Romans 3:21-30

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

“the righteousness of God is revealed (being) from faith to (in order to produce) faith” [1:17]

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

A.“the wrath of God is revealed…” [1:18-19]B. all men are “without excuse” [1:20-32]C. “Therefore YOU are inexcusable” [2:1-11]D. Doers, not hearers will be justified [2:12-16]E. “…the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” [2:17-24]F. “he is a Jew who is one inwardly” [2:25-29]G. “What advantage…has the Jew…?” [3:1-8]

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20]

H. “There is none righteous…not one” [3:9-20]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

A.“righteousness of God is revealed…” [3:21-26]

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

III. ALL are justified by faith [3:21 –

4:25]

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]

As already seen in 1:17-18, the righteousness of God is revealed because the wrath of God has been revealed [cp. carefully 3:20-21]

“righteousness” is from the same Greek root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]“righteousness” is from the same Greek

root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view His righteousness is now revealed “apart from law”[v. 21; cp. “revealed from faith”; 1:17] Since “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (no righteousness!)”, justification is now revealed to be by other means: faith

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

Bad news is followed by good news; those who are guilty and condemned by law can be justified by faith and forgiven [cp. Acts 13:38-39]

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]“righteousness” is from the same Greek

root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view His righteousness is now revealed “apart from law”[v. 21; cp. “revealed from faith”; 1:17]

Jews’ advantage in having “the oracles” [3:2]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

Paul already cited Hab 2:4 in Rom 1:17; Hab. understood that “the just shall live by his faith”

His righteousness is “witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”; shouldn’t be news to Jews

Paul will argue next that Abraham (as the law witnesses) proves justification is by faith [ch 4]

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]“righteousness” is from the same Greek

root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view His righteousness is now revealed “apart from law”[v. 21; cp. “revealed from faith” – 1:17]

cp. Jer 50:20; Jesus is the means of a pardon

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

All have become guilty by law [3:20, 23]; now “to all…who believe” God offers pardon [3:22]

His righteousness is “witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”; shouldn’t be news to JewsHis righteousness is “through faith in Jesus Christ”[v. 22; not by being innocent in the law]

This is “righteousness” and “justification”;

God pardons, forgives the wrong, and declares

even the guilty one to be just [not ‘innocent’]

by faith

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]“righteousness” is from the same Greek

root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view His righteousness is now revealed “apart from law”[v. 21; cp. “revealed from faith” – 1:17]

God justifies not based on merit [law]; is a gift

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

The gift: accepting Christ’s blood as substitute

His righteousness is “witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”; shouldn’t be news to JewsHis righteousness is “through faith in Jesus Christ”[v. 22; not by being innocent in the law]His righteousness is “by His grace” [v. 24]

FAITHis OUR PART:

We must believeon Christ in order to

become justified

GRACEis HIS PART:

He “set forth” Christ’s blood as a propitiation

(a substitute He will accept); if not for this

gift, no salvation

cp.Eph 2:8;

Mk 16:16

“the righteousness of God” [3:21-26]“righteousness” is from the same Greek

root as “justified” [3:20, 24]; God’s “justice” is in view His righteousness is now revealed “apart from law” [v. 21; cp. “revealed from faith” – 1:17]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

He is “just and the justifier” of those with faith

His righteousness is “witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”; shouldn’t be news to JewsHis righteousness is “through faith in Jesus Christ”[v. 22; not by being innocent in the law]His righteousness is “by His grace” [v. 24]He “demonstrates His righteousness” [3:25-26]

He is JUST:The price was paidfor all those sins He “overlooked” [3:25]; paid in Christ’s blood[Heb 9:22; Lev 17:11]

He is JUSTIFIER:justification by faith explains how He was able to forgive David

[cp. 4:5-8] and how He now forgives even us!

“to demonstrate His

righteousness”

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

A.“righteousness of God is revealed…” [3:21-26]B. The consequences of this doctrine [3:27-31]:

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

III. ALL are justified by faith [3:21 –

4:25]

The natural consequences [3:27-31]

“by what law?”: a law of works tends rather to promote boasting [Phil 3:9; Eph 2:9; Rom 10]

“Boasting” is “excluded”; merit is out [3:27-28]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

a “law of [justification by] faith” tends rather to promote reliance on God; man recognizes his own helplessness and admits being a sinner[see Luke 18:9-14; Mark 2:16-17; self vs. God]

The natural consequences [3:27-31]

If salvation (justification) were by Jewish Law, Gentiles would be excluded [cp. Eph 2:11-12]

“Boasting” is “excluded”; merit is out [3:27-28]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

However, one and the same God will justify both Jew and Gentile by faith [rather than by law], and will establish Himself as the one God the Jews always taught He is [cp. Deut. 6:4; Dan. 6:20; Josh. 2:11; etc.]

God is manifest as God over all men [3:29-30]

The natural consequences [3:27-31]

It is the law that exacts shedding of blood to pay the price for sin! [Lev 17:11; etc.]

“Boasting” is “excluded”; merit is out [3:27-28]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

God is not like the unjust Jews who “void the law” [cp. Pharisees, Mt 15:1-6; Is 5:23]; He upholds law and carries it to its full end

God is manifest as God over all men [3:29-30]The [purpose of] law is established [3:31]

Law has been useful for both Gentile and Jew in pointing out sin [cp. 2:12-15; 3:19]

The natural consequences [3:27-31]“Boasting” is “excluded”; merit is out

[3:27-28]

ROMANS

3:21–

4:25

“justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law”

God is manifest as God over all men [3:29-30]The [purpose of] law is established [3:31]

Next study: these 3 consequences observed in the example of Abraham, proving that God’s plan all along was justification by way of faith

HOWEVER…“…the gospel of Christ…is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith…”

Have your deeds brought youonly the knowledge of sin?

You need the gospel offer of a pardon:“righteousness (justification)…from

faith”!

Won’t you believe and OBEY today?

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”[Rm 3:23]“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” [Rom 3:10, 20; 6:23]