Romans 3:21-23
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor, Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
It has been said that between Romans 3:20 and 3:21 lies the greatest separation,
the deepest canyon, the widest gap imaginable by man. Man is a sinner and
God is Holy. On the one side of that canyon is the wrath of God and on the
other side is the acceptance and love of God. How can we bridge the gap?
How can we go from one side to the other? We cannot. But when we are justified
by God we find ourselves on the other side.
In examining Justification Paul does so in three parts:
1. Romans 3:21-31 The Definition of Justification
2. Romans 4:1-25 The Illustration of Justification
3. Romans 5:1-11 The Results of Justification
Romans 3:21 through 31 the Definition and Explanation of Justification.
Most agree that this is the very heart of Romans but so go even further
and say these verses are the very heart of the whole Bible. For it is here
that we see what we are, what God is, and what God had done for us who could
do nothing.
Romans 3:21
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
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The words BUT NOW introduce a dramatic contrast. Paul will often paint a
very black picture and then dramatically show us the joyful present.
The word APART is very strong showing that the Righteousness of God is not
Law dependent. The Law then nor legalism today can aid or enhance the +R
of God in any way.
The OT Law taught the fact of sin to man (verse 20). It gave cognizance
to sin but this cognizance could only lead man to recognize his helpless
condition.
This path ended at faith in God's provision. In the OT in what God had promised,
a redeemer. In the NT, faith in the One who came and accomplished our redemption
from sins.
God's OT Law demands that certain conditions be met prior to blessing. But
man cannot meet the conditions.
Grace announces that Christ has met the conditions on our behalf.
HERE WE HAVE THE great distinction between religion and grace. Religion
wants to earn, to achieve, to do, to accomplish and then receive its blessings
due.
GRACE says we cannot do it. God must do it for us and then we must rest
in what He has done though faith.
ILLUSTRATION: You go for a hike and tell friends that you are going to follow
this very specific trail. You tell then you will be back well before tomorrow
noon. If not they should come looking for you. As you hike you fall, twisting
your ankle. You cannot walk on it. But you have food, your tent, all you
need. And you know that tomorrow at noon your friends will come looking
for you when you do not show up. Are you going to panic or rest? And why
are you going to rest? Because you have faith in your friends.
Religion says hustle, Grace says "rest though faith".
Religious systems imply that God will compromise His righteousness or that
man can some how satisfy God' righteousness through good works. And neither
religious system works!
Topic: WORLD RELIGIONS
The OT Law and the Prophets witnessed the manifestation or revealing of
God's righteousness. This is nothing new. There is a harmony to the Scriptures
that is found in the Law revealing God +R and in the prophets as they wrote
of a Holy God.
Jeremiah 23:6, And this is His name by which He will be called, The Lord
our righteousness.
Isaiah 53:11, By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify
the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those
who believe; for there is no distinction;
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God's righteousness and man's sinfulness are very far apart. How are they
brought together? First, God does not condescend nor does He compromise:
The conjunction EVEN is in contrast to what was revealed and is now realized
though faith in Christ.
This is the same Righteousness of God but is now specific in its appropriation:
Through faith in Jesus Christ . . .
Paul has already offered the idea of faith but has been general in the development
of his argument. He talked about faith but did not give faith a specific
object. Now he does.
Man is not saved by some random faith or a faith that describes some merit
on the part of man. Man is saved by specific faith, not merely in God, but
in Jesus Christ.
The French expositor Godet called faith the hand of the heart, taking what
God has to offer and adding nothing to His free gift.
So the +R of God through faith is appropriated by all who believe.
Topic: FAITH
ALL . . . there is no distinction. Pagan, moral man, religious Jew . . .
there is not distinction.
The repeating of the word FAITH as a verb, BELIEVE, shows God's perfect
righteousness is given to anyone and everyone who believes.
The word BELIEVE is a pres, act, participle and with the article as here
may better be translated The Believeing ones . . . or BELIEVERS.
The idea is one of faith alone in the right object of faith, Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
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In verse 22 we ended with, "For there is no distinction."
Which both looked back to the ones who believed and ahead to the universal
need for justification .
In this one verse we have man's worst and best described.
1. The worst part of man is that he is a sinner
2. The best part of man is that even in his doing good he falls short of
the glory of God.
Middle voice, to man's benefit to fall short because he is now helpless
but not hopeless. He must depend upon God.
The GLORY is DOXA and looks at that which is spoken well of so even what
man does by way of good deeds falls short (present tense-keeps on falling
short), or is inferior, deficient, when compared to the glory of God.
When used of God the word GLORY looks at that which is revealed of His character
and His perfection.
Exodus 33:18-19, Then Moses said, I pray Thee, show me Thy glory! And He
said, I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim
the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be
gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.
THUS: Man's need is established by sin and the fulfillment of the need is
taken out of the ability of man by his inferior good works. They just don't
work.
Justification of self is so impossible for every member of the human race
that we could liken it to all of lining up on the East Coast and trying
to jump to England. Some may get farther out than others but all will fall
short.
End Lesson 14
Grace Notes
Warren Doud
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