Feb. 23, 2025
Series: Transformed 2-23-25
Obtaining an Unearnable Gift
(Romans 3:21-31)
Romans 3:20-21 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law. 21 But now…
Intro Sin Salvation Sanctification Sovereignty Service Conclusion
1:1-17 1:18-3:20 3:21-5:21 6:1-8:39 9:1-11:36 12:1-15:13 15:13-16:27
The VOCABULARY of our SALVATION (vs.24-25)
JUSTIFIED, REDEMPTION, ATONEMENT.
THE ANATOMY OF SALVATION:
1. IT WAS ____________________ BY GOD.
Romans 3:21 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
2. IT’S ___________________________.
Romans 3:21 21 a righteousness from God, apart from law…
- THE LAW: Moral Law, __________ Law, & Ceremonial Law
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
3. IT’S ________________________.
Romans 3:21 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
1 Peter 1:10-11 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Proverbs 30:3–4 (ESV) 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
4. IT’S THROUGH ____________________.
Romans 3:22 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ
TWO MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE:
1.) They say, “I don’t have enough ____________”
** It’s not the Amount of Faith, but the OBJECT you put it in!
2.) People put Faith in ____________!
** Faith is only as good as the object you put it in!
Philippians 3:8-9 8 I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
5. IT’S AVAILABLE TO _____________ WHO BELIEVES.
Romans 3:22 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
6. IT’S ____________________________.
Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
- “Sinned” = one time, done (Not hitting Bull’s eye - missed the mark) [past tense]
- “Fall short” = Fall behind in a race [continuous present tense]
THE PROBLEM:
Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death…
THE GIFT:
Romans 6:23 23 …but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THE QUALIFICATIONS:
Matthew 5:20 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (The Pharisees KEPT ALL 613 LAWS in the O.T.)
WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?
Romans 10:3–4 3 they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
2 Corinthians 5:21 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Matthew 6:33 33 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
7. IT’S _______________________________.
Romans 3:24 24 and are justified freely by his grace
“Justified” = “to be acquitted” OR “to be declared righteous”
PAUL IDENTIFIES THIS JUSTIFICATION:
1. The Source of our justification (v.24) - By the “_________” of Jesus
“Justified” = passive tense → We allow it to be Done to us!
2. The Grounds of our justification (v.25) - By the “_________” of Jesus
Rom 3:25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice…through the shedding of his blood
Hebrews 9:22 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
3. The Condition of our justification (v.25) - By “__________” in Jesus
Romans 3:28 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
- Justification is MORE than Just Forgiveness!
- It Means there’s No Longer Any Case AT ALL Against you!
- ALL the CHARGES are DROPPED!
8. IT COMES THROUGH A ______________________.
Romans 3:24 24 We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
- “Redemption” = The Releasing of captives from captivity by paying a ransom.
Galatians 5:1 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
9. IT __________________ GOD A LOT.
Romans 3:25 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
“Atonement” = means “Satisfied” (only used twice in N.T., but used a lot in O.T.
Hebrew word = “Kippur” (Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement)
Romans 3:25b 25 He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his (Divine) forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
10. IT LEAVES NO ROOM FOR _____________________.
Romans 3:27-29 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded… 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
This Indescribable GIFT from God is…
LEAVES NO ROOM for BOASTING
COST GOD A LOT.
COMES THROUGH the PERSON of Jesus.
UNDESERVED.
NECESSARY.
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES.
THROUGH FAITH.
UNHIDDEN.
UNEARNED.
DESIGNED BY GOD.
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