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ROMANS - The Lord is our Righteousness
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Romans
PART 1 - The Righteousness of God Condemns all Sinners and Justifies and Sanctifies all Believers in Christ (Romans 1:18 - 8:39)
B - The New Righteousness by Faith is Open to all Men (Romans 3:21 - 4:22)

2. We are Justified by Faith in Christ (Romans 3:27-31)


ROMANS 3:27-28
27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

The justification of the world, and our reconciliation to God were completed on the cross. However, man is only justified by faith. We read the word “faith” nine times in verses 21 through 31, where the apostle testifies that you are only justified through your living faith.

This principle signifies a complete change in the beliefs of all religions and philosophies, for God has forgiven all men their sins without punishing them. Thus, the world’s principles about diligence, reward, good deeds, and observation of the law crumble because God has redeemed us freely, carried us to the age of his grace, and delivered us from the curse of the Law. You will remain sinful in spite of all your fasting, charitable giving and piety, unless you accept the blood and righteousness of Christ faithfully and thankfully. You play no role in this holy justification. It comes to you as a gift from God. He has completely justified you, not because of your straightforwardness and righteousness, but because the blood of Christ has cleansed you in your subconscious. What an amazing grace!

Your acceptance of this grace, your thankfulness for it, and your union with its Giver mean faith. The Crucified is the gift of God to us criminals. In him, the Creator comes to you and cleanses you, giving himself to you, a justified sinner. So, hold fast to Christ prayerfully and faithfully that his powerful righteousness might be strengthened in you. Commit yourself to him in acknowledgement of his love.

Faith justifies the sinner. It changes the thought of man’s abilities, and puts an end to all kinds of self-righteousness, self-redemption and boasting, because in Christ we know that we are foolish, malicious, corrupt, and miserable. There is no salvation except at the hand of the merciful God. You are not edified by your heritage, or by a superficial education or limited nationality, because you are not saved by your heritage, diplomas, or talents, but by your faith in Christ. So, commit yourself to the Son of God, and enter into his new covenant, for your life, without him, remains dead in sins, but in him you become truly sanctified, and your righteousness continues forever. There is certainly no other way to please God, except by accepting the blood of Christ and continuing in it. God put his righteousness on you, so believe in him, for faith alone makes you a partner in all the rights and powers of Christ’s blessings.

ROMANS 3:29-31
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

Paul wrote this explicit epistle to the church in Rome. When he had described justification powerfully and briefly, he heard objections in his spirit:

The Greeks said: “If the death of Christ demonstrated his righteousness in forgiving the neglected sins committed by the people of the law, then the cross belongs to them alone, and we are excluded.”

And Paul answered them: “But God has forgiven all men their sins. There is not one god for the Jews, and another god for the others, for God is one, and he, by the death of Jesus on the cross, has justified both the circumcised and the uncircumcised through their faith.”

Then some Jews cried out: “That’s impossible! For then, the other nations become justified without circumcision or law, which is blasphemy against God. Paul, you are turning the revelation of God upside down.”

Paul answered the fanatics: “Far be it from me to change the revelation of the Law. We, on the contrary, confirm the law by our good news of the cross, and we clarify that the law is the introduction to the sacrifice of God. The cross extinguishes all the requirements of the law on us.

We understand, from Paul’s struggle with the extremists and moderates of both parties, that not all believers recognize the righteousness of God and its greatness, for they fear the good news that all men are justified by faith. Few are those who come to Christian freedom, which is not founded on the law, racism, or any human engagement, but is founded only on our faith. Our faith signifies our commitment to Jesus, and our trust in him who has loved us from eternity.

PRAYER: O Father, we thank you because you delivered us from our self-righteousness, and justified us with the power of Christ. We are sinful when we look at ourselves, but when we look at your crucified Son, we find our righteousness which is given to us. Free us from our false worship that we may not seek human works for justifying ourselves, but become satisfied with the work of your Son for us. Thank you for complete justification, in acknowledgment of which we commit ourselves to you forever.

QUESTION:

  1. Why are we justified by faith alone, and not by our good works?

A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
(Romans 3:28)

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