PREACHING
THRU
ROMANS
BY
DR. D. PAUL TUCK SR.
Expository sermon notes chapter by chapter through
Paul’s letter to the Roman Church.
All rights to copy or reprint these notes
are
reserved by the author and copy
permission will be granted to
missionaries
and churches by
writing to -
BAPTIST PULPIT MINISTRIES
48 Cobbler Crescent
North York, Ontario,
Canada M3N 2Y7
Telephone and fax (416) 739-1895
E-Mail:
bpulpit@rogers.com
COPYRIGHT - 1988, 1998, 2004
Dewey Decimal Number 227.1.DPT
First printing 1988
Second printing 1994
PREACHING
THRU
ROMANS
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to the students of my Romans course, taught at Landmark Baptist Bible Institute in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada in 1988. Their love for the Word inspired me to work to prepare these notes. They are based upon expository sermon outlines preached at Landmark Baptist Church, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada where the author was founder and pastor, 1978-1990.
INTRODUCTION
The apostle Paul wrote the letter, known as Romans, about AD 58 from the City of Corinth. Frederic Godet gives December 58-February 59 as the date, just before Paul left for Jerusalem.
The key verse is 1:16-17-“The gospel is the power of God unto salvation”
Its theme is - Two fold
Chapters 1-11 Salvation by sovereign grace through faith alone. (doctrinal).
Chapter 12-16 Concerning Christian duties. (practical).
The two sections are divided into, first doctrinal, studies, and then practical lessons applied to Christian living.
Some have suggested that Paul could have made a great lawyer. This is based upon his presentation of doctrine, particularly the subject of law versus grace. His argument from a legal standpoint is tremendous. His practical arguments arise from the foundation of his doctrinal exegesis.
Paul stands firm in his argument that men are saved by faith in Christ apart from good works or the deeds of Mosaic Law. Salvation for all men is in Christ, and by the act of a sovereign God who offers men eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul’s gospel is the good news of justification by faith alone! The gospel of Christ is to be preached in the entire world to all men of every nation. This was the desire of Paul in obedience to the command of Christ. Of this gospel, he was not ashamed. He had tasted of its power and sought to share it with others. Dare we do less?
Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.
September 20th 1988
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
Text: Romans 1 :1-17
The word gospel means “good news”! It is the good news of salvation. It is first mentioned in Matthew 4:23. “Jesus went about… preaching the gospel”. It is last mentioned in Revelation 14:6.
There is power in the gospel to save, keep and satisfy. This is ours for simply believing or trusting Christ as our personal Savior, on the basis of His finished work on Calvary. Christ died for His people, the elect, chosen before the foundation of the world.
1. THE PEOPLE AND THE GOSPEL: vs 1-7
A. The Servant: vs 1
Paul was called to be an apostle
for the preaching of the gospel. – Cf -Acts 9:1-6.
B. The Scripture: vs 2
God promised the gospel through the prophets. – Luke 24:44; Hebrews 1:1.
C. The Son
1. Incarnation – vs 3 – The word became flesh. Jesus is God in
human flesh.
John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8.
2. Infallible – vs 4 – The perfect Son of God.
Colossians 2:9 – In Him dwells all the power of God.
3. Impact – vs 5-6 – When
converted we are commanded to share the good news – Mark 16:15.
D. The Saints: vs 7
“To all the saints of Rome, grace and peace.”
“Called to be saints” – Cf -1 Peter 5:10.
This is the call of God to every believer, not just some appointed to sainthood by some man.
To be a “saint” means, to be separated unto God as a holy vessel.
2. THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL: vs 8-15
A. Pleasure: vs 8
Paul was pleased with the renowned faith of the Roman Christians. Such dedication spreads to others – Romans 16:19.
B. Prayer: vs 9-10
Paul prayed for their needs and for an opportunity to visit them.
Note: Jesus prayer for
the Church! – John 17:20
This is the true Lord’s Prayer, the one we often call the Lord’s prayer is the disciple’s model prayer.
