Romans - February 17, 2008

Section --Three; Justification -- Romans 3:21-5:18, continued

8. (3:22-25) What reasons are given to support the position “righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ” shows God is morally sound (righteous)?
a. God makes no distinctions between believers [cf. 2:11] for all have sinned, thus, all fall short of being morally sound.
b. God publicly displayed (not just to Jews) the means for His appeasement.
c. God passed over [remission KJV] the sins previously committed. [3:25]

9. PONDER: Do you think God, by “passing over sins previously committed” [3:25] God was indifferent to sin — i.e., Can a morally pure God tolerated some sin and still remained morally pure? If not why not?
a. God, the pure one, did not ignore the sins of old but He did not apply His judicial wrath for He knew He would be appeased by His Son’s sacrifice.
(1) God’s way provided the means enabling Him to acknowledge the impurity of all sin (law breaking) — yet, be merciful by releasing (“redemption” [3:24]) from His judicial wrath those before Christ’s sacrifice as He does those after Christ’s sacrifice.
b. Holy Spirit gives some insight on those having their sins “passed over” [2:1-8]...
(1) Will be based on one’s attitude toward obeying God’s will, i.e., those seeking to obeying God (BCV) not those seeking to obey man (church doctrine/tradition or feelings).

10. What does our passage say is the fruit or consequences of God’s righteousness?
a. (3:26) God is the “just justifier” of those having faith in Jesus the Christ.

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What specifically (root cause) holds God’s judicial wrath toward mankind’s ungodliness and unrighteousness in check — preventing God’s judicial wrath from being poured out on the condemned?
1. God’s quality of morality (righteousness) enabling Him to acknowledge the impurity of sin (violation of His will) by providing one not having earn His judicial wrath to voluntarily choose to be the necessary propitiation — allowing death of His sinless Son.

E. Conclusion — Paul had shown all humans have earned God’s judicial wrath. He now shows God has provided a plan enabling all mankind to be pure, not just called pure. A plan treating all humans as equals.

II. {Rom 3:27-30} All are justified by faith not works.
A. Introduction
1. Review — In previous section (1:18-5:20) Paul established all humans have earned condemnation by actions toward their creator(their owner). In previous passage (3::21-26) was established mankind cannot earn justification by what they do — required the blood of Jesus. Foundation is laid and Paul will build, one brick at time on this foundation that justification is “of God through faith in Jesus Christ” [3:22]
2. Preview — Justification cannot be earned, thus, is available for all.

B. Question For Discussion — It is the blood of Jesus that gives Justification “by the way of faith” its power. God could have chosen any way to Justify mankind, e.g., justification by the way of baptism in water, but He choose faith. Based on this passage what is the benefit of justification by the means of faith?

C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. Review of some words as used by Paul: Works, Faith, Law
a. Following is from background section
************************************************************
a. Works
i. A deed done, something performed, energy expended...
(1) Works of the flesh. (Gal 5:19)...
(a) Deeds performed in accordance with man’s sinful character or aspect (not sinful nature) — they are evil in essence!
(2) Works of faith. (Heb 11; 1Th 1:3; 2Th 1:11; Gal 5:6)...
(a) Deed springing from a man’s commitment to God — they are essentially good!
(3) Works of (the) law. (Rom 3:28)...
(a) Deeds required by God’s will which, when spoken of as “law”, denotes “the expressed and binding will of God — these are essentially good!
(b) The term “works” is often used to stand for “works of Law”. (see Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:2)

b. Faith/Believe/Belief (All from the same Greek root)...
i. Basically, to believe is to accept as true any given proposition (see Act 26:27; Jam 2:19), however, general Bible usage is more than this.
ii. New Testament faith includes three main elements...
(1) A fully convinced acknowledgment of the revelation of God’s plan for man’s salvation.
(2) A self-surrendering fellowship or loyalty to God.
(3) A fully assured and unswerving trust (a confident hope) in God’s plan for man’s salvation.
iii. Faith is used three ways...
(1) Subjective — The exercise and possession of an individual; is under the individual’s control to accept or reject. (Joh 3:16; Act 16:31; 2Ti 1:12)
(a) The trust one has in something or someone may or may not be valid (i.e., may not be the truth).
(2) Objective — That which is believed; accepting or rejecting does not change what is presented. (Jud 3; Act 6:7)
(a) The faith means the doctrine or teaching of Christ
(3) By Metonymy — (that which pertains to anything is put for thing itself) denotes the whole realm and arrangement wherein and whereby God justifies man in opposition to justification on the basis of law. (Gal 3:12; Rom 3:31; 10:8)

