WEEK 5: The Righteousness of God Romans 3 February 4, 2015 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:22-25 NLT There is man s brand of righteousness and then there is God s. One is self-manufactured and the other is provided for us and totally underserved. Man s righteousness is dependent upon his own self-effort and never quite measures up to what God demands and expects. Man always falls short. But God s righteousness, as made possible through faith in Christ, is perfect and complete. It is the righteousness of Christ transferred to the believer at the point of salvation. So that, when God looks at the one who places their faith in Christ, He sees them as righteous in His eyes. They are restored to a right relationship with Him, with their sins paid for and forgiven, and their debt to God completely satisfied. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time. 2016 Ken Miller 23 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively. 2016 Ken Miller 24 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
HOMEWORK Homework for week 6 Man s Justification By Faith Romans 4-5 As usual, start by reading chapters 4-5, being sure to mark any repetitive words or phrases. Look for anything that catches your attention or raises a question. Write them down here: According to verses 1-6, why was Abraham declared to be righteous by God? Read Galatians 3:1-6. What similarities do you find between these two passages? Now read Genesis 15:1-6. What does God promise Abraham? What does Abraham present as a possible problem concerning God s promise? What does Abraham suggest as a possible solution? And what does God tell Abraham in response? Why would this have been so hard for Abraham to believe? In verses 9-12 of chapter four, Paul makes it clear that God declared Abraham as righteous because of his faith, long before the law was given by God to Moses. So it could not have been because Abraham kept the law. So according to verses 13-22, what does Paul say is the reason that God considered Abraham as righteous? 2016 Ken Miller 25 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Back in verse 16, Paul says, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. What do you think it means to walk by the Spirit? How would that show up in your everyday life? Look at Romans 5:1-2. What is one of the results of our right relationship with God through Christ? What do you think it means to have peace with God? But according to verses 3-5, what else should we expect as a result of our faith in Christ? How does the truth found in verses 8-11 impact you? How would you sum up the message of verses 12-21 in a single sentence? In what ways do you take for granted the grace of God in your life? Why should God s abounding, never-ending grace never cease to amaze us? 2016 Ken Miller 26 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
WEEK 5: The Righteousness of God: Romans 3 There can be no gospel unless there is such a thing as a righteousness of God for the ungodly. But just as little can there be any gospel unless the integrity of God s character be maintained. The problem of the sinful world, the problem of all religion, the problem of God in dealing with a sinful race, is how to unite these two things. The Christian answer to the problem is given by Paul in the words: Jesus Christ, whom God set fort a propitiation (or, in propitiatory power) in his blood. James Denny, The Death of Christ What s the advantage? Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. Romans 3:1-2a ESV - Paul has been making a point about the unrighteousness of man o No one has an excuse o All men stand before God as guilty o Including the Jews, God s chosen people! They thought they were immune from judgment, because: Because they had the law They knew God personally They knew what He expected of them They bore the mark of circumcision They viewed themselves as teachers and guides The righteousness of God - This is still Paul s topic - God s righteousness versus man s righteousness - How is man made right (justified) with a holy God? - Did the Jews have an advantage? YES o They had been given the Word of God o They were His chosen people o They had been adopted by God o They had seen the glory of God o They had been given the covenants of God o They had received the law of God o They were allowed to worship God 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
o o o They had been given the promises of God They had the heritage of the patriarchs They had the distinction of having the Messiah come from their ranks - But they had proved unfaithful and faithless - Their unrighteousness actually made way God s righteousness - Their attempts at self-righteousness didn t work - But God was going to provide a righteousness apart from the law For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God s righteousness. Romans 10:3 ESV God s justice - God was not being unfair or unjust - Was it wrong for God to set mankind up for failure? - By no means! (vs 6) - God s judgment is just, impartial and unbiased - It is not based on man s performance - Their condemnation is just - All are equally under sin - No one will made right with God through obedience to the law God s mercy - All are guilty and unrighteous before God - But God provided a different means of righteousness But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Romans 3:21, 22 ESV - God sent His Son to provide righteousness for man - It was a righteousness available only through faith, not self effort - There is no room for boasting - No one earns a right standing with God God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT - The righteousness we need is available only by faith - And faith alone in Christ alone The one who by faith is deemed righteous will be given life. Romans 1:17 (my paraphrase) 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church