C. Plea: vs 11-14
Paul wanted to impart spiritual blessings, to establish and encourage them in the Lord. – Cf - Matthew 5:48. He sought to find fruit among them as he did elsewhere he preached. He considered himself a debtor to the Gentiles-Vs 14.
D. Preaching: vs 15
Paul was always ready to preach the gospel – (two seasons of the year – in season and out of it – 2 Timothy 4:2).
Cf- Jeremiah 20:9.
3. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL: vs 16-17
A. Gospel of Power: vs 16
It is the basis for salvation and for transformation – Hebrews 4:12; for all who believe – Rom. 10:13; first to the Jew, then for the Gentiles – The word – “whosoever”, is not a general call as some teach. It is particular or effectual and is always conditional to the word “believe.” There is no salvation for non-believers. The atonement is particular to the elect.
B. Gospel of Pardon: vs 17
The man who finds life, will find it through trusting God.
Habakkuk 2:4 – “Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”
We are saved by grace through
faith – Ephesians 2:8-9.
CONCLUSION:
After we experience the power of the gospel we should share it. We are commanded as a New Testament Church to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” – Mark 16:15.
If we are ashamed of the gospel, we will hide it from those who are lost –
Cf - 2 Corinthians 4:3.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ – vs 16.
Note the results of being ashamed of Jesus – Mark 8:38.
Do you hear the voice of God calling you to Himself?
You can come to Him through Christ!
Receive Him, Christ today!
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
Text: Romans 1:18-32
God has given man freedom of choice (Joshua 24:15).
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye shall serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” 1 Kings 18:21. “And Elijah came unto all the people and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
While it is a truth of Scripture, that because of total human depravity, man cannot of himself choose God’s way of salvation in Christ, and make himself righteous. God doesn’t force anyone to follow His way. Our life now, and for eternity depends upon personal acceptance or rejection of the gospel. No one can choose for us: Everyone is responsible to God for his own choices. God is truly sovereign, but cannot be held responsible for sin or human choice.
In these verses in Romans, we see three things that prevail in man’s rejection of the gospel of saving grace.
A. Stubbornness
toward God – vs 18-23
B. Separation
from God – vs 24-27
C. Sinfulness against God – vs 28-32
1. STUBBORNNESS TOWARD GOD: vs 18-23
A. Revelation: vs 18-19
God’s wrath is revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness. He demands holiness – Hebrews 12:14.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”
B. Reality: vs 20
Man has seen nature, evidence of the God who created and controls it. He says in his heart, “there is no God” – Cf - Psalm 14:1.
C. Rejection: vs 21
They did know God (those of the antediluvian age) but they did not honor Him as God. They were not thankful of Him and thought only of foolish things.”
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
D. Reaction: vs 22-23
“Thinking they were wise, they became fools.”
Note: Fools make a mock of sin: This has been the condition of every great empire before their demise.
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is a favor.”
2. SEPARATION FROM GOD: vs 24-27
A. Denounced: vs 24
God denounced them, gave them up, because of their corruption.
Rot in an apple can go so far as to render the apple unredeemable – useless – even so sin. Sinners need to know that “there is a line that is drawn in rejecting the Lord.”
Our sin separates us from God.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”
B. Depravity: vs 25
They worshipped the creature
more than the creator. God forbids idol worship – See - Exodus 20:4.
1 John 5:21
“Little children keep yourselves from idols.”
Hedonism is idolatry! This is the sin of our day. Our idols could be money, sleep, friends, sports or even family. It is anything that comes before God in our affections and worship of Him.
C. Degradation: vs 26-27
Homosexuality is not a sickness – it is a sin! It is not an alternative lifestyle – it is a sin and perversion! God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of this sin – Genesis 19:1-26.
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
Cf - Deut. 23:17-18 and 1
Corinthians 6:19-20.
3. SINFULNESS AGAINST GOD: vs 28-32
When a man rejects the gospel he cannot go on as before. Once we know the truth, sin against the truth or light makes that sin exceedingly sinful.
“Therefore to him who knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
Paul, in talking about God’s law, says –
“was that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”
Sin against man and the laws of our land is also against God. Sin does not being us joy but sorrow. The so-called pleasures of sin leave us with a headache the next day.
