SERMON NOTES
The Greatest Verses In All Literature - Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:21-26 (NKJV)
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
There are four sections of the Book of Romans:
The Book of Romans closes with a greeting to individuals in Rome and a final burst of praise to God (Romans 16).
Three key words and facts of the Gospel:
I. Our GUILT - Is UNIVERSAL (Romans 3:9-20)
Paul, like a Prosecuting Attorney brings 14 indictments against all humanity!
He breaks the indictments down into three categories:
II. God's GIFT - Is AVAILABLE (Romans 3:21-24)
This is the first transition and the most pivotal verses in the Book of Romans - between the wrath and grace of God.
Martin Luther: saw in this passage the heart of the Gospel message, emphasizing salvation by faith alone.
Leon Morris said, "I believe these are the most important verses in literature!
Donald G. Barnhouse said, “This is the heart of the New Testament.”
John Calvin: Calvin saw in these verses the divine initiative in salvation and the importance of Christ's atonement.
John Wesley: Wesley focused on the universality of sin and the need for personal faith in Christ for salvation. He emphasized the idea of prevenient grace, which enables individuals to respond to God's offer of salvation.
Karl Barth: Barth saw in these verses the centrality of Christ's redemptive work and its implications for humanity.
Job asked the same question many years ago—“But how can a man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2) Paul is going to tell us how. In the process, he lists 10 characteristics of God’s righteousness.
God’s righteousness is...
1. Apart from the law (verse 21a)
2. Revealed and affirmed in the Old Testament (verse 21b)
3. Received thru faith in Jesus Christ (verse 22a)
4. Available to all who will believe (verses 22b-23)
5. Acquired by justification (verse 24)
6. Bestowed freely (verse 24)
7. Possible because of grace (verse 24)
8. Acquired through redemption (verse 24)
9. Satisfied by atoning sacrifice (verse 25a)
10. Authenticates His character (verse 26)
III. This GRACE - is Remarkable (Romans 3:24-26)
Justified: It means to declare someone righteous - then treat a person based on that declaration. It's a proclamation or a declaration It's God saying I'm going to treat you as if you never sinned!
God's
Riches
At
Christ
Expense
Redemption: It's the language that comes from the slave market. It means to set someone free by paying a price.
Propitiation: Only found four times in the Bible - Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10. The word means to appease or satisfy. The Greek word in the Septuagint is translated "Mercy Seat." The mercy seat represented Yahweh’s throne on earth, and His presence resided there.
What does it means to us: Jesus is the only place that the God of Heaven will meet with mankind on earth! Jesus is our propitiation!
Here's the deal - you have to receive it! It's a free gift! What good is the gift if you do not receive it?
It doesn’t cost you anything to be saved, but it cost God the life of His Son!
Conclusion:
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
The Greatest Verses In All Literature - Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:21-26 (NKJV)
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
There are four sections of the Book of Romans:
- The WRATH of God - (Romans 1:18-3:20)
- The GRACE of God - (Romans 3:21-8:39)
- The PLAN of God - (Romans 9-11)
- The WILL of God - (Romans 12-15)
The Book of Romans closes with a greeting to individuals in Rome and a final burst of praise to God (Romans 16).
Three key words and facts of the Gospel:
- Our GUILT - is Universal (Romans 3:9-20)
- God's GIFT - is Available (Romans 3:21-24)
- This GRACE - is Remarkable (Romans 3:24-26)
I. Our GUILT - Is UNIVERSAL (Romans 3:9-20)
Paul, like a Prosecuting Attorney brings 14 indictments against all humanity!
He breaks the indictments down into three categories:
- Who a person is - CHARACTER - (vs. 9-12)
- What a person says - CONVERSATION - (vs. 13-14)
- What a person does - CONDUCT - (vs. 15-18)
II. God's GIFT - Is AVAILABLE (Romans 3:21-24)
This is the first transition and the most pivotal verses in the Book of Romans - between the wrath and grace of God.
Martin Luther: saw in this passage the heart of the Gospel message, emphasizing salvation by faith alone.
Leon Morris said, "I believe these are the most important verses in literature!
Donald G. Barnhouse said, “This is the heart of the New Testament.”
John Calvin: Calvin saw in these verses the divine initiative in salvation and the importance of Christ's atonement.
John Wesley: Wesley focused on the universality of sin and the need for personal faith in Christ for salvation. He emphasized the idea of prevenient grace, which enables individuals to respond to God's offer of salvation.
Karl Barth: Barth saw in these verses the centrality of Christ's redemptive work and its implications for humanity.
Job asked the same question many years ago—“But how can a man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2) Paul is going to tell us how. In the process, he lists 10 characteristics of God’s righteousness.
God’s righteousness is...
1. Apart from the law (verse 21a)
2. Revealed and affirmed in the Old Testament (verse 21b)
3. Received thru faith in Jesus Christ (verse 22a)
4. Available to all who will believe (verses 22b-23)
5. Acquired by justification (verse 24)
6. Bestowed freely (verse 24)
7. Possible because of grace (verse 24)
8. Acquired through redemption (verse 24)
9. Satisfied by atoning sacrifice (verse 25a)
10. Authenticates His character (verse 26)
III. This GRACE - is Remarkable (Romans 3:24-26)
Justified: It means to declare someone righteous - then treat a person based on that declaration. It's a proclamation or a declaration It's God saying I'm going to treat you as if you never sinned!
God's
Riches
At
Christ
Expense
Redemption: It's the language that comes from the slave market. It means to set someone free by paying a price.
Propitiation: Only found four times in the Bible - Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10. The word means to appease or satisfy. The Greek word in the Septuagint is translated "Mercy Seat." The mercy seat represented Yahweh’s throne on earth, and His presence resided there.
What does it means to us: Jesus is the only place that the God of Heaven will meet with mankind on earth! Jesus is our propitiation!
Here's the deal - you have to receive it! It's a free gift! What good is the gift if you do not receive it?
It doesn’t cost you anything to be saved, but it cost God the life of His Son!
Conclusion:
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
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