ROMANS 3

ROMANS 3:27 – 4:25
In our lesson last week from Romans 1:18-3:20 Paul laid out a full description of human sinfulness. Then he gave a brief but profound description of God’s plan of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ v. 21-26
v. 3:27 – 4:25 covers four important aspects of Salvation –
1. Salvation is through FAITH 3:27-31 leaves no room for self-righteous boasting. Faith does not cancel the law; it upholds it. The doctrine of justification by faith is not against the Law, because it establishes the Law. God obeyed His own Law in working out the plan of salvation. Jesus in His life and death completely fulfilled the demands of the Law. God does not have two ways of salvation – one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles…He is one God, and He is consistent with His own nature and His own Law. If salvation is through the Law, then men can boast, but the principle of faith makes it impossible for men to boast. A swimmer who is saved from drowning does not brag because he trusted the lifeguard…he boasts of the LifeGuard. When a believing sinner is justified by faith, he cannot boast of his faith, but he can boast in a wonderful Savior.
2. Salvation is a Gift. 4:1-12 Paul reveals righteousness as a divine gift of faith, not a wage earned by good works. Abraham had been declared righteous by faith prior to his covenant circumcision, thus becoming the spiritual forefather of believing Gentiles and Jews. V. 11 Abraham was not only identified as the father of the Jews’ but as the “father of all them that believe! Abraham was justified by faith not works…Abraham believed God’s promise…God gave the promise and Abraham responded with faith that was counted for righteousness. V.3 Counted – credited to his account…Jesus did the work on the Cross and His righteousness was put on Abraham’s account.
3. Salvation is by GRACE 4:13-19 Paul reminded his Jewish readers that the covenant promises God made to Abraham and his descendants were assured by faith, not by the law. Justified by faith not by the Law. The Law was not given to save men, but to show men that they need to be saved. His promises were a display of His divine grace to Abraham and thus to all who respond to Him with faith like Abraham’s…faith that trusts God to give life to the dead and to call things into existence that do not exist. v. 16 “Therefore [inheriting[ the promise is the outcome of faith” …SOMEONE WILL BE AN INHERITOR OF MY CHOICES! Abraham had a CHOICE to BELIEVE or not believe God – our whole lifestyle is made up of choices. Abraham is a lasting example to us of what to do when our fleshly belief is weak or our faith seems to be weak…v. 18 – 22 Paul saw the rejuvenation of Abraham’s body as a picture of resurrection from the dead; Christ resurrected from the dead.
The application to salvation is clear: God must wait until the sunner is DEAD and unable to help himself before He can release His saving power. As long as the lost sinner thinks he is strong enough to do anything to please God, he cannot be saved by grace. It is when the lost sinner confesses that he is spiritually dead and unable to help himself that God can save him.
Abraham’s faith is so wonderful: He did not have a Bible to read, he had only the simple promise of God. He was almost alone as a believer, surrounded by heathen unbelievers. He could not look back at a long record of faith, in fact, he was helping write that record. Yet he believed God
4. Salvation is ASSURED 4:20-25 Abraham’s unwavering trust in God was credited to him for righteousness.
O.T. people were saved in the same was that they are saved today…21 times in Hebrews 11 you find the same words “by faith”. If one is a Jew he is a child of Abraham physically, but the important question is – is he a child of Abraham spiritually? Abraham is the father of all who believe on Jesus Christ and are justified by faith. If you are a Gentile, you can never be a natural descendant of Abraham, but you can be one of his spiritual descendants. Abraham “believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”.