The pleasures of sin last but
for a short time- Hebrews 11:25.
Sinfulness against God brought –
A. Sorrow: vs 28
God gave up these people who
rebelled against Him. Rejection of Christ brings sorrow. If we believe, we are
saved. If we do not believe, we are lost. – Mark 16:16; John 3:18.
B. Sins: vs 29-31
Their lives became full of every wickedness and sin. Of greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, lying, bitterness, and gossip. They were backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud braggarts, always thinking of new ways of sinning and continually being disobedient to their parents, and were heartless, without pity. (Living Bible).
We see in history the deceitfulness and degradation of sin. Sin left unchecked by the grace of God knows no depth but hell itself.
C. Shame: vs 32
They enjoyed sinning and getting others to sin.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
What a shame! Knowing what is right, but rejecting it. Rejecting an opportunity to have sins forgiven, to be saved eternally, to have everlasting life.
Satan hardens man’s heart – 2 Corinthians 4:4 – as man continues to reject God, his heart becomes hardened, he feels no conviction. Only the Spirit of God can quicken or regenerate a depraved sinner – Ephesians 2:1. To reject the Holy Spirit’s enlightening, or drawing, and conviction is to draw a line against God. God’s elect may do this for a time, but the wooing, and quickening power of the Holy Spirit will prevail.
CONCLUSION:
If you feel a need for forgiveness of sins and salvation, you need to seek the Lord now. Is He drawing you to Himself? Then come to Him now without delay. If I were you, I would not put off the time of my salvation one minute longer. This tried history lesson of the antediluvian age is a prime example of the danger of procrastination.
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
“JUDGMENT FOR ALL”
There is only one righteous judge – God.
Regardless of ones experience, skill or intelligence, no one is qualified to judge the heart and motive of another. Jesus warned against judging – Matt. 7:1-5. This verse is sometimes misused or used out of context as to cover up for sin. Paul is in no way saying we should tolerate sin in the church or in our lives. In 1 Corinthians 6:2, Paul taught that the church was to judge, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” The Word of God is clear on many matters and the church is to judge the actions of men based upon God’s Word.
The difference here is between the “deed” and the “motive”. I can judge a man’s deeds when I catch a thief with the stolen goods, but I cannot judge his motives or his heart. It is not for me to say if a man is truly saved or not, but we can be fruit inspectors.
Our fellowship with others is to be centered in Christ and upon God’s Word.
If we heed Paul’s advice in 1 Cor. 9:24-27, we will have no time to judge others or meddle in their affairs. Judging others shows lack of consecration and maturity.
1. THE SIN OF JUDGING: vs 1-4
A. The Judging: vs 1
When we judge others we are judging ourselves.
We may not have the sins of Romans 1:21-32, but that does not mean we should become self-righteous and proud.
We are ALL sinners. – Romans
3:23.
B. The Judge: vs 2
God is the righteous judge. – Psalm
103:6
Let God do the judging of the motives of others.
C. The Judgment: vs 3
We need to judge ourselves. God will not judge others and overlook us when we do the same things.
Many do not understand that there is a judgment for Christians – 2 Corinthians 5:10. This is the Bema of Christ or Judgment of believers works, done after they are saved.
D. The Justice: vs 4
God’s kindness and patience leads us to repentance and new life in Christ.
It is God’s mercy that saves
us from destruction.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God desires that all men turn from their sins – To us-ward is particular and applicable only to the elect, not to every single man in the world. That none be lost – that is, none of his sheep, his elect.
God is sovereign, and loving, but He is also just and fair. Jesus prayed to his Father, stating that he lost none but the one intended for that purpose, namely Judas Iscariot.
2. THE SELF IN JUDGING: vs 5-11
A. Righteous Judgment: vs 5-6
Stubbornness in continuing in sin adds to the wrath the sinner will face in God’s final judgment. – Revelation 20:11-15.
We are judged first by the heart
– vs 5
We are judged by our deeds – vs
6
Cf - Malachi 3:16
God keeps a record of all who love Him.
