September 24, 2023
Evening Service

Paul is building his case for salvation through faith and not through works.  In each chapter he is setting down the basis for his case and then builds upon that foundation as any good lawyer would do as he argues his case in court.  Last week, he showed that God shows no partiality concerning whether you are Jew or Gentile.  His goal is to own your heart and whether you are Jew/Gentile or circumcised/not, makes no difference to Him.  He sums in up in the last two verses of chapter 2:

Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

            There is no partiality with God.  The nation of Israel is His chosen nation and will always have a special place, but He is seeking those who will worship Him is Spirit and in Truth.  He is after one whose heart belongs to Him regardless of their nationality, ability, or resume.  Paul begins chapter 3 addressing the advantages of being Jewish by asking us questions that we can reason out for ourselves.

 

Rom 3:1-8 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?  (2)  Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.  (3)  For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?  (4)  Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND MAY OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."  (5)  But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)  (6)  Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?  (7)  For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?  (8)  And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come”? —as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

 

Q1: What advantage is it to be of Jewish lineage?

            Much as they are God’s chosen people who He has dealt with through the OT and the beginning of the New.

Q2:  Will the fact that some Jews do not believe diminish the reputation of God?

No way!  God is always true and the problem lies with man who struggles with truth.

Q3:  Since God created us to be in sin, is He unjust then in punishing us for it?

No way! How is the righteousness of God expanded by our unrighteousness?  Many view sin in the wrong manner.  They feel the more the sin, the more God’s grace abounds or that it is God’s job to forgive us so sin is no big deal.  None of these are true or line up with our call to being holy and God is holy.  God does not take sin lightly and can never overlook it. 

            He now continues this thought to bring this point to a head by using a variety of OT scripture and painting a very clear picture of where man stands when it comes to being righteous.

 

 

 

Rom 3:9-20 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.  (10)  As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD.  (12)  THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE."  (13)  "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE PRACTICED DECEIT"; "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; (14)” WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS."  (15)  "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD; (16) DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR WAYS; (17) AND THE WAY OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."  (18)  "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."  (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.

            Paul uses OT scripture as evidence to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful state is unacceptable to God.  No one is righteous.  No understands or seeks God.  All have turned from Him and all that is good.  The words of our mouth are poison practicing deceit, cursing and bitterness.  We are quick to run to evil and do not practice the ways of peace.  We lack the fear and respect for God that He deserves.  No one can be justified in God’s sight because the more we know God, the more we realize we are not like Him and fall short of the perfection required to be declared justified.

 Paul has painted a very dim picture of us and revealed just how unrighteous and unholy we are. Wow, am I glad for how the next sentience starts.  BUT

 

Romans 3:21-24 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,

            Paul uses the huge three letter word here as he has made the case of how terribly unworthy we are before God because of our sin; but now.  Something new has come.  The Law is not the only way to be redeemed.  The Law has now been fulfilled and things have changed for the better.  Where there was no hope, we now have hope.  He explains that righteousness can come apart for the law “through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.”  It is not that we have not sinned, because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (perfection).  We are not justified by our obedience/works/actions but we are justified through faith by “His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  Paul now explains deeper as we continue:

 

Romans 3:25-26 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.

            God is just and cannot simply overlook our sins.  That would violate His character.  There is a price to be paid for our wrong doing.  Paul tells us in chapter 6 that the wages of sin is death (separation from God).  That price must be paid by each of us for our own sin, violation of God’s law.  Our sins separate us from a Holy God.  BUT God sent Jesus to take our place and pay for our sins by His blood.  He purchased our atonement by paying the debt of death we owed with His life.  He took our place upon the cross, becoming our propitiation, to pay the wages of our sin. 

This was God’s plan from the beginning.  He would allow man to realize how unworthy we are and how hopeless it is for us to attempt to “earn” our salvation.  At that point, hopefully, we cry out for help confessing that we need a Savior.  Enter Jesus who faithfully gave His life for the atonement of our sins.  God Himself became man to become the perfect Sacrificial Lamb the takes away the sin of the world.   Salvation comes only from God, with us contributing nothing.  Paul continues to drive his point home.

 

Romans 3:27-31 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.

            No amount of human deeds or perfect obedience to the law is able to make things right between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance.  Good deeds are important, but cannot earn us a right to claim eternal life.  We, by faith, must trust the actions of Jesus upon the cross are enough to atone for our sins.  It is nothing I do for God, but it was what Jesus did for me that saves me.  Why does God do it this way; by faith and not works?

·        Being saved by faith eliminates the pride we would have if we earned our salvation.

·        Faith exalts what God has done, not what we do.

·        Faith is an admission that we are unable to save ourselves and need help; a Savior.

·        Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.

Paul sums this up well in his letter to the Ephesians which includes a scripture we looked at this morning.

 

Eph. 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (10)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

            Our salvation comes solely from our faith and through the grace of God.  It is God’s gift to us.  He created us to come to the point of realization that we are sinners and deserve to die (no hope), hoping then that we would choose to come to Him in our state of helplessness and seek salvation from Him (living hope). 

            If tonight you are tied up in legalism thinking there is so much you have to do to earn your salvation, let it go.  Believe and trust that Jesus has done all that needs to be done and your debt is paid in full.  Let that truth free you to simply give Jesus your heart and follow Him by faith alone.  Works will come, but as a result of your salvation, not in order to get it.

 

Heavenly Father open our eyes and hearts to the wonderful truth that Jesus indeed paid it all and all to Him we owe.  Free us to worship is Spirit and Truth from a heart freed of the burden of fulfilling a check list.