Romans Chapter Three
Lesson 39
Review:
* One of the important points this passage is going to
make is to answer why He and He alone is the object of Saving
faith!!
* The
passage will say that the cross qualifies Him in 2 ways!
#1. It was a redeeming work
#2. It was a propitiating work
So when
Christ died on the cross it was a redeeming work, (
Observations:
1. Understanding of God's way of Salvation demands a complete break
with our accustomed way of thinking.
2. Notice also that the only condition for justification is faith!
3. It is not the amount of faith that saves it is the object of faith
that saves!
4. Every word in this section is literally pregnant with truth
therefore we must examine this section very carefully!
Paul addresses several of these issues related to the
nature of God's method of salvation in Phil. 3:9 and as he does he makes some
important points.
As a
Pharisee law performance righteousness was a great goal of Paul's life, but it
was a self-righteousness, a works righteousness, a
righteousness that would never attain the goal he was seeking.
- Paul
is not questioning his position or relationship with Christ.
Rest of
the verse gives us the mechanics of how this occurs. With a
focus on Salvation. Actually
begins by telling us how it does not occur.
"...not having a
righteousness of my own derived from the Law,"
"but
that which (righteousness) is through faith in Christ,"
** Faith is never a leap in the dark, it is never blind,
Biblical faith is
a settled confidence based on absolute
truth.
The
gaining of Christ, being in Him is the ultimate advantage in life and explains
why Paul was willing to give up, to throw overboard all the supposed advantages
of his very illustrious past.
What should we learn
from this verse? Observations:
1. Righteousness that gives us a standing with God is provided on the
basis of two things:
#1 - it is based on faith in Jesus Christ [justified, declared righteous by faith] Rom
3:22-28; Gal 2:16
#2 - based on our
position in Him. (imputation) 2 Cor 5:21
2. There are two types of righteousness mentioned here with some
interesting contrasts:
- one is man produced;
the other is God provided.
- one is worked for;
the other is a gift freely given.
- one is the fruit of labor;
the other a response to faith.
3. If we are to be qualified to live with God forever we must have
God's righteousness.
4. The only way that we as sinful man to acquire this perfect
righteousness is by faith in Christ.
5. When a person believes in Christ, God imputes His perfect
righteousness to that individual totally apart from works. 2 Cor
6. The basis or reason God is able to provide this righteousness is
work of Christ. Rom 5:9
- blood of Christ > His
sacrifice brings into focus 3 important things:
#1 - redemption > payment of the price required by
God's Holiness
#2 - propitiation > satisfaction of His Holiness
#3 - reconciliation > the barrier between God and man
is removed
7. Grace is the essence of this righteousness, all of Him, free
gift Rom 3:24;