Romans 3:21-31: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness

The book of Romans Theme: The righteousness of God revealed and applied to sinners

Hymn: My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me and paid the price of all my sin at Calvary. No merit of my own, His anger to suppress. My only hope is found in Jesus’ righteousness. And now, for me, He stands before the Father’s throne. He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

Romans 1: Introduction to the letter and to the gospel of grace for unrighteous sinners; The sinfulness of the Gentiles (The powerful gospel, justification by faith, all Gentiles are sinners)

Romans 2: Principles of God’s judgment of the Jews and the sinfulness of the Jews (God’s judgment is just and righteous, all Jews are sinners, and many are guilty of hypocrisy)

Romans 3: Jewish objections to Paul’s rebuke of their hypocrisy and the revelation of God’s righteousness (All humans are sinners and pervasively depraved [Eph 2:1-5]). So, from Chapter 1b to 3a the sinfulness of human beings is described, Chapter 3b the righteousness of God is described. What a contrast there is between the wickedness of the pagans, the hypocritical secret sins of the Jews and the perfect righteousness of God!

I.                  The righteousness of God is displayed for and applied to human beings vs. 21-26

A.     The righteousness that God provides for people is not connected to the Law vs. 21 (It is inserted in the court transcript, and our criminal record is changed by the work of a clerk, not by us practicing rituals or rule keeping)

B.     The righteousness that God provides has been made known to humans vs. 21

C.     The righteousness that God provides was attested by the Hebrew Bible vs. 21 (It remains a witness to God’s righteousness)

D.     The righteousness that God provides comes through faith in Yeshu’a the Messiah vs. 22

1. Who He is: the God-Man, the eternal Son of God (coeternal)

2. What He did: lived a perfect life and died on a cross in our place

E.      The righteousness that God provides comes to everyone believing vs. 22

1. It comes to Jews and Gentiles without distinction

2. It requires deep trust in the gospel of grace

3. Its focus is on the inner core of both men and women, not the skin

F.      The righteousness that God provides is only for sinners who do not reflect the required glory of God (thus they cannot earn or deserve it on their own [Psa 51:5]) vs. 23

G.     The righteousness that God provides is freely given by the grace of God vs. 24

1. It is a gift that is given to the unworthy and undeserving

2. The act of redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshu’a

H.     The righteousness that God provides comes by the ransom provided and purchased by the death of Jesus the Messiah (redemption [Heb 9:11-15]) vs. 24

I.       The righteousness that God provides required the wrath-bearing sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah by the shedding of His blood (His death) vs. 25

1. The propitiation satisfied the Father’s demands of justice. All sin must be paid for by a person enduring the pains of Hell (by proxy or in person)

2. The benefit of the atonement comes only to those who trust in the death of Jesus alone for deliverance from sin’s punishment

J.       The righteousness that God provides for people displays God’s holy justice in His plan of salvation of sinners vs. 25c-26

1. In this plan of salvation, both the past and present reveal God’s holiness

2. In this plan of salvation, the sacrificial system ransomed only those who looked in faith to the Messiah, who would make a final payment for their sin

3. In this plan of salvation, God is the one who declares sinners righteous

4. In this plan of salvation, God justifies only those who trust in Yeshu’a without considering fulfilled rituals 

II.                The righteousness of God is further explained by Paul’s penetrating questions vs. 27-31

A.     Where is the basis for human boasting? vs. 27-28

1. If salvation were by human legalistic observance of rules or by any kind of law keeping, then the successful law keeper could boast before God

2. But there is no basis for human boasting in self-righteousness

3. Since salvation is by faith in the work of Jesus and by a transferred alien and outside righteousness, human boasting has no basis

4. If boasting is only justified by the principle of faith, humans can only rightly boast in the object of faith (Jesus) since righteousness is a gift from God

5. The principle is to trust in the crucified Messiah [2 Thes 3:2]

6. People are declared righteous by God based on their trusting in the person and work of the perfectly righteous God-Man Yeshu’a

B.     Is God the God of the Jews only? Is not God the God of the Gentiles also? vs. 29-30

1. God created every person, not just the Jews; thus, He is the God of all human beings regardless of race or ritual

2. God is also the God of the Gentiles, of all races, whether or not we like it

3. God declares both the circumcised and uncircumcised as righteous by faith alone

4. God is one, and the Godhead is unified, all three persons together

C.     Is Paul doing away with God’s moral law by preaching salvation by faith? vs. 31

1. No, Paul is lawfully using the moral law; don’t even think or say that he is abolishing the law of God, God forbid! No way!

