing the law.”
3. Christ fulfilled the law, something we could not do.
4. As a result our righteousness comes from Christ not from the law.
ILLUSTRATION
One Sunday evening after the traditional two songs, a prayer, and two more songs, the preacher went up to the pulpit and instead of delivering a sermon, he introduced a guest minister who was visiting that evening. In his introduction, the preacher told the church that this man was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to speak to the church and share a thought with them. With that an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
“A father, his son, and a friend of his were sailing off of the Pacific Coast,” he began, “When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.”
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in what he had to say. The aged minister continued with his story, “Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: which boy to throw the other end of the life line? He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. In a moment of extreme agony the father cried out, “I love you son!” as he threw out the lifeline to his son’s friend.
By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the blackness of the night. His body was never recovered.” By this time the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth. “The father,” he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into eternity without Jesus. Therefore he sacrificed his son to save his son’s friend.”
With that the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The preacher again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.
“That was a nice story,” they politely said, “But I don’t think it was realistic for the father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.” “Well, you’ve got a point there,” the old man said as he looked down at his tattered and worn bible. A big smile then appeared upon his face and once again he looked up at the boys and said, “It may not be realistic, but I’m standing today to tell you that the story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his only son for me. You see . . . I was the father and your Preacher was my son’s friend.”
