Romans Lesson 7

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you, and welcome to Let the Bible speak. I hope you have a New Testament nearby and that you’ll be opening with me to the reading found in the book of Romans. We’re in Romans chapter 3. And our study today in Romans chapter 3, beginning in verse 19 through verse 31, or through the end of that chapter, is one of the grandest studies concerning how that we are saved by the grace of God, by the grace of God through faith. Now many times I ask people, why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to die on the cross? And the usual answer is because God so loved us. Well, it is true that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3 and verse 16. But while that is a great text, and indeed it gives us only one element concerning the reason for the death of Jesus Christ, it does not actually explain why it was necessary that Jesus should die. You see there the skeptic who often raises the question, well, if if God is so powerful that he could create man from the dust of the ground, why was it necessary for him to give his only begotten son to die for man? Could he not save man some other way? Truly, if God could have provided the forgiveness of sins by some means other than the death of his only son, don’t you suppose he would have chosen another way? Why was the cross necessary? Well, our text in our study today actually gives answer to that all important question.

1. By the Law Is the Knowledge of Sin

To really understand this text, though, we need to understand that it’s really making a difference or a contrast between the works of the law of Moses versus the system of salvation by the grace of God. You have your Bible open, let us read, beginning in Romans chapter 3, verses 19 through 22. For the apostle says, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. For there is no difference. If you’ve been studying with us, you recognize that in the earlier passages, we’ve gone through the reasoning that the Gentiles stood as sinners and in need of salvation. But also the Jews stood as sinners and in need of salvation. In our last lesson, in fact, we we observed how that the apostle quoted many Old Testament scriptures to point out that there are none who are righteous. All have sinned. And so as he continues with that thought, he says, Whatsoever the law saith, it saith to them who are under law, for what reason? That every mouth may be stopped. In other words, there is no boasting under the law of Moses.

There is no boasting of those who try to serve God solely by keeping a law, because law only points out that man is imperfect. Perfect law cannot be kept perfectly by man who has his own faults. You see, really, to understand this text and this context, I want to point out to you that it’s a contrast between the system of law versus the system of faith. Whenever we read in this context the word works, we’re going to see that it really is a stand-in word for the law of Moses. Sometimes there are those who confuse this whole context, because every time they see the word works, they often think that even works of faith are forbidden by the Lord. But this text, whatever uses the word works, or the context really on in through chapter 4, is making a contrast between that works of the law of Moses or the system of justification by law versus the system of justification by faith.

The word faith is going to be a stand-in word for the system of salvation by the grace of God. Now, what he says in this text is that the law, by the law, it stops every mouth. In other words, there’s no room for boasting or bragging, those who would try to serve God by the law, because, as it continues, that all the world may be guilty before God. By the deeds of the law is the knowledge of sin. Now that’s rather easy for us to comprehend. If you’ve ever been stopped by a patrolman, for example, and driving down the road, and and maybe you’ve come into a town and you were not uh familiar, and and this patrolman pulls you over and he says, sir, you’re speeding.

And you say, Well, well, I’m I’m unaware. I didn’t see the sign. And he says, Well, it’s right back down the road. Uh it was a 35 mile per hour sign, and you’re going 50 miles per hour, and I’m going to give you a ticket. And under that condition, he may justly give you a ticket, but you didn’t feel guilty because you did not know the law. But on the other hand, had you seen that sign that said 35 miles per hour, and now you’re driving 50 miles per hour, and he pulled you over. You you knew that you deserved the ticket. You knew that you were guilty. The law of God, particularly that law that is incorporated in the Old Testament, and where I believe the scripture here is talking primarily about the law of Moses, but really the whole Old Testament law, all is included in this.