2. No, Paul rather is establishing the moral law by his teaching on God’s righteousness that is reflected in the moral law

3. No, Paul is restoring the moral law to its place of dominance over the temporary and time-bound ceremonial law that the Messiah fulfilled 

Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord. (1 Cor 1:26-31 HCSB)

Yahweh proclaims: the educated should not boast of their knowledge, nor warriors boast of their might, nor the rich boast of their wealth. No, those who boast should boast in this: that they understand and know Me. I am Yahweh who acts with kindness, justice, and righteousness in the world, and I delight in these things, declares Yahweh. (Jer 9:23-24)

Romans 3:1-20: Jewish Objections to Paul’s Exposure of their Hypocrisy and Secret Sin

 

Paul Anticipates How a Pharisee Would Question Chapters 1-2

What does a person need to be right with God? Only one thing is acceptable, and that is God’s righteousness. Our self-righteousness is as medical waste surgical rags. Paul has shown in Chapter 1 that the pagan person’s open immorality, idolatry, materialism, hedonism, and sinful attitudes against God in their family line and their suppression of their consciences resulted in His wrath coming in three stages. 1) He removed the barriers and allowed them to sink lower into immorality and denial of the truth 2) He removed the barriers and allowed them to go into sexual perversion 3) He removed the barriers and allowed them to develop a depraved and defective mind, sold out to naturalism and open wickedness. Meanwhile, the religious man, illustrated by a Jewish Pharisee, did not participate in this outward defiance of God’s character, rule, and commands. The religious man was given to the hypocrisy of practicing these sins in private less frequently. So, with greater truth and warning from God, the Jewish person added hypocrisy to immorality, idolatry, love of possessions and theft. Having God’s truth worked to increase the punishment on those who refused to live by faith and walk in loyal obedience to Yahweh. They had wrongly exalted the ceremonial law and oral tradition over the moral law. So, now that Paul has declared all Gentiles are sinners and all Jews are sinners, he anticipates an argument from the Jews, which further reveals their hypocrisy. The Gentiles admitted they were violating their consciences and living wickedly. Thus, Paul asks the questions a Jewish Pharisee (legalist) would ask and then answers them.

I.                  Anticipated question # 1 found in vs. 1-2

A.    {Q} Paul, if a person is not a real Jew by circumcision or by birth, then what advantage is there in being Jewish and practicing Judaism?

B.    {A} There is much advantage in being born Jewish and following the law because the Jews were entrusted with Special Revelation (Hebrew Bible) and they had authoritative directives of what God likes and dislikes and His nature. The Jews had the very words of God written down and read to them weekly

II.               Anticipated question # 2 found in vs. 3-4

A.    {Q} Does the unbelief of a group of Jews reverse all of God’s promises and make Him unfaithful to all those covenant promises?

B.    {A} Do not say or even think this! This is blasphemy. God Forbid! No way! This question attacks the character of God, His sovereignty, His unchangeableness, His faithfulness, and His holiness, which includes keeping His word. No, the Old Testament teaches God cannot lie, but all men are liars (Num 23:19; Deut 32:4; 1 Sam 15:29; Psa 116:11, 51:4, 100:5). Men are deceivers and liars, but God is always true to His Word. God’s holy faithfulness and His divine purposes cannot be overturned by the unfaithfulness of man. When David’s sins were revealed, God remained holy and faithful when His servant was not. The Messiah still came through David’s genealogy.

III.             Anticipated question # 3 found in vs. 5-6

A.    {Q} If our unrighteousness, by contrast, clearly displays God’s righteousness, is not God unjust for punishing us in His wrath for contributing to His glory? (Paul’s Disclaimer: This is the natural man talking; I would never say this.)

B.    {A} Do not say or even think this! This is blasphemy. God Forbid! No way! You so-called Jewish man, wake up. You just created a god who would be incapable of judging even the most wicked human or angel. That is not the God of the Bible, who will judge all sin and sinners (Gen 18:25).

IV.            Anticipated question # 4 found in vs. 7-8

A.    {Q} Why am I being judged as a sinner if through my hypocritical life and mouth God’s truth is amplified to His glory? We are only being deceptive and doing evil simply so God’s glory can be enhanced and increased when people view the difference between us and God, like Paul teaches.

B.    {A} I know some are falsely accusing us of teaching this blasphemous and evil error, but anyone who thinks and talks like this will receive his/her just condemnation from God. This type of reasoning will result in severe punishment.

