JUSTIFICATION BY THE GRACE OF GOD Romans 3v21-31
These are among the most important verses in the bible, expounding as they do, the details of God's programme of salvation. Today, we will list the different aspects of this, in all their individual beauty then look at each one in more detail.
We have already established that God' righteousness involves three amazing Divine actions:
1) Making us right, or "straight" so that we can be useful to Him.
2) Crediting to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ, when all we had were debts.
3) Declaring us, legally, to be free from all guilt, now "constituted righteous".
We now consider the detail: we will see that God's righteousness is the opposite self-righteousness, that justification is the opposite of condemnation.
This "righteousness of God" involves the following:
Today we consider, possibly the most important aspect, and that is who is the origin of this salvation? The status of a person who is saying anything gives weight to what is being said. It is usually the first thing we ask when something important is being said. Who is speaking here and why should we pay any attention? Paul opens this gospel with the clear statement that what he is about to unfold has come from God "separated unto the gospel of God." Later on in the book he will speak of the righteousness of God, the wrath of God, the goodness of God, the forbearance of God, the mercy of God, it is all of God. Today, as in every day our eyes are fixed on important people like presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, and the media communication in the world constantly bring before us what these are saying. In Paul's day it would be the Caesar of Rome who would have the final say in peoples lives. Paul is saying here, I am not speaking of mere mortal men high though they may be. I am speaking about God. This message I bring is from God "the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man; for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1 v 11 - 12 He continues "but it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach among the nations; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus." Galatians 1 v 15-17
For up to three years Paul received revelation directly from God in the deserts of Arabia. This message he brings to us did not come from the Jewish hierarchy, the Sanhedrin or even the apostles of Jesus Christ. This message came directly from God. It is God who is speaking here:
1. The OMNIPOTENT God - the God who can do anything.
2. The OMNISCIENT God - the God who knows everything.
3. The OMNIPRESENT God - the God who is everywhere at all times.
This God in all His wonder and glory, is the origin, the source of the good news of the gospel. It could come from no higher a person, it can carry no greater authority, it demands our utmost and urgent attention; the issues are huge the consequences are eternal. No less than God is speaking in terms of grace, and we do well to carefully listen and step back and take in the magnitude of what is being said here.
Tomorrow d.v. we continue with the nature of the gospel as being independent of law.
These are among the most important verses in the bible, expounding as they do, the details of God's programme of salvation. Today, we will list the different aspects of this, in all their individual beauty then look at each one in more detail.
We have already established that God' righteousness involves three amazing Divine actions:
1) Making us right, or "straight" so that we can be useful to Him.
2) Crediting to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ, when all we had were debts.
3) Declaring us, legally, to be free from all guilt, now "constituted righteous".
We now consider the detail: we will see that God's righteousness is the opposite self-righteousness, that justification is the opposite of condemnation.
This "righteousness of God" involves the following:
- It has it's origin in God.
- It is independent of law.
- It has its roots in the past. "being witnessed by the law and the prophets."
- It is based on faith in Jesus Christ.
- It is offered to all, and effective in all who believe.
- It restores glory to God from human beings when there was none.
- It is all of God's grace and offered freely to us.
- It is based on redemption achieved by Jesus Christ.
- It involves propitiation, the Divine satisfaction.
- It provides a meeting place with God.
- It reveals the forbearance of God through the ages of time.
- It declares God to be right in forgiving men and women.
- In it all boasting is excluded.
- All distinctions are eradicated.
- The law is established.
Today we consider, possibly the most important aspect, and that is who is the origin of this salvation? The status of a person who is saying anything gives weight to what is being said. It is usually the first thing we ask when something important is being said. Who is speaking here and why should we pay any attention? Paul opens this gospel with the clear statement that what he is about to unfold has come from God "separated unto the gospel of God." Later on in the book he will speak of the righteousness of God, the wrath of God, the goodness of God, the forbearance of God, the mercy of God, it is all of God. Today, as in every day our eyes are fixed on important people like presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, and the media communication in the world constantly bring before us what these are saying. In Paul's day it would be the Caesar of Rome who would have the final say in peoples lives. Paul is saying here, I am not speaking of mere mortal men high though they may be. I am speaking about God. This message I bring is from God "the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man; for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1 v 11 - 12 He continues "but it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach among the nations; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus." Galatians 1 v 15-17
For up to three years Paul received revelation directly from God in the deserts of Arabia. This message he brings to us did not come from the Jewish hierarchy, the Sanhedrin or even the apostles of Jesus Christ. This message came directly from God. It is God who is speaking here:
1. The OMNIPOTENT God - the God who can do anything.
2. The OMNISCIENT God - the God who knows everything.
3. The OMNIPRESENT God - the God who is everywhere at all times.
This God in all His wonder and glory, is the origin, the source of the good news of the gospel. It could come from no higher a person, it can carry no greater authority, it demands our utmost and urgent attention; the issues are huge the consequences are eternal. No less than God is speaking in terms of grace, and we do well to carefully listen and step back and take in the magnitude of what is being said here.
Tomorrow d.v. we continue with the nature of the gospel as being independent of law.
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