Romans 3:21-26

Text

Romans 3:21-26. But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; Romans 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forebearance of God; Romans 3:26 for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.

67.

What is the twofold task involved in establishing truth? How does this fit into justification by faith?

68

What twofold relationship does the righteousness have?

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 3:21-26

117.

Should we stumble over the word believe in Romans 3:22? Be carefulwe can stumble over it through overemphasis as well as underemphasis. What is the safe course?

118.

Show the two ways in which there is no distinction.

119.

What is the glory of God as in Romans 3:23?

120.

We are justified by and through something. Explain.

121.

Redemption is a wonderful wordit suggests a kidnaping. In what way is this true?

122.

Use a Bible dictionary if necessary to look up the word propitiation. This has an Old Testament backgroundwhat is it?

123.

How does the death of Christ show the righteousness of God?

124.

God's righteousness was shown on the cross because of sins done afore time. In what way?

125.

Show how the following qualities of God were manifested on Calvary: mercy, justice, love, wisdom.

Paraphrase

Romans 3:21-26. But now, under the gospel, a righteousness appointed by God as the means of the justification of sinners, without perfect obedience to law of any kind, is made known: And it is no new method of justification, being taught both by the law and the prophets;

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness which God hath appointed to be through faith of Jesus Christ, (the faith which Jesus Christ hath enjoined), graciously counted unto all, and rewarded upon all who believe: for there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the method of justification;

Romans 3:23 Because all have sinned, and come short of praise from God: so that being all involved in guilt and misery, the same remedy must be applied to all:

Romans 3:24 Being justified by faith, not meritoriously, but of free gift, by a great exercise of God's grace, through the redemption which is procured for them by Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth a propitiatory, from which he will dispense pardon to sinners, through faith in his blood, for a proof of his own righteousness in not instantly punishing the sins which were before the coming of Christ committed through God's forbearing to punish Adam with immediate death, in the view of the obedience of Christ.

Romans 3:26 For a proof also of his righteousness in not punishing sins committed in the present time, and henceforward, in order that, at the judgment, he may appear just, when acquitting him who is a performer of the faith enjoined by Jesus: and that whether he be a Jew or a Gentile.

Summary

But although justification by law is impossible, still God has revealed another way of justifying men, a way, too, that is attested both by the law and the prophets. He has revealed a plan of justifying people by means of their belief in Jesus Christ, revealed it to all, both Jews and Gentiles. This justification takes its rise in God's favor; it is procured by a ransom which has been accomplished by Christ. Christ effected this ransom by his blood, and we attain the benefit of it by believing in him and obeying him. This ransom enables God to be just while forgiving the sinner, provided he is a believer in his Son.

Comment

But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested. This righteousness of God is twofold: relating to the fact that God is righteous, and that man is to be made righteous, or just. The procedure of declaring man just is apart from the law, and yet the law and prophets both spoke of it through type and prophecy. Romans 3:21. This righteousness is that which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is given unto all that exercise this belief, for there is no distinction. There is no distinction as to who can thus receive this righteousness; neither is there a distinction as to who needs this righteousness, for all have sinned, and thus fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:22-23. This justification takes rise in the favor of God. It is bestowed freely on all because of the redemption price paid by Jesus Christ. Romans 3:24. Jesus Christ was set forth by God to be a covering for our sins, through faith in his blood. This covering for sins is the answer to the problem of those in the Old Testament who had no provision for the washing away of sins. The sins done aforetime in the days of the old covenant were passed over with the thought that one day the provision for their covering would be found in the blood of Christ, Romans 3:25. Behold now the wonderful righteousness of God at this present season. Through the substitutionary death of His Son, the justice of God in respect to punishment for sin and the mercy of God in respect to forgiving sin find a wondrous agreement and satisfaction, The wisdom of God searched the love of God for a way to reconcile the justice of God with the mercy of God and the result was the sending of his own son to die in the stead of man. Romans 3:26.

69.

In what two respects is there no distinction?

70.

What is the meaning of the word propitiation?

71.

What do the sins done aforetime have to do with the death of Christ?

72.

What two qualities in the nature of God are reconciled in the death of Christ?