V.               Anticipated question # 5 found in vs. 9-18

A.    {Q} Are we not as Jews less guilty of sin than the Gentiles?

B.    {A} Not in any way. You are guiltier because you had more sources of truth.

1.      We have already stated the charge: both Jews and Greeks are all under the power of sin. (A review of chapters 1 & 2)

2.      Your Hebrew Scriptures reveal the depravity of both the Jewish and Gentile person’s heart. Job 14:4, 15:14, 40:4; Psa 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1,3, 53:1-3, 130:3, 140:3, 143:2; Prov 1:16, 6:18, 20:9; Eccl 7:20; 2 Chr 6:36; Isa 31:1, 59:7-8 (also see Matt 12:34)

C.    What is the spiritual condition of every human since the rebellion and fall into sin?

1. There is not one righteous person on the earth, NONE (vs. 10-12)

2. There is no one who understands his unrighteous condition unaided

3. No human on their own seeks for God, NONE (Eph 4:18-19)

4. All have turned away from God—the source of life and truth

5. Man has joined others in sin to be utterly corrupt, rotten to the core

6. There is not one human who does good on their own according to God’s   

 righteous standard, not even one out of billions of humans. For a good  

 work to be acceptable to God, it must be done by one in a covenant

 relationship with Him, done in faith and love to the glory of God.

D.    What is Paul’s evidence of human radical, pervasive, and total depravity? vs. 13-18

1.The words humans speak vs. 13-14

2.The actions humans do (man’s history of bloodshed) vs. 15-17

3.The worship humans offer (a lack of love, loyalty, and worship of the true creator God) vs. 18

VI.            Can sinful humans undo their sin record by starting to keep God’s law? No! vs. 19-20

A.    The law shows people they are accountable, without excuse and guilty before God

B.    The law reveals to us that many more things than we thought are sinful and wrong

C.    No human can be declared righteous before God simply by starting to follow the law’s instructions. The law cannot save now and never could. It reveals, not delivers

D.    Roman’s theme: The righteousness of God revealed and applied to sinners

Doctrines of Grace Acrostic from Roger Nicole, 6 Points

   WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Grace -                                      God has freely given us His love and has powerfully drawn us to Himself; when we deserve His punishment for our sin.  We are saved because He bestowed His loving favor on us, giving us the opposite of what we deserve.

Original Sin -                             (or Omnipresent Depravity) Depravity is Radical and Pervasive.  It has affected all of man's body and soul, including his will, mind, and emotions.

Sovereign Selection -                God has selected some people out of the sea of lost humanity from every people group, this choice being based only on His own good pleasure, glory, and His Sovereign will.  See Abstract of Principles, # 5.

Particular Redemption -            (Definite Redemption) Christ's Substitutionary death was particularly intended and planned for His people.  It actually accomplished the full redemption of everyone who will trust in Christ.  His death paid the price in full for all our sins, past, present, and future, including our unbelief.

Effectual Grace -                       Everyone whom the Holy Spirit draws to Christ, comes to Him.  It is Grace that works every time and can not fail.  The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to the people of God.

Lasting Grace -                         God’s people are kept by the power of God from departing from Him.  Furthermore, He will not abandon us at any time or for any reason.  God is the One who perseveres, His grace lasts forever.  Everyone who has been chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and drawn by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end.   
              

These beliefs drive one to be involved in evangelism and missions.

 adapted from a message by Dr. Roger Nicole

TULIPER 7 Points of Calvinism - Richard P. Belcher, SR.

TULIP-ER

Total Depravity (or total inability): The unbeliever is in bondage to Satan and is incapable of exercising his will freely to turn to Christ. Man is beyond all self—help because he is ‘dead in his trespasses and sin.̓ (This is not absolute depravity as everyone could be worse.) Man is “as bad off” spiritually as he can be and is naturally in rebellion against God.

Unconditional Election: Before the foundation of the world, God chose certain individuals out of His free grace and love and by His sovereign will. His choice was not based on any foreseen response, obedience, faith, repentance, or any condition, but according to His unchangeable purpose, secret counsel, and the good pleasure of His will.

Limited Atonement (definite atonement or particular redemption): “Christ died to save particular persons who were given Him by the Father in eternity past. His death was, therefore, a one hundred percent success, in that all for whom He died will be saved, and all for whom He did not die will receive 'justice' from God when they are cast into hell.” (D. E. Spencer) The intention of the atonement was for the elect and it actually obtained salvation for them.