B. Results in Judgment: vs
7-8
1. Righteous – vs 7 - Eternal life! Our name must be in the Lamb’s Book of Life. – Rev. 21:27; 20:15.
2. Rebellion: vs 8
God will punish those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but continually do or live what is wrong.
His anger will be upon them.
C. Reasoning in Judgment: vs 9-11
Jew and Gentile, ALL must stand before God.
God is no respecter of persons –
Romans 10:12
The gospel call to salvation is for all people. This is known as God’s general call – Romans 1:16. It works effectually and particularly only in the elect
3. THE SAVIOUR IN JUDGING: vs 12-16
A. Judgment on all Men: vs
12-15
We are sinners – Isaiah 53:6
All sin must be punished – Romans
6:23
The small and great shall stand before God – Rev. 20:11-15
If man sincerely seeks God, he
will find God – Jeremiah 29:13
B. Judgment on all Motives: vs 16
All must die – then comes
judgment – Hebrews 9:27
We will be judged by the use of
our abilities – Luke 12:48
We will be rewarded according to our works – Rev. 22:12
What we sow we reap – Galatians 6:7-8
God will judge all sin whether in the life of the sinner or the Christian.
Sin must be confessed and forsaken.
Paul exhorted the members of the Corinth Church to examine themselves –
1 Corinthians 11:28.
The believer’s sin is judged judicially in Christ. Are you in Christ? Have you come to Him as your sin-bearing Savior? You can come right now if you will hear His voice and respond.
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
“SALVATION OR THE LAW”
The Jews were very strict in keeping their ceremonial laws. They had a form of religion that did not result in righteous living. They did not possess a living faith in God. They were faithful to their teachings or doctrines but were not forgiven of their sins. They were very religious but lost. We will examine this question put forth by Paul to the Roman Church under three headings.
1. Spiritual Pride
2. Spiritual Practice
3. Spiritual Purity
1. SPIRITUAL PRIDE: Vs 17-20
A. Pride: vs 17-18
Because God gave them the law
(the 10 commandments and other laws), the Jews thought they were righteous. –
Cf - Romans 3:23.
B. Practice: vs 19
They thought they had the truth and could teach others. They rejected Christ, who was the truth – John 14:6, 16:13. How could they guide others into truth they did not possess themselves?
C. Plan: vs 20
How could they teach others when they themselves were in darkness? Jesus spoke of the “blind leading the blind” – Matthew 15:14 – “who would both fall into the ditch”. An unconverted religious leader cannot lead others to righteous living.
2. SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: vs 21-24
If you teach
others, do you practice what you teach? Paul warns of people having a form of
Godliness, but no power or reality of the gospel in their lives. Cf - 2
Timothy 3:1-5.
A. The Practice: vs 21-22
Yes, you teach others –then why don’t you teach yourselves? They said they knew God but their works denied it – Titus 1:16.
B. The Problem: vs 23
They knew the Old Testament teachings, but they didn’t obey them.
Cf - Matthew 7:21-23; Rev.
3:17-18.
What you know is not worth much if you do not use it
A university degree is worthless if you are unemployed and not even looking for a job.
C. The Pity: vs 24
Because of the poor example of professed Christians, the name of Christ is often treated with disrespect and dragged into the gutter, the muck and the mire.
Cf - Luke 6:46; John 14:15.
3. SPIRITUAL PURITY: VS 25-29
A. Religious or Righteous? Vs 25-26
Practicing a religious act will
not make us right with God. The rich ruler obeyed laws but was not a Christian
– Mark 10:17-22.
B. Sacrilegious or Sacred? Vs 27-28
Jewish laws did not measure up to Gods laws. Traditions rendered even Moses law of none effect. The law of Moses was not intended to save.
NOTE: Ephesians. 2:8-9. It is not what we do, but what God in Christ has done for us that atones for our sins.
C. Historical or Holy? Vs 29
God is not looking for a
historical religion, but for holy (set apart) people who love and serve Him.
(See Hebrews 12:14) Only the pure in heart will see God. – See - Matthew.
5:8.
We must be “born again”. – John 3:1-18.
CONCLUSION:
Hell will be stuffed to the rafters with religious people! Nicodemus was religious but Jesus told him he needed to be born again.
