Righteousness Imputed: Justification (3:21-5:21)

Obtained by faith (3:21-4:25)

Text: Ro. 3:21-4

Introduction:

• How can a man be just with God? This is the question Job asked in the earliest recorded book of the Bible (Job 9:2).
• If man is not righteous, how can he be righteous before God?
• Not guilty, though caught in the act!

I. Justification Explained (3:21-31)

This section a la Wiersbe

A. Justification defined

1. It is something God does, not man

2. We are declared righteous, not made righteous

3. It is instantaneous, not a process

4. We need a righteousness from God because we don’t have it ourselves

B. Apart from the law

1. The law cannot save

2. The law shows our sin

C. Through faith in Christ

D. For all men

E. By grace

F. At great cost to God

1. Illus.

Coal miner couldn’t understand that he didn’t have to do anything to be saved. He was asked, “How did you get into the mine?” “I rode the elevator.” “What did it cost you?” ”Nothing, but it cost my employer a bunch!”

2. Sacrifice of His son

G. In perfect justice

1. God’s justice requires sin to be punished

2. God’s love provided for payment

H. To establish the law

II. Justification Illustrated in Abraham (4:1-15)

A. Salvation by faith

1. Definition

a) “Counted” = “to put on one’s account”

b) It is also translated “imputed”

2. Romans 4:5 makes a startling statement: God justifies the ungodly!

a) The Law said, “I will not justify the wicked” (Ex. 23:7).

b) The Old Testament judge was commanded to “justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked” (Deut. 25:1).

c) When Solomon dedicated the temple, he asked God to condemn the wicked and justify the righteous! (1 Kings 8:31-32)

d) But God justifies the ungodly—because there are no godly for Him to justify! He put our sins on Christ’s account that He might put Christ’s righteousness on our account.

3. Abraham and faith

a) Circumcised at age 99. Thus it had nothing to do with his salvation

b) Salvation has always been by faith (He. 11)

B. Salvation by grace

III. Justification Assured

A. Promise of faith is for everyone (4:16-25)

B. Assured by the resurrection

1. Explain “for our justification”

2. The resurrection is God’s receipt to us

a) Shows He accepted Jesus’ payment for our sins

b) Shows that our sins are completely paid and that we do not need to do anything ourselves