Paul s view of the righteousness of God (3:21-4:25) Paul s Letter to the Romans
God s righteousness revealed God s righteousness revealed in the cross (3:21-26) The source of our justification: God and his grace The ground of our justification: Christ and his cross Redemption Propitiation Demonstration The means of our justification: faith 2
The meaning of the cross The SOURCE of Justification: Yahweh has provided it! In forbearance he suspended judgment until the time he chose for the grounds of justification to be delivered Our faith is a response accepting the gift 3
The meaning of the cross Redemption Propitiation Demonstration 4
The meaning of the cross Redemption The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Mat_20:28; Mar_10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev_19:20; Lev_25:51; Exo_21:30; Num_35:31, Num_35:32; Isa_45:13; Pro_6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num_3:49; Num_18:15). There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (Compare Act_20:28; 1Co_6:19, 1Co_6:20; Gal_3:13; Gal_4:4, Gal_4:5; Eph_1:7; Col_1:14; 1Ti_2:5, 1Ti_2:6; Tit_2:14; Heb_9:12; 1Pe_1:18, 1Pe_1:19; Rev_5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply canceled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the ransom by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners (Hodge's Systematic Theology). 5
The meaning of the cross Propitiation That by which God is rendered propitious (favorably inclined), i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners. In Rom_3:25 and Heb_9:5 (A.V., mercy-seat ) the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Exo_25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth, which means covering, and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Exo_25:21; Exo_30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitiation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the mercy-seat, and so made propitiation. In 1Jo_2:2; 1Jo_4:10, Christ is called the propitiation for our sins. Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is the propitiation, because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Compare Heb_2:17, where the expression make reconciliation of the KJV is more correctly translated in the NKJV and ESV as make propitiation. ) 6
The meaning of the cross Demonstration Let s read 3:25-26 again 7
The meaning of the cross The means 8 Faith is the means of acceptance, the step through the door. God honours faith and great faith honours God The measure of our belief in the promises of God is key to the Glory given to Him when they are revealed, and to the full measure of our credit (4:19-22)
God s righteousness defended God s righteousness defended against criticism (3:27-31) On what grounds do you boast? V27f Is God only the God of the Jews? V 29f Is law nullified by faith? V31 9
Justification by faith So, according to Paul s answer to the three objections, justification by faith achieves three ends: a) humbles sinners b) unites believers c) upholds the law 10
God s righteousness illustrated God s righteousness is illustrated in the life of Abraham (4:1-25) Abraham was not justified by works (1-8) Abraham was not justified by circumcision (9-12) Abraham was not justified by the law (13-17) 11
The point of the illustration Abraham was justified by faith (17-22) Abraham s faith and ours (23-25). Abraham was not unique: this is God s way of salvation for everyone. Not positive thinking Not whistling in the dark to keep your spirits up Not gritting your teeth to believe what you know isn t true BUT REASONED FAITH that faces the facts 12