2. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:21-26 ESV

3. 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

4. “The chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible.” Martin Luther

5. Creation Fall of Man Seth Abel Enoch Methuselah Noah BABEL Abram Fall of Angels Isaac Melchizedek Ishmael Apollos Samaritans Moses Jethro 12 Tribes Esau Jacob FLOOD Exodus & Law Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus Balaam Job Rahab Promised Land & Kingdoms Exile Slavery 1 Billion People Ethiopian Cornelius 2 nd Coming Judgment New Heaven & Earth 3 Billion People 7 Billion People Martin Luther Jonathan Edwards

6. 1. Man’s Pre-Law Experience 2. The Law (vs. 21) 3. The Putting Forward of Christ (vs.25) 4. His Forbearance (vs.25)

7. 1.“Bond” paid by a kind hearted son to an unreasonable Father 2. A trade with Satan for mankind – it’s us and Him 3. A change in God’s Morality 4. Unplanned response to fallen creation

8. 1.Sufficient for all generations 2.In concert with the Law and all other manifestations of God 3. The only Solution

9. Creation Fall of Man Seth Abel Enoch Methuselah Noah BABEL Abram Fall of Angels Isaac Melchizedek Ishmael Apollos Samaritans Moses Jethro 12 Tribes Esau Jacob FLOOD Exodus & Law Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus Balaam Job Rahab Promised Land & Kingdoms Exile Slavery 1 Billion People Ethiopian Cornelius 2 nd Coming Judgment New Heaven & Earth 3 Billion People 7 Billion People Martin Luther Jonathan Edwards

10. 1.No one is innocent 2. Mystery opened : All must decide 3. Everyone Judged 4. Only those in the book of Life remain

11. As far as the way of salvation is concerned, there are only two religions the world has ever known-The religion of divine accomplishment which is Biblical Christianity, and the religion of human achievement which involves all other kinds of religion, by whatever names they may go under