Righteousness Exclusively Found Through Faith in Jesus!
Romans three 21 to three 31
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
We ended last week with this verse talking about the witness of the Law and Prophets. They witness Jesus the Messiah is coming, hear Him! Righteousness could not be derived from the law of Moses or from the prophets but they point to One coming. Jesus is the One where righteousness comes apart from the law. Righteousness is being made right with God through faith in Christ! I jump a head to the next verse.
Romans 3:22 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,
Remember the three people groups, the wicked, those directly under law, and those morally good people without the knowledge of the law? There is no difference they have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. No matter our background where we come from or where we think we might be going, righteousness that comes from God is exclusively found through faith in Jesus Christ.
Churches that preach the source for righteousness is not through faith in Jesus Christ are false churches! They may think they are rich and have much; however if the robes of righteousness have never been donned there is a lukewarm church where Jesus is on the outside knocking to come in! Jesus said if any man will open the door He will come and sup with him. One thing brings righteousness to a sinner and that is the obedience of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is not the object of your faith you are trusting in the wrong thing to save you.
Romans 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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, 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.
John the beloved wrote that Jesus came full of grace and truth! Here Paul is writing of the divine influence (grace) that justifies freely. What does it mean to be justified in Sunday School we used to teach justified = just-as-if we-had-not-sin. Do we long for Justice to prevail? Yes, to the justification found in the righteousness of God! That is mankind’s only hope! Justified freely by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Many men do many things seeking to be justified; however, to be justified in God sight is to put faith in the propitiation of the blood of Jesus. Jesus is our propitiation. Jesus appeased the Holy God when He poured out his own soul as our sin offering.
God’s wrath was poured out upon Jesus for the sin of the world! God demonstrated His righteousness by justifying us at Jesus Christ expense. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself while Jesus was on the cross. God is just and He is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. There is an exclusiveness to this truth and there is no other way to find justification.
Consider the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus. Even under the law when the law breaker came they examined the sacrifice being offered for sin; the guilt of the law breaker was obvious. Examine the Lamb of God! Consider His once and for all sacrifice of Himself. Through one Man’s obedience many are made righteous; Jesus Christ is the One obedient Man!
Romans 3:27 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.
There is the law of Moses and of course it’s purpose is to expose sin. Under the law a man is justified by the deeds of the law; however, there is the law of faith! The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death! A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law! The purpose of the law of faith is to bring us to the abundant life.
One difference between the law of Moses and the law of faith, under the law the unclean touching the holy made the holy thing unclean clean; under the law of faith when the holy touches the unclean the unclean becomes holy. Jesus life demonstrated this very truth. The woman with the issue of blood was unclean according to the law; however when she touched the clean (Jesus) in faith she was cleansed! When Jesus touched the leprous man he was healed! Jesus the clean one touched the unclean and He was made well! Under the law any one touching the leprous was immediately consider unclean. All have sinned and fallen short but when the clean touches the unclean with the law of faith the unclean is made holy. According to God when one puts their faith in Jesus you are born in true righteousness and holiness. The conclusion of the matter is a man can be justified apart from the works of the law and it is through faith in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:29 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.
Rather Jew or Gentile, wicked or good, one can only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah. The law by itself could not ever offer life to the one practicing the law. Faith brings an establishing of the law because the purpose of the law is fulfilled when we conclude all are sinners! However let us never forget once the law has shown us our need for Jesus Christ, if we have placed our faith in Jesus, there is no longer a need for our tutor. It has properly fulfilled its purpose.
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Thank God for the law and the purpose for the law. Thank God for the law of faith! For we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. After faith has come, we are no longer under the tutor.
Anyone preaching you are sons of God by any other way have departed from the true gospel. Justified by faith in Jesus Christ is the exclusive way and there is no other way.
More to come…
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