We must be new creatures in Christ – 2 Cor. 5:17.
Christ’s blood will cleanse us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7.
He will forgive if we come to Him confessing our sin and need of a Savior – 1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9-13.
We can be assured of eternal life. – John 3:36; 5:24.
The Jewish laws could not promise this.
Will you come to Him right now and receive Him as your personal Savior? Come!
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
“SELF-RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE”
Romans
3:1-18
The Jews of Paul’s days were self-righteous people. They depended upon the Jewish ceremonial laws for salvation. From Ephesians 2:8-9, we learn that even today many pin their hopes for salvation on the works they do rather than what God has done for them.
Here we look closer at Paul’s argument that the Jew who trusts in the law for salvation is no better off than the Gentile pagan who does not believe in God.
1. THE
PRIDE OF THESE PEOPLE: vs 1-4
A.
Pride: vs 1
Are the Jews better in the sight of God than the non-Jews?
Matthew 6:2, 16 – all are equal in God’s sight.
B. Provision: vs 2
The Jews had God’s law and were His covenant people.
The Jews were the first to receive the gospel.
The first church members were Jews.
This does
not mean that God loves the Jew more than the Gentile – Romans 1:16.
C. Problem: vs 3
Because the Jews were unfaithful, does not mean that God is not faithful –
1 Corinthians 10:13.
D. Personality: vs 4
God is truthful, even when all others are not.
Christ is truth – John 14:6.
God does not lie. – Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19.
2. THE PROBLEM OF THESE PEOPLE: vs 5-8
A.
Folly: vs 5
“If our sins show how right God is, what can we say? Is it wrong for God to punish us for it? (I am speaking as men do).”
Can we say God is wrong when our actions, the way we live prove Him to be right?”
Psalm 145:17 - “God is righteous in all His ways.”
B. Fairness: vs 6
God will judge in a fair manner – Revelation 10:11-15 (the books were opened).
Note also: God’s book of remembrance – Malachi 3:16.
No excuses will be accepted, no exceptions given. He will have the evidence that convicts every man.
C. Foolishness: vs 7-8
“If my lies
honor God by showing how true He is, why am I still being punished as a sinner?
Why not say, let us sin that good will come from it.” (Some people thought Paul
talked like that). But they will be punished, as they should be. If we call
ourselves Christians, we should depart from all sin. – 2 Timothy 2:19.
3. THE PERSONALITY OF THESE PEOPLE: vs 9-18
A.
Sin: vs 9-10
Both Jew
and Gentile are sinners – vs 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 51:5.
“There is none righteous, no, not one.”
No one understands or seeks God.
God looked down from heaven into the hearts of men to see if any sought Him and could find none. – Psalm 14:2.
C. Stubborn: vs 12-18
They chose to go astray.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” –
Jeremiah 17:9.
D. Shame:
vs 12-18
1 – Throat
– vs 13 – Deceit – James 3:6
2 – Mouth –
vs 14 – Cursing and bitterness – 1 Peter 2:1
3 – Feet –
vs 15 – Shed blood – Proverbs 6:18
4 – Ways – vs 16- Destruction and misery – Proverbs. 2:15.
5 – No respect – vs 17-18 – no peace or honor – Isaiah 48:22.
Conclusion:
The Pharisees had a form of religion but didn’t know God in a personal way. They fasted, prayed, paid their tithes, but these were but mere outward manifestations only. God was not in their hearts – Matthew 7:24-27.
Is God in your heart? Have you received His Son, Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Jesus Christ is your only hope for eternity.
PREACHING THRU
ROMANS
In the first verses of this third chapter we found that there is none righteous, whether Jew or Gentile. All men, both Jew and Gentile are under sin.
Now Paul is bringing us to see that the purpose of the law is not to provide us with righteousness or in its keeping, a way of salvation. All the law can do is condemn us and show us all for what we really are before God, sinners. Before one can know anything about salvation, he must know his need as a sinner.
1. THE REALITY OF THE LAW: Vs 19-23
A.
Scope of the Law: Vs 19
The law speaks to those who are under its jurisdiction.
The law declares our depravity and guilt.
