1. Romans 3:21-31 Justification by Faith, in the Cross of Christ

2. 1.Exalts His righteousness 2.Exalts His grace 3.Shows His consistency 4.Confirms and exalts His Word Outline taken from Dr. John MacArthur

3. A story from Romans 3

4. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

5. 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

6. 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;

7. “When the sacrificial blood is sprinkled on this cover, it ceases to be a place of judgment and it becomes a place of mercy. The blood comes between the violated law and the violators, the people. The blood of Jesus satisfies the just requirements of God’s holy law which mankind broke, pays the penalty for man, and thus removes…sin, its guilt and penalty.” -- Kenneth Wuest

8. Hilasterion—the satisfaction I John 2: 1-2 And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. I John 4:9-10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins.

9. 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;

10. 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

11. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

12. “Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the axe of justice, so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures, so averse to God that they cannot turn to Him, so blind that they cannot see Him, so deaf that they cannot hear Him, and so dead He Himself must open their grave.” --G.S. Bishop

13. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

14. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

15. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen 6:8) Abraham believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6) How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity. (Psalm 32:1-2) The righteous will live by his faith (Hab 4:2)

16. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

17. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. The purpose of the law… 1.Reveals the character and nature of God 2.Condemns us, reveals our utter sinfulness 3.Leads us to humbly seek God’s provision 4.Being born anew, we now have the potential to live the life He intended for us

18. Romans 3:21-31 Justification by Faith, in the Cross of Christ