#16 HCBC 1-28-07 AM
A Righteousness from God
Romans 3:21-26
Understanding the Bible and its message often means that we must consider some of the great theological words contained in the Bible.
Justification -- Redemption -- Faith -- Substitution -- Obedience -- Grace
But sometimes understanding the Bible and its message means considering some of the smaller words or what we might think of as insignificant words.
As we transition from one major section to another in Paul’s letter to the Romans, we come to two of these smaller words which have great impact!
Some scholars have stated their belief that the paragraph of Scripture that we are looking at this morning is the greatest single statement ever made!
And Paul begins with these two simple words: “But now” 85 times in the NIV
In Romans 6, Paul says that we were slaves to sin, but now we have been set free from sin!
In Romans 7, Paul says that when we were controlled by the sinful nature we bore fruit for
death, but now we serve in the new way of the Spirit!
In Romans 16, Paul speaks of the mystery of the gospel message hidden in ages past, but now
revealed and made known!
These two little words are huge! They proclaim a change in time and a change in circumstances!
It was this way before, but now it is this way!
Before it was the wrath of God, but now it is the grace of God!
Before we were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship, foreigners, without hope and
without God in the world!
But now, in Christ Jesus, we who were far away have been brought near through the blood of
Christ!
The contrast between then and now was a great one for Paul!
The change from a past sad state of affairs to a glorious present state is one that Paul had
experienced!
It occurred on the Damascus road!
Before that event, Paul had been an enemy of Christ and His followers!
But now, he had seen a great light!
And he could say with the blind man of John 9:
One thing I know, I was blind but now I see!
Paul could say to the Philippians: “But what ever was to my profit I now consider loss for the
sake of Christ!
Once there was wrath, but now there is righteousness!
Once there was condemnation, but now justification!
Once there was bondage, but now freedom!
Once there was exclusion, but now participation!
So we can say with John Newton:
“Once I was blind, but now I see!”
“Once I was lost, but now I am found!”
Once we were under the wrath of God, but now we have experienced the grace of God !
I. The Definition: A righteousness from God 21-23
God has provided a righteousness of his own for men and women, boys and girls,
A righteousness we do not possess ourselves!
This is the theme of the entire Bible!
New in its fulfillment – fully prophesied throughout the Old Testament!
“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal
life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”
Paul says here that a righteousness from God has been made known!
Romans 1:16-17
Philippians 3:1-9
In Romans 3:21, Paul affirms the teaching of Jesus, when he says that the Law and the
prophets testify about this righteousness from God!
From the first promise of crushing the evil one in Genesis 3:15;
To God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 to bless all people through him;
To the more specific promise in Genesis 22:18 to bless all nations through
Abraham’s offspring;
In the Psalms:
We have the description of the Lord’s crucifixion – 22
We have the promise of his resurrection – 16:10
We have the description of Jesus as the Good Shepherd – 23
We have the description of his glorious ascension into heaven – 24
Among the prophets, there is no more clear picture of the One who would bring to us
the righteousness from God than Isaiah 53!
Paul says in Romans 3:21 that this righteousness from God has been made known to us apart
from the law!
We have already seen that if it were by the law, no one would be righteousness!
But now, the righteousness of God has been made known and available to us!
Verse 22 tells us that the righteousness is available to all through faith in Jesus Christ!
Verse 23 tells us that every one is in need of this righteousness!
That’s the definition: God’s righteousness made available through faith in Christ to everyone,
Because we all need it!
II. The Source: Freely by his grace 24
This righteousness is by grace!
It is the righteousness of Christ that justifies us – as we respond to the gospel in faith!
This is the greatest news in the world!
It is a tremendous thing that we do not rely on our own righteousness –
because we don’t have any!
It’s all because of His grace! Not by human effort!
James Montgomery Boice:
If salvation is by the gift of God, apart from human doing, then we can be saved now!
If salvation is by the gift of God, apart from human doing, then salvation is certain!
If salvation is by the gift of God, apart from human doing, then human boasting is excluded,
and all the glory in salvation goes to God!
Grace is God’s favor toward us contrary to what we deserve!
Ephesians 2:8-9
The source of this righteousness that we have been given is the heart of God!
Knowing that all we had was Monopoly money, he gave us His currency which is
righteousness!
When we were without one plea, He came in the form of a man to die for us!
It’s all from him – we had nothing of value to offer!
Some will see this as ho-hum!
Some will see this as just another lesson in theology!
I’m convinced that God wants us to see what we’ve got,
so that we will have a greater desire to give it away!
The relationship that we have with God is by His grace, His unmerited favor, not by any
goodness in us?
And so what if the people with whom you share it reject it?
That should not be a problem for us!
We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful!
Our problem is do we understand this message to such an extent that it moves us with a
desire to give it away? Freely! By His grace!
John 1:14-17
Heb 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
This is the great thing that sets true Christianity apart from all other so-called “faiths.”
Every other group that calls itself a church, a religion, or a faith group, requires some
for of effort or work to get right with its so-called god!
Every group that adds some human effort into the mix, has not received the
righteousness from God that comes by faith!
“But, pastor,” you say, “That seems so exclusive! That seems so narrow, so elitist!
OK! But this is not your pastor’s idea! This is the Word of God!
We can lovingly say to anyone,
if what you have is not by faith alone by the grace of God in the sacrificial death
of Jesus Christ, it’s not what you need!
So, the definition of what we need is “a righteousness from God”
and the source of what we need is “the grace of God.”
III. The Basis: The sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ 24-26
It is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in dying for his people, redeeming them from
their sin, that has made this grace on God’s part possible!
Exodus 25:17 God told Moses to “Make an atonement cover…”
This is the great reconciliation work of God,
the divine act of grace whereby God makes oneness with Him
those who were once alienated from him.
This is the propitiation, where Jesus satisfied the wrath of God!
Where Jesus paid the price for sin!
Where Jesus gave his life to give us life!
The great hymn, “And Can It Be” says:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light:
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed thee.
I John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
James Montgomery Boice: page 371-372
So, the definition of what we need is “a righteousness from God”
and the source of what we need is “the grace of God.”
and the basis of this righteousness from God is the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ!
IV. The Means: Through faith 22 & 25
This righteousness that God has graciously provided becomes ours through simple faith!
We see it in verses 22 and 25
22 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe…”
25 “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…”
It means trusting in what Jesus did when he died on the cross!
It means relying on the sacrifice that Jesus made to cover our sin!
Romans 9:30 - 32
It is all by faith, nothing by works!
One of the great pictures of this faith is pointed out by Jesus!
John 3:14-15
In Numbers 21:5-9 we have the account of the Israelites complaining against God again!
Because of their constant complaining, God sent poisonous snakes upon them.
The people repented and begged Moses to beseech God!
God told Moses to make a bronze snake, put it on a pole,
And have the people look to it!
Their faith in doing so took away the snakes!
Our great need is the righteousness that comes from God!
The source of this righteousness is the grace of God!
The basis of this righteousness is the propitiation, or atoning sacrificial death of Jesus Christ!
The means by which we obtain this righteousness from God is faith alone!
How you received this righteousness from God?
If not would you like to?
If you have, is it the most important thing in your life?
Does it give direction to you life and witness?
Are you giving it away?