c. Law...
i. Law is basically the expressed and binding will of someone...
(1) One “under law” to someone is “bound” by the expression of that someone’s will.
ii. All law is not in all respects synonymous...
(1) Is the Christian under law?
(a) No! — Rom 6:14-15; 7:4,6; Gal 4:21; 5:18.
(b) Yes! — 1Co 9:21; Gal 6:2; Jam 2:8; Rom 3:27-28; Jam 1:25; 2:12.
(2) One is justified by the “law of faith” but unable to be justified by the “law of works”.
(a) “Law of faith” requires obedience and “law of works” requires flawless obedience!
(b) The “law of faith” is called “faith”; “law of works” is called “works”.
iii. As used by Paul, “law” without contextual modifications expresses not “law of faith” but “law of works”.
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b. Remember in Romans, without contextual modification, Paul is making a contrast between justification by a person’s works of merit and a person’s justification by faith in another’s works — not a contrast between “faith” and works of “the faith”., i.e., obedience to the faith

A LOOK AHEAD

2. What does Paul conclude, reckon or maintain, justifies a person?
a.
3. Why does faith in Jesus’s death [cf. 3:25] remove boasting? [3:27-28]
a.
4. What is Paul’s support, in this passage, God is not the God of a particular nation or people? [3:30]
a.


OBSERVATION: (3:30) “by faith” does not have same meaning as “through faith”...
1. “faith”and “the faith”
a. The first “faith” is the conviction of the truth of something, i.e, belief in something. In this case it is...
i. As relating to God — the conviction God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
ii. As relating to Christ — a strong and welcome conviction or belief Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
b. The second “faith” is preceded, in the Greek, by the definite article “the”...
i. This makes the word “faith” an idiom meaning what one believes, i.e., the doctrine of Christ, the gospel of Christ [Rom 1:16]
2. “by” and “through”
a. “By”, in the Greek, is a primary preposition denoting origin (the point from where action or motion proceeds), i.e., the source.
b. “Through”, in the Greek, is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act, i.e., the means of delivery.
3. Paul’s point is the source (“by”) of the Jew’s justification is based on their conviction of the truth Abraham taught their forefathers about God (not works) — the non-Jew is justified based on their knowledge of God’s will as channeled (“through”) the gospel of Christ. [Rom 1:16]...
a. The non-Jew did not need to know about Abraham or first become a Jew to know God or how to be justified by God — just had to accept the gospel of Christ.
4. To read into this passage Paul is saying the Jews are justified by the Law of Moses, and the Gentiles by faith in Christ is to read more than Paul wrote...
a. Paul’s point is everybody is saved by faith in Jesus, not by works of law .
b. Paul makes it clear one cannot be set free from condemnation unless they are in [have a relationship with] Christ


D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Based on our passage what is the benefit of justification by the means of faith?
1.
E. Conclusion
1.

III. {Rom 3:31- 4:8} Salvation by faith was a fundamental truth before circumcision.
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has established all humans have earned condemnation (1:18-3:20) and it is not possible for anyone to earn (deserve) justification, thus, justification is available for everyone.
2. Preview — Justification by faith (justification is not earned) does not cheapen the significance of sin, lower the cost of sin.
B. Question For Discussion? How was Abraham justified?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. PONDER: Consider the relationship between Abraham, circumcision, Law of Moses, and salvation via Christ. {Gen 15:1-5; 17:24; Neh 9:9-14; Acts 15:1,5,16}.
a. Circumcision was not part of the Law of Moses. Circumcision put one in a covenant relationship with God. Those in a covenant relationship with God obeyed the Law of Moses — Abraham never obeyed Law of Moses.
b. NOTE: When God gave Abraham the “Covenant of Circumcision” it included Abraham’s descendants and any servant in his household [Gen 17:8-13]. When Abraham’s descendants fled Egypt circumcision was expanded to include any strangers celebrating the Passover+
c. Before following the Law Of Moses could be of value one had to be circumcised. Thus, until the “LOM Christians” convinced the gentiles circumcision was necessary they could not push the second step — was also necessary to obey the Law of Moses and the law of Christ.
d. How many people were circumcised because they were righteous? {Gen 17:7-11,13}
(1)
e. Why did Paul circumcise Timothy [Act 16:1-3] and not Titus [Gal 2:3]?
(1)
2. PONDER: What is the significance of the different reading in KJV and ASV?

