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Romans 3:20–26 (ESV)
If you’ve ever used a Gospel tract or learned the Roman’s Road, you’ll most certainly recognize on of the verses in our text today. It’s perhaps one of the most often-quoted verses in the letter to the Romans. What you may have never considered is how it’s sandwiched in the middle of one of the most gospel-centric passages in all of the Bible. It’s not even a standalone sentence, but simply a clause connected to the verse before it, and the verses after it.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
This paragraph (vv. 21-26 or 19-26) is Paul’s transition from the Bad news (worse than you think) to the Good News (better than you think) of the Gospel.
Last week, Mike Noel cracked the door to this unfathomable text for us. The next few weeks would be a great time to get out your Soteriology Bingo Card (Theology of Salvation). You’re gonna hear lots of really important words: righteousness, faith, redemption, justification, propitiation, blood, grace.
Today is sermon two of five in this incredibly important text. We spent eight sermons in the bad news of Romans 1:18-3:20. Now, we need to bask in the glory of the gospel.
Theologian John Stott summarizes the portion of Romans we’re leaving behind like this:
All human beings, of every race and rank, of every creed and culture, Jews and Gentiles, the immoral and the moralizing, the religious and the irreligious, are without any exception sinful, guilty, inexcusable and speechless before God. That was the terrible human predicament described in Romans 1:18–3:20. There was no ray of light, no flicker of hope, no prospect of rescue.
— John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans, 108.
Though the majority of our time this morning will be focused on the “Good News” side of the ledger, we should notice Paul’s own summary of this earlier part of his letter. Let’s say it together.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
“Falling Short” is a vivid description that fits so many serious real life or entertaining fictional situations.
In each of these cases, someone “fell short” of a standard.
But what standard is that?
There are also very different consequences.
The amazing beauty of the truth in this divinely inspired scripture is that, even though we have all fallen short of God’s glory, we can receive the God’s reward as if we didn’t fall short, through faith in Jesus Christ.
The consequences of falling short are brutal: no second chances after death, and eternity in hell. Yet through the truth in these verses, we can experience know God as our Savior instead of our Judge.
How is this possible? Through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21–22 (ESV)
Mike helped us last week by pointing out these two amazing first two words, “but now.” Something significant has changed. These words are similar in emphasis to the “But God, who is rich in mercy…” in Ephesians 2:4, where he speaks of our regeneration and conversion. Paul is doing something a little different here in Romans 3.
On one hand, the “But now…” indicates a transition in Paul’s argument. Having made the case that we are all going to be “held accountable to God” (Rom 3:19), Paul now moves to how we can be made right with God.
However, the “But now” primarily points to the reality that the New Covenant was brought into effect through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The “But now” is highlighting a significant pivot on the fulcrum of salvation history. The Old Covenant is over.
I really like how Thomas Schreiner says it:
The Mosaic covenant belonged to an era of redemptive history that has now passed away (cf. 2 Cor. 3:7–11; Gal. 3:15–4:7). Its passing away is inextricably bound up with its inability to effect righteousness.
— Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans, Baker Exegetical Commentary, 180.
Something has changed. God’s righteousness has now been manifested in significantly new ways through the coming of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated the righteousness of God in such tangible and visible ways.
I’ve hinted already that this is one of the most central passages in all the Bible about how it is that we can be saved. One might, then, expect to find lots of imperatives for what we are supposed to do, or detailed reasons for the importance of saving man. Basically, we might expect this passage to be a bit more “man-centered.” This is not at all what we find.
The righteousness of God in this passage reminds us that even in the heart Paul’s message—the heart of the gospel—the main focus is not man, but God.
Paul is even telling us why God arranged for our salvation in this way. It was to show his own righteousness.
This is a helpful reminder to check on our own doctrine of salvation. Do we have an appropriate God-centeredness to our soteriology? As fallen creatures, we are always tempted to make much of man—our plight, our suffering, our struggle, maybe even our goodness—and to minimize the glory of God. This was the temptation the Jews faced.
Romans 10:3 (ESV) — For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
If you can remember back to our sermon on Romans 1:16-17, we said that God’s righteousness has several dimensions to it. First, righteousness is an attribute of God, wherein he always does what is right. It is true in his character and his activity. In God’s creation, Providence, judgement, and salvation, God is righteous (or “just” if you prefer). this is a critical part of Paul’s argument in our passage, which Daniel and Brad will cover in the next two weeks. Next week, Daniel will be taking a much deeper look at verse 24 and how God accomplishes this through justification and redemption. Then, Brad will explain propitiation in vv. 25-26, and how that this upholds the righteousness of God as Savior and judge.
