“The Good News Of Being Declared Righteous”
Romans 3:9-26
Sermon Series: “The Gospel”
Introduction: We have a hole in our hearts that only God can fill. However, we are alienated from God by our sin. Even though we try to deny it, we struggle with guilt. How then can a sinful person be made right with the Holy God? The Bible very clearly answers that question in this passage by telling us that we can be made right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s examine some definitions of key words in this passage in order to help us understand it correctly.
Justified: Warren Wiersbe writes, “Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Christ on the basis of the finished work of Christ on the cross.” John Stott writes, “Justification is a legal or forensic term, belonging to the law courts. Its opposite is condemnation. Justification is positive, the bestowal of a righteous status, the sinner’s reinstatement in the favor and fellowship of God.”
Righteousness of God: The righteousness of God is His perfect, unchanging character, which is the standard for all right and wrong. It is also His gracious gift of granting the unrighteous a righteous standing before Him through Jesus.
Faith in Jesus Christ: It is a personal trust, reliance upon, and commitment to Jesus Christ.
Grace: It is God’s unmerited favor. It is the fact that He chooses to bless those who deserve His judgment.
Redemption: It means to set someone free through the payment of a ransom. In this case, we are set free from sin through the price of the sacrificial death of Jesus.
By His blood: It means through the death of Jesus.
Propitiation: It means atoning sacrifice. The Believer’s Study Bible defines it as, “The work of Christ on the cross in which He met the demands of the righteousness of God against sin, both satisfying the requirements of God’s justice and canceling the guilt of man.”
Demonstrate his righteousness: It refers to the fact that God has to punish sin in order to be righteous, and thus, be God.
Just and justifier: Through punishing Jesus on the cross, God is just because He upheld His Law and punished sin. Yet, because Jesus died in our place, He justifies (declares righteous) those who have faith in Jesus.
1. We are unrighteous sinners who need to be made right with God (v. 9-19, 23). God makes it very clear in His Word that this is the condition of every human being. He also says in His Word that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18).
2. However, we are incapable of making ourselves right with God (v. 20). We cannot make ourselves right with God through our good works or by keeping the Law. The Law only reveals our sinfulness. It does nothing to save us.
3. But, we can be made right with God through the provision of Jesus (v. 21-26). We can be declared righteous and restored to a relationship with God through the work of Jesus on the cross. He is the only one who satisfies the righteous nature of God. God can be just and still forgive people only because of what Christ did on the cross. P.T. Forsyth said, “God must either inflict punishment or assume it. And he chose the latter course, as honoring the law while saving the guilty. He took His own judgment.” Max Lucado has written, “Ponder the achievement of God. He doesn’t condone our sin; nor does he compromise his standard. He doesn’t ignore our rebellion; nor does he relax his demands. Rather than dismiss our sin he assumes our sin and, incredibly, sentences himself. God’s holiness is honored. Our sin is punished. And we are redeemed. God is still God. The wages of sin is still death. And we are made perfect.”
4. Therefore, we can only be made right with God through trusting Jesus (v. 22, 26). It is not what we do (although true faith produces good works-James 2, Ephesians 2:10) but what Christ has done for us. As a result, we can only be made right with God by receiving Jesus Christ. The way we do that is by faith. John Stott writes, “Faith has absolutely no value in itself; its value lies solely in its object. Faith is the eye that looks to Christ, the hand that lays hold of him, the mouth that drinks the water of life.” Trusting Jesus is to rely on Him and commit to Him and Him alone for our salvation.
Conclusion: Jesus is the justifier. He has paid the penalty. Do you genuinely trust Him? Please answer the following questions:
-Have I admitted that I am a sinner, asked God for forgiveness, and repented (turned away from) my sin?
-Do I truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sin and rose again, and am I trusting in Him personally?
-Have I confessed Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9)?
Implications For Those Who Are Trusting Christ (Romans 8)
-God will not condemn or judge us so we don’t need to condemn ourselves, or let Satan or others condemn us (8:1).
-We can live without guilt because Jesus took our sin upon Himself (8:2-4).
-We are given the Holy Spirit who makes us spiritually alive (8:8-11).
-We become children of God and joint heirs with Christ (8:14-17).
-This is the answer for suffering (8:18-25, 28).
-It shows us that God will complete our salvation by making us like Jesus (8:28-30).
-It shows us that God is for us and is blessing us (8:31-32).
-It means we are victorious (8:37).
-It proves the unconditional, unending love of God (8:38-39).
