Romans 3:19-28
Living By Works or Faith?
It is told that upon reading St. Paul’s letter to the
Romans that Martin Luther finally got it. He discovered the answer for which he
had been searching. How does a man get right with God? His quest was simple. “How do I find a merciful God?” How? 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.
So how does one get right with God?
I. The whole
world is involved - Romans 3:23-24 “for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, being justified as
a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
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 themselves; folk 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 must therefore come to the Father
through Christ who, as Paul explains to us, has freed us from the punishment of
which our sin has brought. “(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 the LORD’s free favor. - With no strings
attached. If it were anything else but a gift. We would have an obligation. - Which
we could never repay. The LORD lavishes upon us His mercy and grace. As an
offering of His love.
II. 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;”
A. The Law
speaks
1.
As a 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 child, “just wait until your father gets home!” that’s the 1st
use of the Law at work – Fear!
When the
sign on the front door of the Wal-mart store reads, “all shoplifters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”
and there are cameras about; one thinks twice.
Walk
through the front door of the Stake and Shake or any connivance store and notice
the yard stick inside the doorway. That’s a deterrent. And a warning. It restrains us.
2.
The Law works as
a 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. Under its use you feel guilt.
3.
The Law is a Ruler
- Expressed in Joy. As we gladly do those things, which the LORD would have us,
do. With respect to God’s Word; we gladly hear and learn it.
B. The Law
condemns us before God
1.
We are under its
curse. And it is a dreadful curse. It is the curse of death. “The souls which sins it will die” the
Scriptures teach. And, “The wages of sin
is death.”
2.
The Law crushes us. Under the weight of sin no
one can bear. Unless that burden and load is removed. We will be eternally
devastated.
III. 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.”
A.
The Law can only
show us the knowledge of sin. Which always condemns. Which always destroys.
There is no saving power in the Law. The Law can only charge. Prosecute. And
indict us. The Law always accuses.
B.
Therefore 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.
IV.
Reconciliation therefore is a gift. – Romans 3:23-24 “for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in
Christ Jesus;”
A.
It comes through
the redemption which is in Jesus Christ. – To be at one with Him. 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. To seek the Lord. To plead for
mercy. To run headlong into the waiting arms of the Savior.
B.
It is a gift
given freely. 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.
V. 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;”
A.
He 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 the LORD does in your life.
His mark
was placed on you on the day you were baptized. You received the sign of the 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 Christ’s victory at
the glorious cross – your sins are gone. You are forgiven. The Father has
passed them over.
B.
It is a sacrifice
that satisfies. What good news! “There is
therefore now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
C.
The Father is now
appeased. – Christ has compensated for you. There is nothing left to be done.
Christ’s reward is granted you by grace.
Christ has accomplished everything we
need to be in a right 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 you. When you read there is
“faith in His blood,” that simply mean there is faith in what Jesus’ blood has
purchased and won for you. “The
blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”
VI. 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.”
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 the Savior’s gift. The Scriptures are
quite clear on the matter. “Faith comes
by hearing, and hearing from the Word of Christ.” Even your faith. Which
clings only to merits of Jesus Christ. Is a good and gracious gift.
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.”
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Passive Sentences –7 %
Readability –85.8 %
Reading Level –3.4
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