Romans Lesson Page

Romans Chapter 3:21-31

Memory verses for this week: Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Introduction:     Last week, in  the first part of chapter 3, Paul asked several questions and answered them all showing how that all men are sinners and must face the judgement of God.

I.                    The Righteousness of God Apart from the Law

 Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Many today seek to find righteousness by following the law (or commandments of God), but there is no righteousness by the law.

 Gal 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

The truth is that righteousness comes apart from the law, and this perfect and pure salvation comes apart from the law.   This was witnessed to us by both the law itself and the prophets.   The offering of bulls and goats pointed to God’s perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ.   But those offerings could never take away sin.

Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Acts 10:43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

The scriptures teach that our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ, and is not dependent upon human merit or attainment.  If is by faith that we obtain

our ‘righteousness.’  

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

Note that there is no difference in the Jew or the Gentile when it comes to being guilty of sin. 

1.      All are depraved.   

 Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2.      All are sinners

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3.      All are guilty

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

4.      All are sons of Adam

1 Cor 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

5.      All are mortal

Acts 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

6.      All must meet God

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

7.      All need a Savior

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

8.      All must spend eternity somewhere

Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

When you visit people and discuss Jesus Christ, some do not realize that they have sinned against the Heavenly Father.  But this verse teaches that all have sinned.   Sin is the transgression of the law and all unrighteousness is sin.

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law

.

1 John 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

II.                  Justified by Grace

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

To be justified, we must be declared righteous.  This is the sentence of the judge (God) in favor of the prisoner. (sinner)  It is important to realize that we are not justified because we become righteous in our heart and walk perfectly in this life.  God justifies us, and then he enables the justified to walk in righteousness.   We are justified freely meaning without price.   The only way we will ever become justified is to accept Christ as our Savior.  It is not done by the works of the law.   Redemption comes when we are bought back by Christ.  The price paid was Christ’s life and blood.

1 Pet 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1 Pet 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Pet 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1 Pet 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 Pet 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Pet 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God sent Christ to be our propitiation… our atoning sacrifice.   Propitiation is the act of appeasing God and bringing reconciliation.   When a sinner believes in Christ as his personal Savior, reconciliation is made between the offended and the offending sinner.  Christ paid for all sins from the time of Adam through the death of Christ.   And his blood pays for our future sins also.  One sacrifice, for all time.  All of the sins of the Old Testament saints were put on Christ’s account.  He paid for them on Calvary.  They looked forward into time knowing God would send Christ, we look back knowing He has already come and died for us.   All saved come through Jesus Christ.

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

We see that God is the Just One, and it is He who justifies all who believe in Christ.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 3:29  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

When God justifies the sinner, it removes all boasting from us.  It is not us that did the justifying, but the Holy and Righteous God.   In verse 29, Paul declares that man is justified by faith in Christ without the deeds of the law.  Much of Christendom teaches today that faith in Christ plus deeds of the law are what justifies us and brings salvation.   This is contrary to the Word of God.

III.  God is God of Both the Jew and Gentile

 Rom 3:30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

 Since God is the God of both the Jew and the Gentile, it means we are all saved exactly alike.  (all by faith in Christ.)     Justification by faith honors the law.  The law is our schoolmaster showing us how we are sinners before a Holy and Righteous God.  It is like a mirror reflecting the dirt on our face.  The mirror cannot cleanse our face, just as the law cannot cleanse our sins.  The sinner establishes the law in its right use and by confessing his guilt, he acknowledges that is he justified.    Christ established the law by enduring its penalty of death.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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