I. The Righteousness Of God Revealed V. 21
A. The Righteousness Of God V. 21a
1. But now…. As opposed to Romans 3:20.
a. Romans 3:20 Phillips Bible- it is the straight edge of the Law that shows us how crooked we are.
b. Matthew 26:27, 28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
2. The righteousness of God
a. Righteousness- Conformity to right. That which God is, has, and gives. It is the righteousness that God is in Himself, and provides in Christ.
b. See Romans 1:16, 17
c. Paul declares that man can have a righteous standing before God.
d. Through faith in the Gospel message, man can be righteous before God.
e. It is a right standing that is given to man, and received by faith.
f. It is a right standing that is available because Jesus died for that man’s sins
g. Payment for sin has been made, right standing can be granted.
h. The High Court of Heaven is satisfied. The debt of sin was paid for.
i. Man needs to agree that he has sinned and that he deserves judgment. He needs to agree that he is unable to pay for his sin. He must decide to
accept God’s pardon for his sin, and then he may receive that pardon and that right standing. All of this happens by faith.
B. Apart From The Law V. 21b
1. Apart from the Law- the law declares what is right, but doesn’t empower us.
a. The law declares us guilty as soon as we break it.
b. The law includes both the Biblical law, or any system of rules whereby a person might think themselves capable of keeping, resulting in having a
right standing with God.
2. Revealed- The Gospel declares that man can be right with God through faith.
C. Spoken Of In The Old Testament V. 21c
1. The idea of being right with God by faith wasn’t a new idea.
2. It was written about in the Old Testament.
3. Romans 4:1-3, 9-23 speaks of Abraham being justified by faith. (Genesis 15:6)
4. Romans 4:4-8 speaks of King David in the same manner. (Psalm 32:1, 2)
II. Received Through Faith In Jesus Christ
A. All People In Need Of Justification Vs. 22, 23
1. The righteousness of God is apprehended by faith in Jesus.
2. It is equally available for all people, for all have sinned. There are no exceptions.
3. Have sinned– to miss the mark, to fail to obey the law.
4. Fallen short– keep on falling short. Continually falling short.
5. Of the glory of God-variously translated; fallen short of the glory of God’s intention for man. Failed to be and do that which God intended because of sin.
B. Justification V. 24a
a. Justified- to declare one as being righteous, or such as he ought to be.
b. Freely- gratuitously, without just cause. The one receiving did nothing to earn or merit this gift. It is given based on the generosity of the Giver, God.
c. By His grace- a favor done without expectation of return; no strings attached. In classical Greek writing, this was done for friends, but never for enemies.
d. Compare with Romans 5:6, 8, 10
C. Redemption- V. 24b
a. agorazo- to buy in the slave market. Jesus paid for our sins with His blood. John 8:34 Jesus- “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
b. exagorazo- to buy out of the slave market, never to be sold again.
Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
c. lutroo- to set free by paying a price.
Titus 2:14- who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
d. The ransom price was the cost of paying for one’s sin. Jesus paid it all.
D. Propitiation Vs. 25, 25
1. V. 25- propitiation- hilasterion– the place of satisfaction.
a. Hilasmos- the thing which satisfies.
2. Ancient cultures believed their gods to be angry. By their own effort, they sought to appease their gods through a sacrifice, and gain their love and favor.
a. Not applicable to the New Testament. God loves us so much that He sent the hilasmos for our benefit.
b. God must punish sin, but He Himself devised a way whereby he would punish sin in His own Son. His righteous judgment would be satisfied by His effort.
3. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the cover of the ark was called the Mercy Seat (hilasterion). The Ark (box) contained the Law, which Israel had broken.
a. The High Priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat. God would overlook the sins of the people. Instead of judgment, there was mercy.
b. The hilasterion ceased to be a place of judgment, and became a place of mercy.
4. 1 John 2:1, 2
1My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
5. Prior to Jesus dying on the cross, God overlooked the sins of those who had died in faith, and believed God’s promises, but whose sins were not yet fully atoned for.
a. Hebrews 11:13 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
6. When Jesus died, the full payment of sin was accomplished. God was and is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. God looked forward to the final payment.
III. Apart From The Law Vs. 27-31
A. Not By Works Vs. 27, 28
1. The law of faith= the principle of faith, the act of faith.
2. Law keeping can never gain justification, only faith in the Gospel can.
3. We conclude– after analyzing, we come to this conclusion.
B. All Peoples Justified By Faith Vs. 29, 30
C. Faith Doesn’t Void The Law, But Validates It V. 31
1. Void- To make of none effect. Does the Gospel message cancel the Law? NO!
2. Establish- The Law is established through the Gospel. It gives it its proper place.