What was it given for? That it might teach man the knowledge of sin. It sets forth God’s perfect standard. An imperfect man, trying to keep God’s perfect standard, realizes that he’s a sinner. In chapter 7 of Romans in verses 7 through 13. In fact, there the apostle says, Is the law sin? In other words, did God make a mistake? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law. For I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Going right on through verse 13, he really describes the law as being holy and just and good, but it was given that sin might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

What does that mean? What the law served was a purpose to lead man to the knowledge that he needed a savior, to convince man, to convict man that he is a sinner. You see, the law system of works left man convicted. That’s really what this is saying in this context. In fact, another book or letter written at about the same time the book of Romans was the book of Galatians. And in Galatians chapter 3, the apostle there is making a description about the law of God. And he says in verse 22, the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. In other words, it has concluded. The conclusion of those trying to serve the law is that they’re all sinners.

That’s really what the book of Romans is saying, isn’t it? But you notice now, if you’re still open with me at Galatians chapter 3, he begins to make a comparison from the law system of justification versus the grace system or faith system of justification. Grace system of faith provides forgiveness of sin. I’m reading Galatians 3, really, verses 23 through 25. When he says, before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Where will the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we’re no longer under a schoolmaster. Now, this passage in Galatians chapter 3 speaks about a time before faith came. Now, we’ve talked about this in our earlier lessons, describing what faith in this context may mean.

And it’s really talking about the system of faith. Whereas faith by each individual is that means by which we serve God. It is faith that we have produced by hearing the faith. You remember our text that we set forth as the theme of the book of Romans? In Romans chapter 1, where he said in verses 16 and 17, for I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. And really what he’s saying is from the faith, that which has been revealed by God, the gospel story, to faith, as man hears or reads the word of God and hears it, it produces faith in him.

That is the absolute trust in God to do what God has said. And so it is in Galatians chapter 3, before faith came. Well, under the law of Moses, there were men of faith. I mean, Noah was a man of faith when he built the ark. Moses was a man of faith who led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Even before them, Abraham was a man of faith. So they had faith by the hearing of God’s word, but they didn’t have the faith. They didn’t have the system of salvation by grace through faith. So Galatians 3 is a, well, it’s in Romans chapter 3, he’s talking about a system of salvation by faith. And the law system of works left man convicted of sin, whereas the grace system provides forgiveness of sin.

2. All Have Sinned and Come Short

In fact, as we go back to Romans chapter 3, you notice when he says, Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. It is now through Christ is what is fulfillment of that which had been prophesied. The law and the prophets look forward to the coming of Christ. Now that faith has come, we’re no longer under that school teacher that led us to Christ. But what we have now is a system by which all men can be saved. God makes no difference between Jew and Gentile. The law of Moses had been given to the Jew, but the gospel is for all. Look at Romans 3 at verse 23. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

All have sinned. What does that really declare? It’s the point that he’s been leading up to since Romans chapter 1 and verse 18. And through that text, right up to this point, here comes the climax. All the sinners all deserve eternal death. Genesis 2 and verse 17, God in the beginning set forth the fact that in the day you eat thereof you shall surely die. Man who sins is worthy of death. How can God be just and justify any sinner? We’re going to pause for a moment when we come back. We’re going to answer that important question. How can God, of whole integrity of his law that said sinners must die, and yet he can save them? You stay with us. We’ll be back in just one moment.

3. Justified Freely by His Grace Through the Redemption

Why was it necessary that Jesus should die on the cross so that man could be saved? Why couldn’t God have found some other way than the death of his only begotten Son? Well, in Romans chapter 3, verses 24 through 26, we begin to see the answer to that question. And the apostle says, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. To speak about the cross of Jesus Christ, one must first understand the law of God, even from the beginning of time.

In the Garden of Eden, God had said in the day that Adam and Eve would eat of the forbidden fruit, they would surely die. That was God’s law from the beginning. That sin is worthy of death, eternal separation from God. In fact, in Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 20, that law is repeated when it says, The soul that sinneth it shall die. The Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, nor the Father bear the iniquity of the Son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Each individual stands accountable for his own works. But the sinner is worthy of death. Even in Romans chapter 6 and verse 23, the wages of sin is death.

