In Christ

In Christ

In ChristRomans 3:21-26

In Christ

Romans 3:21-26

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

“...is possibly the most important paragraph ever written.”Leon Morris

In Christ

Righteousness of God

• Righteous in who He is• Righteous in what He does

The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

In Christ

Our Problem: Condemnation

• Living under wrath (Romans 1:18)

–Immoral–Self-righteous–Law-abiding–Privileged Jews

• Verdict (Romans 3:10-12, 23)

“The harlot, the liar, the murderer are short of God’s glory, but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine and you at the crest of the Alps, but you are as little able to touch the stars as they are.” Bishop Moule

In Christ

“But now...”

“...there are no more wonderful words in the whole of Scripture than just these two words, ‘But now.’” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

In Christ

“But now...”

• Entirely different solution“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers...My covenant which they broke....” Jeremiah 31:31–32

In Christ

“But now...”

• Entirely different solution• Entirely consistent solution

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by FaithHow is this possible?

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been disclosed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, that is, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all those who believe....” Romans 3:21–22

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by FaithHow is this possible?

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by FaithHow is this possible?

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.... Hebrews 7:26

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Right standing with God Not “make righteous” Not “treat as righteous” “Declare righteous”

What did it accomplish?

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Right standing with God• Perfect freedom

What did it accomplish?

“...because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:8

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Right standing with God• Perfect freedom

What did it accomplish?

“And the master of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:27

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Nothing to usWhat did it cost?

“Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” Revelation 21:6

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Nothing to usWhat did it cost?

“For by grace WE have been saved through faith; and that not of OURSELVES, it is the gift of God; not as a result of OUR works, so that NONE OF US may boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• Nothing to us• Everything to God

What did it cost?

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by FaithWhy was it necessary?

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

• To prove God’s righteousness• To prove God’s power

JustAND

Justifier

Why was it necessary?

In Christ

God’s Solution: Justification by Faith

Holy

Love

Grace

Just Righteous

Why was it necessary?

In Christ