Message

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JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH

Romans 3:21-4:8

Key Verse:3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

  For the last few weeks we have studied that no one can be righteous before God by observing the law whether they are Jews or Gentiles. The final statement of the Apostle Paul toward the world is that all have sinned before God and that the whole world is under God’s divine judgment. Man is absolutely sinful and totally helpless in his sin, like a convicted murderer who waits for the day of execution. Is there not any hope for us for our salvation? Is our destiny just to sit down and wait for God’s judgment? No! God is love. He took initiative to make us right before God. He opened the way for our salvation through his son Jesus Christ.

  Today’s passage teaches us how God made what is impossible with men possible with God for the salvation of the world. In today’s passage we will learn several important terms such as “a righteousness from God,’ ‘justification’, ‘redemption,’ ‘a sacrifice of atonement,’ ‘justice’ and so on. When we understand these words by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will know the way of salvation which God has provided for us helpless human beings.

First, a righteousness from God (21-23)  Look at verse 21. “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” In this verse the words, “But now” indicate a great turning point which are a contrast from the previous situation.  We have already learned that it is impossible for any man on this earth, whether he is a Jew or a gentile, to be righteous by observing the law. Even though one donates tens of millions of dollars to the poor, or establishes thousands of churches around the world, or spends numerous nights meditating on a mountain, he cannot be righteous before the Holy God. As Paul claimed in advance, no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law or doing good deeds. (3:20)

  But now, what man had failed at God makes successful. Apart from the way of becoming righteous by following the law, God provided a new way, the way through faith in his son Jesus Christ. We call it ‘a righteousness from God’ or ‘the righteousness of God.’ How does ‘a righteousness from God’ come to us?  How can we gain the righteousness from God? Let us read verse 22,23. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” The righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Wow! What a simple way to become righteous. It is too simple and too good to be true!

  The way of salvation should be easy and simple. Suppose a fire breaks out in a building. Those who can read the word, “Exit” can be saved. People can escape through the exit.  The notice for escape should be simple and easy so that everybody can see it and understand. In the same way the way of salvation from God for human beings should be simple and easy so that all peoples of all nations can believe and understand---which is just through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no one who doubts or hesitates, thinking whether he should use the exit or not, until he is burned. He must trust in the sign of ‘Exit’ and run out as quickly as possible for his life. Jesus is the exit for escape from the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Jesus is the way for our salvation. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the only way which God provided for man’s salvation. Amen. Now we will study why Jesus is only way for salvation and why Jesus is the righteousness of God.

Second, justification through faith in Jesus Christ (24) Look at verse 24. “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Here the word “justified” means “pronounced not guilty” or “declared righteous”. In other words, God did not condemn us even though we are obviously guilty of our sins. One day I violated a traffic rule and was fined. I pleaded guilty and paid the penalty. Even after paying the penalty, the record of violation remained for three years.  But, we are all justified freely. We don’t have to pay even one penny of the penalty of our sins because Jesus paid it all on the cross. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” he meant, “Your salvation work is done. I paid in full the penalty of your sins.” (Jn 19:30) By the merit of Jesus’ sacrificial death, we are justified. Jesus took up all our condemnation on his body. Jesus took away the curse from us when he was hung on the tree in our place.(Gal 3:13)

  Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross met the demand of God’s righteousness. What the first man Adam failed at, Jesus made. Jesus’ perfect life of righteousness and his absolute obedience to God the Father satisfied God’s righteousness. So whoever accepts Jesus and depends on his name will be credited with righteousness. Whoever believes in Jesus as the Lord and Savior will be justified. God pronounces anyone who comes to him ‘not guilty’ on behalf of his Son Jesus Christ.

This is God’s grace. It is the free gift. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are justified by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, faith in Jesus Christ is access to God’s grace. Romans 5:1,2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace in which we now stand…”

Third, redemption (24)  Read verse 24 again. “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” The word ‘redemption’ is taken from the slave market. Redemption means to release a slave by paying a ransom. In a word, redemption is to buy slaves with a price. Jesus said that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (Jn 8:34) People act and live freely, but many of them are slaves to their sinful desires. Since Adam’s fall, men have been slaves to sin and Satan is a cruel slave master. Man has to move whenever Satan whips. The hand of Satan is firm and the power of sin is strong. But, God has mercy on us. He shows his compassion on his suffering people. God redeems us from the slavery of Satan by paying a ransom through Jesus Christ. God frees us from the power of sin by paying with the blood of Christ, his own son, as a ransom payment. God delivers us from the empty way of life with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Pe 1:18,19) 1 Timothy 2:6 says that Christ Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all people.  