Rom 4:1
(KJV) What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

(ASV) What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?

(NASB) What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

(NASB fn) What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather; according to the flesh has found?

a.
OBSERVATION: When Paul is discussing works he means more than obedience to God’s will he means flawless obedience to God’s will. [cf. 4:4-5]
3. PONDER: Why do you think Paul choose Abraham [4:1] to prove his answer to the rhetorical question of 3:31?
a.
4. PONDER: The Greek word 3049. logizomai is used in every verse from 4:3 through 4:11 and in KJV is translated as: “counted”, “reckoned”, “imputed”. What does this word have to do with Paul’s argument salvation is not earned? (Consider how David, by his use [4:6-8], defines the word.)
a. Thayer: 1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over 1a) to take into account, to make an account of; 1a1) metaphorically to pass to one’s account, to impute; 1a2) a thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight.
b.
OBSERVATION: There is a most popular dogma among many if not all denominations based on the “imputed righteousness” of Rom 4:6. The dogma states when a sinner believes Jesus is their savior Christ imputes His righteousness upon them. The effect is their sins are hidden from God’s eyes for God now sees Christ righteousness and not their sins. This is most comforting for now when one commits a new sin God does not see the sin, thus, one cannot be lost. They still have their sins but God pretends they do not have any sins for He cannot see the sins. This dogma plays down or rejects the idea Jesus’s blood [death] removed in reality (washed away), not just play-like, baptized believer’s sins, thus, enabling the baptized believer to walk in newness of life [Rom 6:4]. Book, Chapter, Verse gospel (Rom 1:16) teaches Jesus’ death was the means to appease or placate God’s judicial wrath, not just a passing over. [“propitiation versus “passed over” Rom 3:25] God also provided way for new sins to be forgiven — not just passed over or hidden from His sight. (1Jo 1:9)
OBSERVATION: Paul is not discussion with these Christians what they did to be forgiven of sins. (As all convicted of sin ask, “What must I do?”, then do.) He is discussing the significance of what they did. Problem is many in Rome think the law of Christ is an addition to Law of Moses not a replacement of the Law of Moses, thus, Paul’s burden is showing what God required for the consequences of God’s judicial wrath to be permanently appeased, not just held back.
5. PONDER: [4:4-5] What is a worker, what is a non-worker? Cf. [Heb 5:8-9].
a.
6. What is the “weakness of, or problem with, salvation “by” (source) works [4:2]?
a.
7. PONDER: Why do you think it would it be wrong, i.e., displease God, for one to boast about earning their righteousness?
a.
8. What does Paul offer as proof Abraham was saved by faith (by believing)?
a.
9. In our text what does Paul say is the difference between works and faith?
a.
10. PONDER: What is the meaning of “grace”?
a.
11. According to David (another person greatly respected by Jews) sins are not imputed (not taken into account, i.e., are forgiven) based on what?
a.
12. PONDER: Why do you think Paul used Abraham and David to support the concept faith (trust) does not nullify law (obedience to the will of another)?
a.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — How was Abraham justified?
1. By his faith in God not because he was under any law of merit.
E. Conclusion
1. The first step in showing issue is not faith versus law is establishing faith was a means for justification before and after the Law of Moses and circumcision.
2. Awareness of faith and law establishes value of God declaring one righteous..
a. Righteousness is not something to be earned for it cannot be earned.
3. {Rom 3:31- 4:8} Salvation by faith is a fundamental truth among Old Testament worthies...
a. Most under the LOM had turned God’s plan for LOM (make mankind aware of God’s standard) into a plan of salvation by works of merit.

PRECIOUS NUGGETS

1. (Rom 4:3-4) if justification was not wages (earned) how did it happen?
a. (v.4)
b. (v.3)