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God is Just and the Justifier
Good Friday, April 7, 2023
Pastor Jerry Tom
Romans 3:21-26
Rom. 3:21-26 - 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, 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.
All Have Sinned (v. 23)
The Righteousness from God (v. 21-22)
Justice and Justification (v. 24-26)
1. All Have Sinned (v.23) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
This group is self righteous or self deceived because they make two errors: 1) They minimize or lower God’s moral standard and 2) They bring themselves up and underestimate the level of their sinfulness.
Rom. 2:3 “Do you suppose, O man - you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape the judgment of God?”
Deuteronomy 6:5, which is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matt. 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Lev. 19:2 “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”
Rom. 3:20 “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
2. The Righteousness from God (v. 21-22) “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”
Matt. 5:17 “Do you think that I have come to abolish the law or Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
3. Justice and Justification (v. 24-26) 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.
What should our response be as we have learned about the justice of God at the Cross?