Reformation
26 October 2014
Romans 3:19-28
Living By Works or Faith?
Upon reading
St. Paul’s letter to the Romans Martin Luther finally got it. He discovered the
answer for which he had been searching. How does a person get right with God?
Is it by works? Or by faith? Let’s see how Luther was drawn to the Gospel
message of grace as Paul speaks to us this morning.
The
quest of getting right with God is a timeless question. It’s an issue with
which each generation must wrestle. How can the sinner approach God? St.
Paul
1. The
whole world is involved - Romans 3:23-24 for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God V. 23
A.
All
have sinned. No one is exempt. There is
not a single religion known to man which states that man is somehow perfect, or
that he is exempt from sin. Each will readily admit that man is far from
perfect. But in trying to justify himself the people of the world will conclude
one of two possibilities - either God will make up for the bad or he will
somehow close His eyes to your sin. Yet this kind of religion will not stand
the test of every man. We therefore must
come to God through Christ who, as Paul explains to us, has freed us from the
punishment of which our sin has brought us.
(but) being justified as a gift by
His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; V.24
B.
Redemption
is a free gift! It is given to us by God’s free favor, - with no strings
attached. If it were anything else but a gift, we would have an obligation to
God - which we could never repay. The Lord lavishes upon us His mercy and grace.
As an offering of His love.
2. The
whole world stands accountable to God. - Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are
under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become
accountable to God; V.19
A.
The
Law speaks to us in three ways.
1.
Curb
– which checks our sin – where we fear punishment,
retribution, and payback. The emotion which is employed is fear. When an exasperated and frustrated mother says to her
children “just wait until your father
gets home!” that’s the 1st use of the Law at work – fear.
2.
Mirror
- Here we feel guilt. The Law shows
us our sin. It shows us what we have done and what we have left undone. It shows us our failing and our flaws.
Embarrassment is a byproduct of the 2nd use of the Law.
3.
Ruler
– Here we feel joy – as we can
measure our faith – gladly doing those things, which the Lord would have us do.
Only the Christian can experience this 3rd use – for only the
Christian desires to please God.
B.
The
Law condemns us before God.
1.
We
are all under its curse. And it is a dreadful curse; it is the curse of death.
“The souls which sins it will die”
the Scriptures remind us and “The wages
of sin is death.”
2.
It
crushes us. Under the weight of sin no one can bear. Unless that burden and
load is removed, we will be eternally devastated.
3. We need
Christ to bear our sin because of the inability of the Law to reconcile – Romans 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh
will be justified in His sight; for through the Law {comes} the knowledge of
sin. V.20
A.
The
Law shows us the knowledge of sin; which always condemns, and always destroys.
There is no saving power in the Law. The Law can only charge, prosecute, and
indict us. The Law always accuses.
B.
No
one can be justified by means of following the Law. If all it can do is charge
us as guilt, there is nothing the Law can do to free us from its curse.
4. In
answering the question – how do we get right with God we must conclude
reconciliation therefore is a gift. – Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; V. 24
A.
To be
reconciled with God – to be at one with Him - comes through the redemption
which is in Jesus Christ. The Gospel message is at the same time so simple and
yet so significant. It is so straightforward that a mere child can know and
accept it. Yet, at the same time, it
challenges us.
B.
It is
a gift given freely by God. The hymn writer put it so clearly – “not the labors of my hands could fulfill Thy
law’s demands…” What we are unable
to do the Savior does for us. He forgives our sins and credits our account.
5.
This gift of God is made possible only by
grace. – Romans 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a
propitiation in His blood through faith. {This was} to demonstrate His
righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins
previously committed; V. 25
A.
God
passed over sins previously committed. This was demonstrated in the Passover
event in the Old Testament. When the Lord saw the blood splattered on the
doorpost He bypassed that house and spared those who remained inside. They were
safe because of the mark. What He did in Egypt he does in your life.
God’s mark was placed on you on the day
you were baptized. You received the sign of the a cross upon your forehead and
upon your heart as a sign that you have been redeemed by Christ the crucified.
When you make the sign of the cross {as a devotional aid} you are reminding
yourself of this reality. Because of the cross – your sins are forgiven. The Father
has passed them over.
B.
Likewise,
Christ’s sacrifice for sin is a sacrifice that satisfies and angry and offended
God. What good news. “There is therefore
now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
C.
God
is now appeased – Christ has compensated for us. There is nothing left to be
done.
Christ has accomplished everything we need
to be in a right relationship with God. Christ has done it all. He has done all
things well.
D.
Saving
faith looks to Jesus Christ in His sacrificial death for us. When we say there
is “faith in his blood” we simply mean there is faith in what Jesus’ blood has
purchased and won for us, for “the blood
of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”
6.
It is necessary for faith to appropriate
the gifts. Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by
faith apart from works of the Law V. 28
A.
When
Luther translated this verse into German, he added the word “alone”. It’s not faith plus works. Not faith plus my
prayers. Not faith plus my co-operation. Not faith plus my pious behavior,
actions and activities. It is faith and faith alone which saves.
B.
Faith
is not man’s contribution or decision, but a gift of God. Even your faith is a
gift, which comes from God. The Scriptures are quite clear on the matter. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the
Word of God.” Even your faith, which clings only to merits of Jesus Christ,
is a good and gracious gift of God.
What more could be said then
to add what Paul has stated in Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a
result of works, that no one should boast.”
Words – 1,286
Passive Sentences – 10%
Readability –83%
Reading Level – 4.4
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