Romans 3:21-31

1. Intro.
1. everything written in Romans, up to this point, has been dark and gloomy (all men are sinners)
2. the darkest & gloomiest section is Romans 3:9-20
3. "but now" –a contrast is being made between what man is & something wonderful done by God - 21
2. how righteousness is provided - 3:21-22
1. Paul had already shown that we all lacked righteousness, so how do we get it?
2. "of God"
1. this righteousness is not an attribute of God
2. this righteousness is not the changed character of man
3. this righteousness is the gift that God gave to man
3. "without the law"
1. "without" – absolutely apart from
2. it is not a legal righteousness (something earned from keeping the law)
3. God’s gift of righteousness has nothing to do with any law
4. "being witnessed by the law"
1. the sacrificial system was a constant reminder to man of his lack of righteousness
2. the sacrificial system pointed to the cross of Christ, the final sacrifice for sin
5. witnessed by "the prophets" - Isaiah 53
6. "by faith of Jesus Christ"
1. not enough to have faith in God
2. this faith must be in Christ alone (plus nothing, minus nothing)
7. "that believe"
1. to entrust ones spiritual well being to Christ
2. faith & belief are the channels through which God’s gift of righteousness comes to man
3. why righteousness is needed - 3:22-23
1. "there is no difference"
1. everyone is guilty before God
2. all the people in prison are there because they broke the law
3. righteousness is given without partiality
2. "all have sinned"
1. past tense
2. failed to meet the standard set forth by the law
3. "come short of the glory of God"
1. present tense
2. continually coming short
3. we presently fail to measure up to the sinless nature of Christ
4. one day we shall be like Him - I Jn. 3:2
4. how righteousness is given to us - 3:24
1. "being justified"
1. something God does & not man
2. an act, not a process
3. to pronounce and treat as righteous
4. not just forgiven, but as if we had never sinned
2. "freely"
1. without any prior conditions being met
2. without a cause
3. we had nothing to do with it
3. "by his grace"
1. getting something we do not deserve
2. we do not deserve salvation, we enjoy it
4. "through the redemption that is in Christ"
1. "redemption" – freedom by the payment of a price
2. salvation is free to us, but it cost God a great price
5. God’s righteousness - 3:25-26
1. God has set forth Christ to be a "propitiation"
1. the means by which an offended party is appeased
2. a reason for not executing judgment that is due
3. God sent Christ to show that He did not tolerate sin- "to declare his righteousness"
4. God could have declared His righteousness by judging sin on the spot
2. God made Christ a propitiation so that He could:
1. be holy & righteous
2. judge sin
3. accept sinners
6. some final remark concerning this great salvation - 3:27-31
1. where is boasting? - 3:27-28
1. no boaster in heaven & there should be none on earth
2. Jesus done it all
2. is He the same God to the Jews and to the Gentiles? - 3:29-30
1. same God to all
2. justifies all by faith
3. is the law made void by faith? - 3:31
1. Jesus satisfied the holy demands of the law
2. salvation by grace is the only way that validates the law
3. all other religions, which are based on works, make void the law
1. nobody can keep the law
2. they lower the standards of God’s law in order to keep it
7. conclusion
1. have you receive salvation God’s way
2. do you realize your need of salvation (lack of righteousness & guilt before God)
3. are you destroying the law of God by trying to work your way to heaven
4. will you establish the law by putting your faith in Jesus Christ