We also mentioned in our message on 1:17 that God’s righteousness is associated with his saving action.
Psalm 98:2 (ESV) — The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
There are significant similarities between vv. 21-22 and Romans 1:17. One of the main differences is the verb tense for “revealed/manifested.”
Romans 1:17 (ESV) — For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17 seems to focus on the righteousness of God being revealed through the preaching (and believing) of the Gospel. Romans 3:21 on the other hand uses the perfect tense, “has been manifested” points to the pivot in salvation history which we’ve already mentioned.
Both passages, however connect this righteousness to faith.
Let’s turn to that faith now.
One of the interesting aspects of Romans 1:16 is that Paul simply says that the Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Believes what, exactly? Paul does not say right there. He, of course, expounds on this for sixteen chapters in great detail.
This question is actually a place where Christians can easily get tripped up when discussing our faith, especially with unbelievers. As secularized as our culture is, we still don’t get into much trouble for talking about “faith” or “belief.” Plenty of secular gurus would advocate that we should “have faith” or “believe.” I’m not really sure what they are advocating. It usually sounds like that I should “have faith” that a very unlikely thing will happen, or that I should simply “believe against all odds” that things will turn out. Even worse—we are commanded to “believe in yourself.” There seems to be some recognition that this faith or belief is better than the alternative.
In my experience, we can even begin talking like this as Christians. But this is far closer to Deism, as if our faith is just positive thinking, hoping that Fate goes our way, no matter how unlikely, like having “faith” that your favorite team will win the Super Bowl. Is that the Chiefs or Eagles?
When we let unbelievers define the domain of faith and believing we get another huge distortion. Faith is positioned as the antithesis of knowledge, facts, or evidence, as if your faith is in danger the more knowledge you acquire or the more facts you discover.
Faith should not be put in opposition to facts and knowledge. Grudem helps us with this distinction.
Contrary to the current secular understanding of faith, true New Testament faith is not something that is made stronger by ignorance or by believing against the evidence. Rather, saving faith is consistent with knowledge and true understanding of facts. Paul says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). When people have true information about Christ, they are better able to put their trust in him. Moreover, the more we know about him and about the character of God that is completely revealed in him, the more fully we are able to put our trust in him. Thus faith is not weakened by knowledge but should increase with more true knowledge.
— Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, Second Edition, 865.
Many of these errors in understanding faith can be solve by remembering Christian Faith has an object, and that object is a person.
Romans 3:22 (ESV)
Jesus Christ is the object of our faith. He is a person with a will. He is God with all power at his discretion. He is our Savior and High Priest. He is our older brother. He lived in human history and walked with his disciples. He lived a sinless life, was wrongly crucified as a criminal, died, was buried, and rose again. He intercedes for us before our Heavenly Father. He will come again one day to judge the living and the dead.
What, then does it mean to “believe in” Jesus?
I read from a couple of different sources to get some other ideas for the anatomy of Saving Faith. I have already quoted Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology. I’ve also been reading Kevin DeYoung’s newly published, Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology.
DeYoung reminds us that there are several kinds of faith that are NOT saving faith. He calls these:
As an example of historical faith, King Agrippa knew certain facts about Jesus, but this did not make him a Christian. He believed in certain historical facts, but he did not believe in Jesus.
Acts 26:27–28 (ESV) — King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
James 2:19 reminds us that even the demons know historical facts about Jesus, but they certainly do not have saving faith.
The Apostle John describes a scene in the early ministry of Jesus. Many of the Jews saw miracles from Jesus, and believed that he did them, yet they were not true believers in him.
Temporary faith takes us to the familiar parable of the soils in Mark 4:16.
Mark 4:16–19 (ESV) — And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Faith, then, is more than believing certain facts, even facts about God or Jesus Christ.
One of the difficulties with understanding saving faith is that our words, “faith” and “belief” have been so cheapened by common (and secular) use. We must not jettison these words, or course. They are too important. However, our understanding of saving faith must go beyond mere intellectual assent or believing facts. Here is a definition from Grudem.
Saving faith is trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God.
— Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 862.
The language of the bible does go beyond mere intellectual knowledge. Here are a few examples.
John 1:12 (ESV) — But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
“Receiving him” goes beyond mere knowledge. It is relational and personal. It is an act of our will.
Colossians 2:6 (ESV) — Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
The Apostle John even used an atypical grammatical construction to describe our trust in John 3:16.