The question, therefore, facing the Lord is how can anyone be saved and the integrity of God’s law be upheld? You know, our system, our courts have a system of justice, we call it. But how often do we complain when we think that someone who really is guilty of a crime, justice is not meted out to him, because maybe he is not punished as the law would have demanded. Or on the other hand, perhaps there are those who seemingly are innocent, uh, yet they are convicted convicted and they’re overly punished for something they did not do. But really, our system is the best system known in the world today. We call it a system of justice, but we recognize that it is imperfect. But God is perfect.

And his law is perfect, and his system of justice is perfect. But that also says that if all have sinned, as Romans 3 and verse 23 says, then all are worthy of death. Can the integrity of God’s law be upheld? Can the majesty of God’s law be upheld, and let anyone who is sinned be let go free? Well, the scripture says here that Jesus Christ died in our place. That’s what that’s saying. Verse 24, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. It is by God’s grace that Jesus died in our place. You see, the word grace literally means favor. It is favor that is undeserved, that is unmerited. And so it is, as the scripture declares in 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 18 and 19.

For as much as you know that you were redeemed, not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Jesus did no sin. Therefore he was not worthy of death. But he could die in the place of others who were worthy of death. The word redeemed literally means to be bought back, to be repurchased. And therefore we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption, the buying back that is in Christ Jesus. And as Romans 3 25 says, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith. Now that word propitiation is not one we we ordinarily use. In fact, it’s only found a couple of times in the New Testament.

In fact, the Greek word that is translated propitiation here, Hilesterion, is found only two times in the New Testament. It’s interesting that it’s found here, translated propitiation. But in Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 5, it is translated mercy seat. And it’s referring to the temple of old, the tabernacle, first of all. In the Holy of Holies, above the ark of the covenant was the mercy seat, the wings of the cherubims, cherubims overshadowing it. The mercy seat, according to the Exodus 25 and verse 22, is the place where God would meet with the high priest when he would enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for the sins. You see, God would meet and commune there. But in this text, that same word translated mercy seat, the meeting place of God, so to speak, Jesus Christ is our propitiation.

God meets with man through Jesus Christ. Literally, the word propitiation means to appease, to appease the wrath that really was due. Man, because of sin is worthy of death, but Jesus Christ, by his death, through his blood, has provided redemption. Man couldn’t buy that. Man couldn’t deserve that. It was not of works, lest any man should boast, Ephesians 2 and verse 9, that Christ was given for our sins, not of works. Jesus Christ was given solely by the grace of God. Man did not deserve it. But man has a part in salvation. God’s grace is for everyone. Jesus Christ died that all might be saved. In 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 4, and again in verse 6, God would have all men be saved. What’s the difference between the saved and the lost?

4. By Faith We Have Access Into Grace

It isn’t because God has limited his grace, but rather the difference is because faith is the key that makes us have access into God’s grace. And there are some men who do not believe. By faith, man has access into grace. That’s really the reading in Romans chapter 5 and verses 1 and 2. When he says, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. How do we reach God’s grace? Well, it’s by faith. We have access into it. Grace is God’s part, the provision of the means of salvation solely by God’s grace. But dear beloved, salvation is not by grace alone.

God’s part has been done. But salvation is by grace through faith. Man’s part is faith. Now we get back to the question that’s in our context, as we were studying earlier in the lesson, about the works, the works of the law. And as we pointed out, this context is describing the difference between the law of Moses and its form of justification or the system of justification by law versus the system of justification by grace through faith. We may raise the question are works necessary? Well, in the context that he’s speaking about here, where works is a stand-in word for the law of Moses, obviously the answer is works are not necessary if you’re talking about the kind of works that the law demanded. You see, works of human perfection are impossible for man to keep.