The law can only bring one to knowledge of condemnation.
B. Standing under the Law: Vs 20
No flesh can be justified by the deeds (keeping) of the Law.
By the Law is the knowledge of sin. The Law reveals our sinful practice and declares our standing as guilty before God.
That which condemns us cannot justify one.
B. Significance of God’s Righteousness: Vs 21-23
God’s righteousness outside of and apart from the law is revealed, which was witnessed by the law and the prophets.
The righteousness of God which comes by the faith of Jesus Christ to all those who believe. There is no difference then between the Jew and the Gentile for both are condemned by their sin, and the law has no salvation for either.
All men, both Jew and Gentile are sinners and have come short of God’s standard for righteousness. God has a standard of righteous for which man must qualify in order to enter heaven or the kingdom of God. The best of men still comes short of that standard. This is the meaning of 3:23.
2. THE REALITY OF GOD’S JUSTICE SATISFIED: Vs 24-26
A. Redemption
by Jesus Christ: Vs 24-25
1. Vs 24 – Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Justified means to be declared just as if I had never sinned. Justification is a legal term. When one is justified, it means that all of the legal terms of the law are satisfied. What does Paul say here about justification?
a) It is free; it does not require further payment upon the part of one who receives it. The operation that grants justification can therefore never be by works.
b) “By His grace” – Justification is therefore by God’s grace. This makes grace sovereign with nothing added to it or subtracted from it. It is pure grace. Grace is unmerited favor, but it is more than that, it is G_R_A_C_E, “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.”
To add or subtract anything to or from grace would render it, “no grace at all.”
c) That which connects the sovereign grace of God with justification is “the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
To be redeemed means to be bought back. Adam sold out all to sin but Jesus Christ bought us (we are bought with a price) when he died, shedding His blood upon the cross of Calvary.
1 Corinthians 6:20
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
d) “That is in Christ Jesus”- That is Messiah Jesus, the anointed One.
Ephesians 3:6
“That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
2. Vs 25 – “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 past, through the forbearance of God.”
God has set forth Jesus Christ as a propitiation, that is, to act as a mercy seat. This is a Greek word that Paul uses, which the Romans would understand to mean to be propitious, to appease. This word is never used in the Greek Bible with reference to God. God did not sin or ever break His covenant with man and therefore does not need to be appeased. Propitiation is never used to bring God into a favorable attitude or gracious disposition. Man on the other hand is a covenant breaker and needs appeasement. Man is guilty of sin before God.
The sinner when coming to God through Jesus Christ finds mercy.
See- 1 John 2:2; 4:10.
“Through faith in His blood”- The blood that Jesus shed upon Calvary’s cross is the appeasement for man’s sin against God.
“To declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past”-
Propitiation is not enough, since God’s justice must be satisfied. The blood of Christ is for appeasement, but more than that, it is for remission of sins that are past. In other words, in Jesus Christ, through His shed blood there is mercy, because Jesus paid the price of man’s sin debt. Jesus dealt with the penalty of sin, by shedding his blood, in his death upon the cross.
The expiatory work of the cross is therefore the means whereby the barrier which sin interposes between God and man is broken down. By the giving up of His sinless life sacrificially, Christ annuls the power of sin to separate between God and the believer.
This is a judicial act and is why Christ died only for the elect and not for every single believer. If there were a universal atonement, it would necessitate a universal salvation, which is ludicrous.
The truth of the matter is that the word “atonement” means covering and is essentially an Old Covenant word. The word used in the New Covenant is “remission”, which means to take away the penalty of sin from God’s elect.
To “remit” means to “pay in full.” In the old days when we received an invoice for money owing, it would read in read at the bottom of the bill, “Please remit”. In other words, “pay the full amount owing.”
Jesus blood was shed for the remission of sins that are past, but only for the believer. This is received through faith.
Hebrews 9:12; 9:15; 9:22; 9:26; 9:28;
10:10,12; 10:18.
“Through the forbearance of God” – This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. The blood of Jesus Christ is shed for the remission of all sins, but here Paul is singling out past sins and its penalty.
B.