Irresistible Grace (or effectual call): Salvation is based on God̓s free will and because God is all—powerful (omnipotent),, His grace cannot be resisted. “In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the Gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call” (made to anyone) “can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion.” (Loraine Boettner)

Perseverance of the Saints: Every individual who was chosen by Cod, redeemed by Christ, regenerated and given faith by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end. Once truly believing, always persevering. Their assurance and trust will remain in Christ̓s finished work and in the promise that ‘salvation is of the Lord.̓ God will keep His sheep that He brings into His fold. His sheep have a love for the Savior, a hatred of sin, and a growth in holiness.

Evangelism: All believers must share the Gospel with the lost. We are commissioned by Christ to bring the gospel to everyone in our world. All people groups must be discipled. God ordains both the means and the ends. The people of God and the Word of God are key means to spreading the gospel to every people group on the earth and establishing a church among each people group to further the work of the gospel. Missions must be our heartbeat and it is not optional.

Responsibility: The Bible holds all men responsible to repent, believe, and turn from their rebellion to the Lord Christ. All people are without excuse for ignoring general revelations and special revelation. Believers are responsible to follow Jesus fully, including to be witnesses for Him to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Alive from the Dead! Eph 2:1-5 Sermon Outline

Sermon Title:   Alive From the Dead!

Sermon Text:  Ephesians 2:1-5   deadness/reversed

(Introduction)

Attention:  One of the first Protestant Systematic Theology books starts with these words:  “True wisdom consists in two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”  This text will give us an honest look at ourselves and the God of the Bible.

Need:  Ephesians 2 is a foundational text that every Christian must use to interpret the rest of the Bible.  If you set this text off to the side, you will misunderstand other passages.  This one is foundational to biblical understanding.

Textual Idea: Paul teaches the Ephesian Christian’s about the reversal of their spiritual deadness.

Sermon Idea: People today need a Divine reversal of their spiritual deadness.

Interrogative:   Why do people today need a Divine reversal of their spiritual deadness?

Transition w/ Key Word: We will see in this text 3 reasons why we need a Divine reversal of our spiritual deadness.  The first reason is:

(Body)

Division 1 Statement   WE ARE STUCK IN OUR DEADNESS.  vs. 1, 5

Explanation:  All men are born spiritually dead.  Not weak, sick, but dead.  But God is spiritually alive.  Look at – word dead. Dead means dead.  Jesus and Lazarus were dead – Separated from life.  Eph. 2 – dead in the realm of sin.  Separated from spiritual life that comes from God.

Illustration:  When Adam wrecked the car of our spiritual life, he did not just dent the fender.  He totaled it.  Spiritually, before Christ was in our lives, we were like a corpse.  No pulse, no breath, no brain waves.  Totally separated from spiritual life.  Dead.

Argumentation:  Let’s take a moment and compare Scripture w/ Scripture.  In Rom. 3:10-23 Paul argues that there is none righteous, no one who seeks for God.  In 1 Cor. 2:14 he boldly asserts that the natural man is completely unable to understand spiritual truth.

Application:  Spiritual life comes from God.  He is the source.  Thus, we must ask God to give – lost hearts of flesh, remove hearts of stone.  We must give God the praise for our salvation.  Look at your God in this text.  Isn’t He great?  Awesome.  He loves sinners, makes the dead alive.  When we were w/o strength, Christ died for the ungodly. We must pray and share as if the lost are spiritually dead, because they are.  Not weak, dead.  But we can pray to the Holy One who can make then alive.  Trust God.  Believe His book.

Transition:  Not only are we stuck in our deadness, but the next reason why we need a Divine reversal of our spiritual deadness is:

Division 2 Statement WE ARE POWERLESS TO CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR.  vs. 2-3

Explanation: We cannot produce significant, eternal, lasting, permanent change on our own for the right reasons and with the right motives.  Here is why -Look at the word Walk – walk of life, conduct, lifestyle of – dead, living sinfully. Prince – air – is Satan.  How does he work?  Works effectively in deceived followers. In Whom? Children of disobedience.  Major characteristic = disobedience Living among = acting just like the other pagans, under the control of the lust of our flesh.

Illustration: Thomas Boston – Scottish theologian – unconverted man is like a man in a pit, he may get out 1 of 2 ways, climb side of the pit, get out by works, or pull himself up by the gospel rope.  But – man has a slight problem, he is dead bottom pit.  Think of fish floating top Neuse river, goes w/ current, and a hard task masker pushes it even faster by shoving w/ oar from boat, and since fish is dead, it follows – direction of current and task masker.