John 3:16 (ESV) — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
More literally, this is “believe into him…”
Put your faith/trust in Him—in the person of Jesus.
Faith must have an object!
Now we need to return to where we are in Paul’s argument. You may have noticed some interesting redundancy in verse 22.
Some interpreters have even attempted translating the first part of the verse as “through the faithfulness of Jesus” instead of “through faith in Jesus” in part to solve this question of redundancy. I have not found those arguments convincing. If you’re interested in the arguments for an against, you can check out the study notes for the NET Bible online, or read Thomas Schreiner’s response to this view in the Baker Exegetical Commentary.
I believe the second statement serves a different purpose. “For all who believe” emphasizes that there are not different paths to salvation for Jews and Gentiles. This is the way!
Not only does God’s righteousness come through faith in Jesus Christ, it comes to all who believe (in him).
Paul then clarifies this point beginning at the end of v. 22.
Romans 3:22–23 (ESV)
I realize this is an awkward place to stop… We really want to go forward, “and are justified by his grace as a gift…”
But, for now, we’ll leave vs. 24 for next week.
Paul is summarizing his argument from 1:18-3:20.
Paul isn’t making new arguments in vs. 23 to convince us that we’ve all sinned. He is stating his conclusion. Notice the definiteness of the statement. “For all have sinned.” Statement of fact. Conclusion reached. No exceptions. There is no distinction (vs. 22).
I do, however, want to spend some time on what it means that we fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We have two different verb tenses.
Our “falling short” is one of the consequences of our sin. Falling short of God’s glory is not merely a restatement about us being sinners, about us being crooked deep down. It is about us failing to attain the glory for which we were originally created, which was lost in the garden.
John Murray actually lists four different ways in which we fall short of God’s glory. First, we do not render God the glory he deserves. This is Romans 1. We traded the glory of God the Creator for the worship of the creation. Second, we fail to experience the glory we would have received had we not sinned (2 Pet 1:17).
2 Peter 1:17 (ESV) — For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
Third, we do not reflect the glory of God as those made in his image. This idea really lodged in my heart this week. Consider what we were made for. Consider the great heights from which we have fallen in our sin. We were made to reflect the glory of God, not just in our praise of him, but in our being made like him. This was lost because of sin, and a great tragedy.
1 Corinthians 11:7 (ESV) — For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God…
Finally, Murray reminds us of the glory for the people of God at Christ’s future coming.
We fall short of this glory. I know that we hear this as condemnation. We should have attained it. But, in order to see the glory of the Gospel this morning, hear it a different way—hear the tragedy of it. Feel the loss. Feel it as the consequence of our sin.
Then, hear and embrace the Good News of the Gospel with even more faith, with more gratitude, with more amazement. The Good News goes so far beyond merely receiving forgiveness of sins (as glorious as that is). The Good News means that the glory we lost will be restored.
We so easily drift into living as if this glory is really only for those who deserve it—those who have dedicated their life to the service of God, to those who have avoided all the bad sins, to those who were saved early in life. Paul refuses to let us believe this. Look at vs. 22 again.
Romans 3:22 (ESV) — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
The question is not how far each of us has fallen from God’s glory. Let me illustrate:
Have any of you ever been inside a mine shaft? I experienced this once on a Scouting trip while I was in High School. We went about 100 feet inside a mine shaft and shut the door. I’ve never experienced total blackness like that before or since.
Now imagine being on the top of Mount Everest with clear skies at night (without the wind and cold, of course).
Which person is closer to being able to touch the stars, the one in the mine shaft deep below the earth’s surface, or the one on top of Everest?
You could argue that the one on Everest is closer, but I’d tell you that I think you’ve missed the point. Both are impossibly far from touching the glory.
Some of you have lived Mt. Everest lives. Others of you have spent much of your life deep in the darkness of the mine.
The gospel makes no distinction. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by the grace of God. And the glory offered in Christ is so far above what we deserve that we will be praising God for all eternity.
Do you have saving faith?
Is your faith in the person of Jesus?
Heidelberg — Question 21: What is true faith?
True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.
Our own Trinity Catechism:
Question 78: What is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Faith in Christ is a saving grace by which we believe what God says about Christ in his Word and then receive and rest upon Christ alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8–10; John 1:12)
I don’t know exactly how you have sinned, or how far you have fallen short of God’s Glory. I do know that salvation is offered to you, and will be given to you if you come to God in faith. Receiving Jesus. Resting in him.
Here are some other recent messages.
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