Romans - February 24, 2008

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

2. What does Paul conclude, reckon or maintain, justifies a person?
a. Faith [3:28]

3. Why does faith in Jesus’ death [cf. 3:25] remove boasting? [3:27-28]
a. Faith says I am saved by what Jesus has done not by what I have done.
b. Works is motivated by “having a goal to reach”, thus, gives one a sense of accomplishment, i.e., the right to boast I am saved by what I have done.

4. What is Paul’s support, in this passage, God is not the God of a particular nation or people? [3:30]
a. Faith justifies both circumcised and un-circumcised.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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. There is but one means of justification for all mankind and it is faith in God’s plan, i.e., Jesus’ blood is the propitiation for sin. Faith in God’s plan removes the right for anyone to claim they have earned justification by anything they have done (works). Faith in God’s plan makes void the concept God is a God of a particular nation or people. (Each nation does not have their own special god.)
E. Conclusion
1. Faith in God removes boasting for this means justification is a gift granted based on the goodness of the giver not the quality of the receiver.
a. If the gift is granted not based on a person’s goodness then it is illogical to take the position another is not good enough to receive God’s gift of Justification [cf. 3:22].
b. In previous section (1:18-5:20) all have earned condemnation, thus, even the Jew must acknowledge they are not better than the Gentiles, if they are logical, honest, and humble.
c. For all having sinned salvation is by faith in God’s plan (blood of Jesus) not a law before the Law of Moses, not the Law of Moses, not the law of nature, not the law good works, etc.
2. The Jew, even when he became a Christian (baptized believer), had the idea “the faith” was an extension of the Law of Moses — one must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses, then they could obey the gospel (be baptized). [Act 15:1]

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?

A LOOK AHEAD
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)