The law simply brought man the knowledge of sin. All were found guilty of sin, and none could boast that he deserved salvation, not any who tried to keep the law perfectly, at least. Really, works of man’s invention would not save. Men sometimes have a form of righteousness that they create, and man may come along and think of himself as being a pretty good moral person, and he may be rich and he may want to give a lot of money, or he may say, Look at all the good things that I do, Lord, but those won’t save. The kind of works of man or of trying to keep the law will save no one. But in this text, it speaks about how that through Jesus Christ, God provided an appeasement for sin that we might be justified, really.

You see, the word justify is a word that actually literally means to acquit. If someone goes on trial and the jury finds that he’s not guilty and they acquit him of guilt. He’s looked upon as though he never committed the crime for which he was invited. You and I, as mankind, are guilty of sin. And the jury should find us guilty and worthy of death. But we’re justified. We are acquitted through the blood of Christ, by faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, in verse 25, he even says that it is for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. Even those who live long before Jesus died on the cross. By faith, when they served God and kept his word, by faith when they did his will, the blood of Christ reaches backwards as well as forwards.

All those Old Testament characters, even, all who serve by faith will be justified through the blood of Christ. Now God was forbearing, that is, he did not bring upon them the penalty that was really worthy and due them, because he could look beyond and know about the gift of Christ that would be provided for man’s sins. So, as verse 26 says, to declare, I say at this time his or God’s righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. A great text. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross? That God might be just. While he is full of love and he’s full of mercy, he is also perfect, and he is just.

5. Justified by Faith Without the Deeds of the Law

Now let’s look further at this text. We’re reading in verses 27 through 31. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law. Now, an important text here in contrast, and you have to keep it in context. Again, the word works here, describing the law of Moses or that law standard that was perfect.

I raised the question a moment ago, are works necessary? Let’s raise it again. And say that if we’re talking about human perfection, then those works are not necessary. The law kind of works are not necessary. But what about works of faith? If obeying the faith, then yes. If you’re talking about works of faith, interestingly, this is a text where Martin Luther many years ago in the 1500s added the word how that we’re justified by faith alone. He added the word, which said, without the deeds of the law. Verse 28. But now by faith, without the deeds of the law of Moses or the Old Testament law is really what’s saying. But the word alone should not be added. And it’s caused much confusion in the religious world.

There’s those today who say, oh, faith only saves. And if they mean simply the mental agreement, then they’re misconstruing or misapplying what the scripture says. Even the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 1 and verse 5, it talks about obedience to the faith. And it closes in chapter 16 and verse 26 with a similar concept, obedience of the faith. As bookends of this great book about faith, it says we must obey. In fact, right in the middle of it. In Romans chapter 6, verses 17 and 18, he said, But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

You see, when we obey, it isn’t a work that is meritorious that deserves salvation. But the Bible even speaks about a work of faith as being obedience. When the apostle addressed the church at Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 1 and verse 3, he praised them for their work of faith. And to the churches of Galatia, in Galatians 5 and verse 6, he said, Circumcision availeth nothing, neither uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. Faith without works, James 2, verses 14 through 26 says, faith without obedience really is the idea, is dead, being alone. You see, works of faith do not nullify grace. Works of faith, it says, Lord, what would you have me to do? And we obey. Even as we hear the word of God, we believe Jesus to be the Son of God.

Repenting of our sin is a work of faith. Confessing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God is a work of faith. Even baptism is a work of faith. Grace saves us through faith. Titus chapter 2, verses 11 and 12 is one of those great texts that illustrates the point. But it says, The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. But listen, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, that’s repentance, denying it. We should live soberly, righteously, and godly. That’s doing God’s will in God’s way. Even Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10 that describes how we’re saved by grace through faith. Speaks about the works which God hath ordained. Ephesians 2 and verse 10. That’s a work of faith, doing what God said in God’s way.

Conclusion

Don’t reject baptism. If God commanded it, it’s a work of faith. We’re saved by grace through faith. Have you obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins? I hope that you’ll study very carefully this text. Until our next study, we bid that the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.