The Only Way

The Only Way to be Right with God
Romans 3:21-31
Bad News … Mankind stands guilty
Romans 1-3 – all have sinned
Gentiles – ch. 1
Jews – ch. 2
All are sinful, guilty, inexcusable, speechless before God – 3:1-20

Our condemnation does not depend on our awareness of our guilt

The Titanic being unaware of the danger did not prevent its destruction
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.
Dilemma for both God and Man
How can we as sinful beings ever be made righteous in the sight of God?
The Answer ….
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Finally…Good News!
Romans 3:21-31
Things look dark, but now the good news!
In 3:21-26 Paul reveals how God has come to our rescue!

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

A Righteousness from God
3:21 But now the righteousness of God … is revealed,
Rom 1:16-17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
A Righteousness from God
From God – what He has done
It is Revealed – made known
Apart from law – in the Gospel
Fulfillment of O.T. scripture
Available through faith
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

A Righteousness Apart from Law
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Yet it was witnessed by the Law and Prophets – the OT foretold Christ and salvation by faith – Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14
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,
A Righteousness through Faith
A specific faith – in Jesus Christ
Available to all who believe regardless of race, culture, social differences
Just as all men are equally condemned, all are equally offered God’s salvation
24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Justified – a legal term
To come before the judge and be acquitted – declared innocent
Redemption
To be bought back from slavery with a ransom price
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
25. 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,
Propitiation
An offering that appeases the wrath of God
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
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.
To Demonstrate His Justice
Vs 25 for the previous sins God had passed over in his forbearance
Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
To Demonstrate His Justice
Vs 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness
A perfect sacrifice that fully paid the debt of our sins
27. 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.