Studies in Romans Presentation 07

Summary of Contents OPENING REMARKS: 1:1-17 BAD NEWS: Universality of sin and its condemnation 1:18 - 3:20 GOOD NEWS : A gospel that changes our relationship to God 3:21- 5:21 HOW TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN : 6: Sanctification 6:1-23 The Place of the Law 7:1-25 Life in the Spirit 8:1-39 A SHORT DETOUR : Questions concerning Israel 9:1-11:36 HOW A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO LIVE : 12:1-15:13 In our various relationships 12:1-13:14 Dealing with the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’ 14:1-15:13 PAUL’S GENTILE MINISTRY, POLICY AND PLANS : 15:14-33 GREETINGS AND CLOSING DOXOLOGY : 16:1-27 Presentation 07

Studies in Romans A Gospel that Changes our Relationship to God Chap. 3v21- 5v21 Presentation 07

A Gospel that Changes... 3:21ff Good News Rolled Out. Introduction Paul’s goal has been to silence both the Jewish and Gentile world and show that without exception all stand guilty and condemned before the bar of God’s justice. There simply is no case for the defence. Not only has all of mankind fallen short of God’s standard of goodness but there is nothing that man can do to remedy his situation. And so Chap forms a spiritual wake-up call to the whole of the world. The ground has been prepared for the good news. Presentation 07

Studies in Romans The Righteousness of God Part 1 Chap. 3v Presentation 07

A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: A definition of “righteousness”. The word ‘righteousness’ has an interesting history. The Hebrew root of the word ‘tsedeq’ means, ‘to be perfectly straight, to have no deviation from the plumb’. Paul argues that you are either completely righteous by God's definition, or you are not righteous at all. And he has shown in that no man can give God the righteousness and the perfection that he requires. Presentation 07

Most people will accept that ‘nobody’s perfect’. However, they may find it harder to accept that, ‘no one’, including them, ‘is good enough for God’. How do we account for this difficulty? We tend to use a different standard of measurement from God. ‘Compared to him I’m healthy. Compared to her I am a good person!’ But when we begin to see the scale of measurement that God uses - his own perfection – we are silenced. For then we begin to realise that our condition is hopeless and that there is nothing we can do to impress God. That's an extremely healthy position for a spiritually sick man to find himself in. A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: A definition of “righteousness”. Presentation 07

The two words “But God”, in v21, are the most important words in the whole epistle. They are the switch that causes the brilliant light of God’s grace to shine into the darkness of human need. They are the hinge on which the door of good news swings open to us. The words BUT GOD are written boldly at the beginning of every Christian’s testimony. ‘I was lost But God... My situation was hopeless But God’... Do you see what Paul is saying? The solution to man's sinfulness and unrighteousness is not found in man, but in God who has taken the initiative in man’s salvation. A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: Words that switch the light on. Presentation 07

God acts to deliver man from the guilt and penalty of his sin without dismissing the demands of his holy law. God provides "a righteousness apart from the law” i.e. a righteousness that is not dependent upon man's law keeping. Throughout history men had poured all their energy into law-keeping but in vain. Prior to his conversion Paul had tried unsuccessfully to get right with God through law-keeping. Martin Luther, before his conversion, almost killed himself attempting to keep God's law, until he recognised that God provides a righteousness that does not rest upon human performance. A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: Why a “righteousness apart from the law” ? v21. Presentation 07

God’s Righteousness: Prevents God from having fellowship with sinful man. Christ’s Righteousness: Something that comes in from the side from God. Man’s Righteousness: Inadequate, there is no way over or through to God Presentation 07

The righteousness we require must come from another source. No matter how hard we try, we cannot satisfy the rigorous demands of God’s law. The rigorous demands of God’s law have been met by Christ. He kept the law perfectly on our behalf. Presentation 07

1. It is a legal term, which comes from the law courts. 2. It is a judgment that is given. The judge declares the defendant to be in a right relationship to the law and then treats him as though he is indeed in a right relationship to it. 3. In a legal setting ‘justification’ is the opposite of ‘condemnation’. A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: ‘Justification’ is the means of securing righteousness. Presentation 07

How is this justification possible? Isaiah in his famous 53 rd chapter deals with the ministry of the ‘suffering servant’, who among other things suffers as a substitute. He bears the punishment that his people deserve. In this context Isaiah writes: After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah Justification comes through the payment of a price. A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: ‘Justification’ is the means of securing righteousness Presentation 07

A Gospel that changes our relationship to God The early Church Fathers spoke of the ‘great exchange’. By which they meant the burden of our sin was laid on Christ and he in turn made his perfect righteousness available to us. My sin Jesus’ righteousness Presentation 07

What is a substitute? Some one who takes our place. In the world of football a substitute replaces an injured player. The Old Testament background to substitution is very interesting. The high priest confessed the sins of the people over the head of goat that was then sacrificed. Lev Jesus, our substitute, had our sins laid on him and he bore their punishment. God’s justice is satisfied! A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: What about God’s justice? …Substitution Presentation 07

To propitiate means ‘to turn away anger’. The same Hebrew root is used in the word 'mercy seat', located on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. Its basic meaning is that of 'a covering, a shelter’. It absorbed what fell on it from above and protected for those sheltering beneath. Not only does man need a Saviour to satisfy God's justice, he needs a Shelter that will absorb God's wrath. Jesus, in his own person on the cross, exhausted and absorbed all the righteous wrath of God that should have fallen on his people. mercy seat Ark of the Covenant A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: Christ’s death is also ‘propitiatory’. Presentation 07

Jesus has absorbed in his own person the wrath of God that should fall on me! It is impossible to begin to understand Jesus’ words, spoken in darkness from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”, without recognising that in concentrated form he was absorbing the wrath, which his people deserved to bear. God’s Wrath A Gospel that Changes … 3:21ff The Righteousness of God 3: Christ’s death is also ‘propitiatory’. Presentation 07