Righteousness of Jesus Christ: Vs 26
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Christ being the propitiation and his blood bringing remission of sins, puts forth or reveals the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is that of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30), which is given to the elect upon their coming to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
This makes God both the Just One, and the justifier of every one who believes savingly in Jesus Christ. This belief is seen in God given faith enabling the believer to trust in, rely upon, and believe from the heart, that Christ died for them. Mere head knowledge (belief) does not constitute saving faith, since even the devil believes and trembles.
James 2:19
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
3. THE REALITY OF BOASTING: Vs 27-31
A.
Boasting in the Law of Faith: Vs 27
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”
Someone once put it this way, “When you get to heaven and someone asks you how you got there, what will you answer? Will you say, “it is because I did so many wonderful deeds?” Or will you reply, “it was because of my baptism?” Or, perhaps you will say, “it was because I was a faithful church member?” Or, do you think you would refer to your denominational affiliation?”
No my friend, for you will not even get to heaven in the first place based upon your good deeds, baptism, church membership, denominational affiliation, or any such thing that implies that you did something good to have your name included in the Lamb’s book of life - Revelation 21:27.
The hymn-writer wrote, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.”
Jesus Christ is the way to the Father-John 14:6. One must be born again (regenerated) in order to see the kingdom of God – John 3:3.)
One must come by repentance and faith, but even that is a gift of God.
See-
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Titus 3:5; Acts 13:48; Acts 11:18.
“The law of faith”- This is not written rules and regulations apart from the written Word in which we have the gospel.
The
law of faith, is connected to the New Covenant through what is also called “the
Law of Christ” or the Law of Love.” – Galatians 6:2; Matthew 22:35-40;
John
13:34-35; John 15:12.
B. Boasting in the Proper Conclusion: Vs 28-31
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
1. Paul says the conclusion is this, “One is justified by the law of faith (made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds, works of the law. The observance of the law has nothing to do with salvation, except to establish its need.)
“Faith” – Trust in, relying upon, believing in, Jesus Christ.
Faith- “Forwarding all in Thee”.
Faith in Jesus Christ is given to the regenerated heart through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:15
“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:10
“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
2. Vs 29 – “Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:”
No doubt many of the Pharisees of Jesus day thought they had an inside road to God. The apostle Paul asks and then answers this question. “Is God merely the God of the Jews?” The simple answer to this question is yes. God, as to be God the creator did not make Adam and Eve as Jews. The covenant with Abraham came into being much later. The Jew who read his Bible would know that God had a plan and purpose that would include people of all nations.
Isaiah 11:10
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”
The student should use a concordance to check out many other such verses in the prophets.
3. Vs 30 – “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”
There is only one God who will justify the circumcised (Jew) by faith which germinated from Abraham, and the uncircumcised (Gentile) through their newly acquired faith. It is the same trusting faith in both cases, a firmly relying faith in Jesus Christ.
Abraham looked forward to Christ by faith. The Gentile who is regenerated by the Spirit of God is brought to that same faith in Jesus Christ.
4. Vs 31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
Through faith in Jesus Christ the sinner is justified before God. This faith does not do away with the law of Moses; rather it establishes it, fulfills or completes it.
Conclusion:
There is no righteousness found under the law, rather man in his guilt must fall upon the mercy of God. God then regenerates the elect sinner, giving him faith and righteousness (right standing) through Jesus Christ.
The law was never intended for salvation and Christ is the end of the law for the believer, the new law of faith and love, the law of Christ having fulfilled Moses law with all of its requirements and standard for salvation.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Romans 4:1-25
In this fourth chapter of Romans, Paul continues his argument that the purpose of the law was to bring mankind to the knowledge of Christ, but that it did not save. No amount of good works can count for righteousness with God. He now goes on to use Abraham as an example of faith. He no doubt used Abraham because the Jews of His day looked to him as a great example.
Abraham (Paul says) was accounted righteous by his faith – not good works.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags – Isa. 64:6.
We are righteous only through the new birth – John 3:1-8; 2 Cor. 5:17.
To be right with God, we must be right with our fellow man.
Note Abrahams faith – Hebrews 11:8-12.