1. 1 Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 6a III. God’s Righteousness: Given Through Faith Romans 3:21 - 4:25 Page 37

2. 2 General Outline Our study has shown - I. God’s Righteousness: Revealed in the Gospel (1:1-17) II. God’s Righteousness: Needed by All (1:18-3:20) Now, we will study - III. God’s Righteousness: Given through Faith (3:21-4:25)

3. 3 Remember.... 1.Paul has shown that the Jew failed to obtain justification by the Law of Moses. (The same would be true of any law.) 2.The law did not provide a remedy for sins so it had to be kept perfectly which none had done. 3.Paul will now show that God has provided a way of escape from unrighteousness. 4.That way is Justification by Faith. 5.God’s plan is called “the righteousness of God.”

4. 4 A quick look at the upcoming study... Romans 3:21-31 1. 1.This righteousness foretold by the law and prophets 2. 2.This righteousness needed by all; 3. 3.This righteousness [redemption] comes through Christ; 4. 4.This righteousness proves God’s righteousness; 5. 5.This righteousness excludes glorying by men; 6. 6.This righteousness is compatible with God’s nature; 7. 7.This righteousness fulfills the law.

5. 5 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 1. 1.This righteousness foretold by the law and prophets (21,22) a. a.God’s plan was according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord (Eph. 3:11) b. b.This fact was called to their attention at numerous times and in numerous ways - this being witnessed by the law and prophets (21) c. c.This righteousness of God is available for all who believe in Jesus Christ (22)

6. 6 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 2. 2.This righteousness needed by all (23); a. a.The reason for the plan - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (23)

7. 7 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 3. 3.This righteousness [redemption] comes through Christ (24, 25a); a. a.Only by faith in Christ Jesus can sinners [Jews and Gentiles] be justified (24) b. b.The righteousness of God is by grace [“unmerited favor”] and it is free to those who believe! (24) c. c.Men now can have redemption [a releasing for a ransom”](24) d. d.The blood of Christ was the price paid (25) e. e.Christ is a “propitiation” [favorable attitude or appeasement] for our sins (25)

8. 8 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 4. 4.This righteousness proves God’s righteousness (25b, 26) a. a.Sin cannot be condoned by a just God; every sinner must be punished b. b.To demonstrate His righteousness, God had passed over just punishment until the time should come when He provided for Himself the Lamb of redemption (25) c. c.To demonstrate His righteousness, He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (26) d. d.His Son bore the punishment for sinful man (25, 26)

9. 9 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 5. 5.This righteousness excludes glorying by men (27, 28) a. a.The Jew cannot boast of his righteousness under the Law because his works fell short (23) b. b.We are now under “the law of faith” (27) c. c.Paul said, “we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (28)

10. 10 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 6. 6.This righteousness is compatible with God’s nature (29, 30) a. a.If the Law of Moses still provides advantages for the Jews over the Gentiles, then God is really the “altogether” God just of the Jews. b. b.If Gentiles must become Jews by circumcision and keeping the Law (Acts 15:1), then He discriminates against other people over whom He claims Godhood. c. c.God is the God of all men and acts accordingly (30)

11. 11 A. Righteousness By Faith Is Available To All Romans 3:21-31 7. 7.This righteousness fulfills the law (31) a. a.Paul was quick to say that faith does not make law useless (void) (31) b. b.A commitment to faith in Jesus Christ establishes the importance and usefulness of the law previously followed (31) c. c.The law of Moses was designed to lead men to Christ so its scriptures could be fulfilled (established)

12. 12 End of Lesson 6a

13. 13 Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 6b III. God’s Righteousness: Given Through Faith Romans 3:21 - 4:25 Page 41

14. 14 1.The Jews considered their justification was by the law a.A law they could not keep and did not keep 2.Paul is showing that justification must be by grace through faith since man cannot keep any law perfectly 3.God’s righteousness is given through faith Paul now uses a couple of examples from their history to confirm his position....

15. 15 B. Abraham, the Great Example of Righteousness By Faith Romans 4:1-25 1. 1.Justified by faith, not by works (1-5) a. a.Abraham was an excellent example for Paul (1)   He was circumcised   He lived long before the Law of Moses   To them, he was the father of their nation b. b.He could not boast about his justification by works (2)   If he could boast of his works, then his reward would be owed to him and God’s grace would not be given (4)   If he was not justified by works, then by what was Abraham [or any man] justified?

16. 16 B. Abraham, the Great Example of Righteousness By Faith Romans 4:1-25 1. 1.Justified by faith, not by works (1-5) (continued) c. c.So, Paul quoted from their written law, Gen. 15:6: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (3) d. d.This applies to all men (5)   All acts of obedience are done because he believes they will please God, whether or not they are pleasing to himself. e. e.No man can boast about what is given to him, unless he boasts about the giver.

17. 17 B. Abraham, the Great Example of Righteousness By Faith Romans 4:1-25 2. 2.David confirms this conclusion (6-8) a. a.Paul’s second great witness to God’s abiding practice of justifying only those who “work” by faith and don’t trust in themselves for their justification b. b.He quotes Psalm 32:1,2 in verses 7-8: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin”

18. 18 B. Abraham, the Great Example of Righteousness By Faith Romans 4:1-25 2. 2.David confirms this conclusion (6-8) b. b.David spoke of lawless deeds being forgiven, sins being covered, and sin not being “imputed” (not guilty) to the sinner who receives these favors c. c.If sins are not imputed [charged] against a person, then he is without sin, and that constitutes a state of righteousness. d. d.Such “blessedness” is blessedness indeed!

19. 19 End of Lesson 6b