  Since we are bought at a price, we are free (1 Co 6:20). Through the redemption of Christ, we now have a new relationship with God. In the past, we were slaves to sin, but now we are the people of God and belong to Him. In the past, we were dead in our sins, but now we have new life, eternal life in Christ Jesus. Through the redemption of Christ Jesus we are freed from the empty way of life and we live as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Rev 5:9,10) Thus, through the redemption of Christ our identity is changed from slaves to royal priests, from enemies of God to children of God. (1 Pe 2:9,10) Through the redemption of Christ our destiny is changed from death to life. Through the redemption of Christ, now we anticipate a new future with a new destiny. We long for eternal life and the day of entering into the kingdom of God. Amen.

Fourth, a sacrifice of atonement (25) Look at verse 25. “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished,” As the word “justification” is taken from the court, and the word “redemption” from the slave market, the words “a sacrifice of atonement” comes from the temple, where the high priest in the Old Testament sacrificed animals for the sins of men. The word ‘atone’ is the combination of the two words ‘at’ and ‘one’. Spiritually speaking, it means ‘to make one’ between God and sinners. Sin separates us from God and our relationship with God is broken.  Under sin, man became an object of God’s wrath. In the past, high priests killed animals as sacrifices of atonement. The priests took blood from the animals and sprinkled it on the altar of God. But in the book of Hebrews, the author questions how the blood of animals can cleanse our dirty human sins. It is temporary and imperfect. Now, God sent Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of atonement. Jesus himself entered the temple with his own blood, not with the blood of animals. Hebrews 9:12 says, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”

  Our God is righteous. He is holy. In his divine nature, God demonstrates his justice toward the sins of the world. This world demonstrates justice by authority. But God demonstrates his justice by humility. God does not demonstrate his justice in destruction, but in salvation. He demonstrates his justice by forgiving sinners, not by condemning sinners. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In his demonstration of justice, God cancelled our condemnation. He forgave our sins. In verse 25 b says, “because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” This verse means that God did not delay our execution, but cancelled it completely through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. God paid off the debts of our sins and credited us with righteousness. What a blessing and what a privilege for those who believe in Jesus Christ! What amazing grace of God and marvelous love of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus is worthy of being praised, worshiped and honored by the tongues and lips of the people of the whole world.

  Look at verse 26. “he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”  Let us pay attention to the words “at the present time.” When Jesus died on the cross, he died once for all. His death on the cross not only did away with sin in the past, but also with sin at present and sin in the future. The efficacy of his sacrificial death reaches to us even today.  Therefore, whoever has faith in Jesus Christ and believes in him will be justified. Whoever trusts in him and calls on his name will be redeemed from the slavery of sin. Whoever depends on the blood of Jesus on the cross will be forgiven and will be saved.

  There were two criminals who were hung on the tree together with Jesus. One of them insulted at Jesus and said, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:39-43) At the last moment of his life, the criminal was justified and saved through faith in Jesus Christ.  Remember that eternal life does not necessarily come after death, but comes from the moment when you have faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

  In chapter 4, the Apostle Paul illustrates how we become justified and righteous before God through faith like Abraham and David, not by observing the law. Abraham was credited as righteousness because he believed in God’s promise. Even though he was 99 years old, Abraham believed that God would give him a son and make him a great nation. Abraham was full of human weaknesses and shortcomings, but still he was credited as righteous because of his faith in God’s promise.

  David was a great King of Israel. But he made a big mistake by committing adultery with the wife of Uriah. According to the Ten Commandments, David had no way to become righteous before God. However, David was also credited with righteousness because of his faith in God’s forgiving love. David believed that God is love and that he forgives the sin of those who repent and comes to Him. So he confessed in verses 7,8. “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

  In today’s passage we learned that we can become righteous only through faith in Jesus Christ who is the righteousness of God. Through faith in him we are freely justified and redeemed. Through faith in him we call God Abba Father. Through faith in Jesus Christ we gain access to enter the kingdom of God. May God increase our faith in Christ Jesus and share this good news of salvation with other perishing and suffering souls. Amen.

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Attachment

• JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH-2.doc

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