Argumentation: Let’s leave our text for a moment and see broader context of the Bible.  Can this idea be supported elsewhere? Psa. 51 tells us we were conceived in sin – Spiritually dead.  Born w/ a sin nature, therefore we sin by nature. 1 Tim. 5:6 “She who lives in pleasure is dead, even while she lives.”  We love our sin, and enjoy its pleasure while seeking to drown its guilt.

Application: Why do dogs bark? Dogs.  The lost act the way they do, because – lost.  How do you change a society?  One heart at a time.  How do you permanently change a drunk or a thief?  Is it enough to get a guy sober for a few years by a program, if he still ends up in hell?  Only the gospel applied makes eternal changes.  The dead are powerless to change themselves.  Reformation w/o regeneration is of some, but little value.  Jesus’ power is needed for real change that lasts.

Transition: So the first reason why we need a Divine reversal of our spiritual deadness is we are stuck in our deadness, the second is we are powerless to change our behavior, and the third reason we need a Divine reversal of our spiritual deadness is:

Division 3 Statement WE ARE UNABLE TO RECEIVE GOD’S GIFTS.  vs. 4-5

Explanation:  Look at your God in vs. 4-5, He is rich mercy, overabounding in compassion, not giving us all we deserve, He has a great love, an amazing love for wicked lost sinners.  He has great grace – unearned loving favor, giving us the opposite we have earned, salvation comes by His grace.  Now, can a spiritual corpse receive beneficially mercy, love, or grace?  No.  It all about God.  First, He makes us alive, the dead get a resurrection just like Jesus and connected w/ Jesus’ resurrection.  We were powerless; He raised us from the dead.  To God be the glory!  Regeneration changes everything!  Now should we not trust a God like this?

Illustration:  In 1978 and 1979 there was a drunk that tried to quit drinking over and over again.  It would last for only weeks.  But then, God took him to the bottom of the barrel.  He lost 4 thos. saved money in an investment, lost his job, girlfriend, and found himself in Great Lakes, IL. For Navy boot camp.  He finally surrendered to Christ, that 1st day, after 18 ¾ years of running from God.  That drunk stands before you now, and because of Jesus, he has been sober for 25 ½ years.  The power of the gospel to make the dead alive, the bound set free.  To God be the glory, Great things He has done!

Argumentation:  Now, consider our inability while spiritually dead from a few other places in the Bible. Col. 2:13 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses.”  1 Cor. 6:10-11, Thieves, drunkards, and such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.  Bible is clear, God makes the difference.

Application:  God is in the business of raising the dead.  Jonah was right, salvation is of the Lord.  For lasting change reformation must follow regeneration.  Otherwise, you are making them double the sons of hell, still owing the debt of their sin, but now trusting in their own goodness for salvation.  Only God can take out a heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh.  Don’t pray for the lost to have more time in their deadness, pray for their spiritual resurrection.

Transition: We have seen in this text 3 reasons why we need a reversal of our spiritual deadness.

(Conclusion)

Visualization:  If you go to a graveyard w/ no visitors, & yell out, Anyone who desires this $10,000.00 case of money, come and get it.”  How many dead men will be able to respond?  NONE.  But join the prophet Ezekiel preaching to dead men’s bones.  When the Holy Spirit gives life to the dead, the living will respond.  “But God made us alive.”  He alone get the credit.

Reiteration: So the first reason why we need a Divine reversal of our spiritual deadness is we are stuck in our deadness, the second is we are powerless to change our behavior, and the third is we are unable to receive God’s gifts while spiritually dead.

Action:  Pray that those who live like they are lost will have a spiritual resurrection.  Don’t assure the dead that they have a free pass to heaven.   The front of the church building is a place of prayer in a Baptist church, but not a magical spot.  Our motive in coming forward should be to embrace Christ by repentance and faith because the Holy Spirit has opened their hearts to the truth of the Word of God, not to empress someone or help our business.

Appeal:  Only Jesus saves.  Don’t assume the dead are alive because they are in a worship service.  If they are committed to the lifestyle of the dead they may still be spiritually dead.  The spiritual resurrection of the dead is where the new life begins.  Pray for the spiritually dead and trust God – believe Him to do a work with Divine power in their live.  Our God has the power to save, call on Him in faith.  Surrender to Him as Lord.  Now is the time to surrender and to call on Jesus to do what only He can do.