Romans Chapter Three
Lesson
40
Review:
God’s
Method of Salvation
1. Its Nature 3:21-23
a. As to its condition
1) it is
apart from works 3:21
2) it is
by faith 3:22
b. Who does it apply to 3:22c-3:23 [who needs it and why?]
"for
there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
1) Its application
is first, universal!
There is no
distinction in their "lostness."
- God judges on the basis of the standard that they
possess!
- The conclusion we saw in 3:9 is that "all under sin"
Rem; he is not talking there about the act of sin, not a verb but a noun; his point is that "all are under sin as a
condition" which says that all
are under the guilt of sin, power of sin, and the penalty of sin! No exceptions!
* Note: this
phrase, there is no distinction is found 2x's in Romans.
Here of
course; where he is saying that there is no distinction among mankind in their
need, their condition of lostness is the same before God.
In
2) 3:23 Why the
need? Universal "lostness" -
sinfulness
for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God,
There are
2 ways to look at this verb, all sinned;
#1 It may simply gather together and views all the acts of
sin of all humanity down thru the ages.
#2 Or it may indicate that all
mankind participated in Adam's sin!
That being the historical point of time indicated by the aorist.
- The second verb (
Man
having his roots in the fall of Adam in the sin of Adam keeps on manifesting
this continually falling short;
** What is this
saying here??
- That the cause of continually falling short does not
consist in something outside of our self but the cause is from within!
- Can man
on his own ever reach the goal of the glory of God?
- What is
it that Paul says that man has fallen short of??
The
glory of God refers to all that He is! The sum total of His perfections! All
that He is!
- In the OT "the glory of God" was the expression of the revealed presence of God. Ex 24:16-17; in the tabernacle 40:34-35
- No one has or ever will attain to the high demand of the
glory of God, to measure up to the standard of God's glory.
- Jesus Christ, as the God-man, the monogenhj, perfectly reflected the
invisible God, Heb 1:3a
God's method of Salvation
2. Its basis,
what is it based on? 3:24-25
a. 3:24 Redemption.
b.
Overview!
There are 4 key areas of focus here:
#1. "being
justified" dikaio,w this does not mean to make righteous [in an ethical sense]
or to treat as righteous [though one is
not +R].
Some observations:
What Justification is not!!
1. It is not forgiveness; it is so much more!
2. Justification is not a pardon; its
much more;
3. Justification is not a change in character! But it is a change in position!
4. Justification is not a return to innocence.