Slides: Righteousness from God

Righteousness from God
Romans 3:21-31

Righteousness from God

²¹ But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

 
Power in Jesus’ blood

There is no difference, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement [propitiation], through faith in his blood.

Justification
God judges in your favor, forgives your sins freely by his grace for Jesus’ sake, and declares you forever righteous.

• Our problem: guilt under law
• God’s solution: righteousness provided
• Result: innocence replaces guilt

Redemption
God pays the price to set you free.

• Our problem: bondage under sin
• God’s solution: ransom paid
• Result: freedom replaces bondage

Propitiation
God accepts the blood of a sacrifice to take punishment and appease his wrath.

• Our problem: terror under wrath
• God’s solution: wrath pacified
• Result: blessing replaces punishment

Power in Jesus’ blood

… justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement [propitiation], through faith in his blood. (Romans 3:24-25)

• Justification: righteousness provided
• Redemption: ransom paid
• Propitiation: wrath pacified

God’s justice displayed

He did this to demonstrate his justice [righteousness], because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished–²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his justice [righteousness] at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Sins committed beforehand

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)

Christ is the mediator of a new covenant… now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)

Blood-bought forgiveness

He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption… Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness… he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:12, 22, 26)

Paying for all sins at once

• Under Old Covenant law, God said, “I will deal with your sins later, but I forgive you now.”
• In the New Covenant, God says, “I have dealt with your sins through Jesus’ blood, and I forgive your sins and will remember them no more.”

Righteousness from God through faith in Christ

²¹ But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)

Can we brag?

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Is God limited to one nation?

²⁹ Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

Does faith destroy law?

³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Righteousness from God

^3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone. To God alone be glory!