Romans 3:21-31

                                                             Romans 3:21-31

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Paul has systematically condemned all men as sinners who are condemned by God.  The law was given to inform of God’s standard so it might stand as a witness against men.  However, there is great news for all men.  God has a plan for bringing salvation to sinful men without compromising His own righteousness.  This plan is called the Gospel and Paul begins to explain this glorious truth in this passage.

 

THE GOSPEL REVEALS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD: The righteousness of God is revealed by the Gospel because it demonstrates the justice of God in dealing with sin as well as the love of God in providing forgiveness through Christ.  God could not simply ignore sin and forgive all sin apart from death because the just wages of sin is death.  The relationship he established with men throughout the Old Testament was based on their faith in His future provision, but before Christ it was simply by the forbearance of God.  In Christ on the cross, we have a clear demonstration of love, holiness and justice all wrapped into one package.  The Gospel helps us understand God better as well as the seriousness of sin.

 

THE GOSPEL REQUIRES REDEMPTION THROUGH CHRIST: God set Christ forth as the payment of the price of sin.  There was no other way for sin’s price to be paid apart from the incarnation of and death of Jesus.  No man could have paid the price of the sins of the world because every man in a sinner and his death would only satisfy the requirements of his own sin.  However, when the Son of God became a man and lived a sinless life; His death became the satisfaction of the penalty of sin.  

 

THE GOSPEL IS RECEIVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST: Those who are saved from sin have no right to boast about anything because they have not accomplished anything.  All of salvation is accomplished by the merits of Christ.  The only requirement for salvation is faith in Christ.  Those who reject God’s means of salvation in Jesus remain condemned because they insist on earning their own salvation through works or some other man centered religion.  We simply believe in Jesus and what He has accomplished on our behalf.  There is no merit in being a Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, healthy or sick, fast or slow.  We are all saved by faith in Christ and can only be justified because of what He has done, not by what we might do.

 

APPLICATION:  Admire and worship God for His perfect holiness and unequaled love as revealed to us in the Gospel.  Thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His unspeakable sacrifice on our behalf.  Never allow pride to seep into our lives for the things the Lord brings about in our lives through salvation.  All glory belongs to HIM alone.

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