Romans 3: Christ Is God's Righteousness

Text: Romans 3

Theme: The gospel reveals the righteousness of God:

1. In Condemnation (1:18-3:20)
C) Of Jews (2:17 - 3:8)
D) Of all men (3:9-20)
2. In Justification (3:21-5:21)
A) Through faith in Christ (3:21-26)

Chapter three shows God is right to condemn "all men" (1-20),
and justify those who trust Christ (21-31).

How can a just God condemn men? Since the pagan sins against
the knowledge of God in creation (1:18-32), the moral man
against the knowledge in his conscience (2:1-3; 14-16), and
the Jew against the knowledge in the OT (2:17 - 3:8), "all
men" are "under sin" (9). This is evident in their ungodly
deeds (10-18), means they deserve God's wrath (5, 8) and that
they are without ability to merit God's righteousness (19-20;
23).

How can a righteous God justify sinners? Public crucifixion
of Christ showed God's righteousness by exacting the bloody
death penalty for all sins previously "passed over" (25), and
by giving God a righteous grounds to justify the one who
relies on Jesus as Savior (26). To exclude boasting (27) God
justifies sinners by grace, through faith in Christ's
atonement (24), apart from the law, or any other merit system
(21; 27-31).

Chapter three shows God is right to condemn "all men" (1-20),
and justify those who trust Christ (21-31).

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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