ROMANS 3:22-23 THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST Now in this journey through Romans it is clearly stated that the perfections of God's righteousness are completely filled through the Person of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of God concerning the death, burial and resurrection of Christ provides the benefits we need to be accepted by a Righteous God. God justifies a man who is not righteous because the basis of saving us is the sacrifice of Christ. He completely bore our sin and has been raised by God that we might be justified through Him. The infinite and final work that Christ has done is reckoned to us.
The blood of Christ is the reason God can declare an ungodly man righteous. God's grace alone is the cause of that declaration. Our faith doesn't add to the work of Christ in any way. Faith is the way we come into that work and it is counted for righteousness because it gives God all the credit for salvation. Faith concerning Jesus Christ is exercised by accepting what God says as true. We rely on the testimony of God about Christ and redemption through Him alone. We believe God's Word that what He says has been done and it is done for us. We rest in what has been done - the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. The Father's testimony about the Son is true and has happened.
This blessing has taken place and therefore is unto all. Nothing more can be done or makes it more real than it already is. God's righteousness is a fact based on faith in Christ, in contrast to any legal righteousness man seeks to attain by law keeping or any other means.
There is no difference or distinction between Jews and Gentiles as to the fact of sin being passed on to all. The difference we would consider between a great sinner or small sinner is not distinguished here. The facts are - all have sinned. Greater or lesser is not the issue. "All have sinned" and are fallen short of the righteousness of God. We have all sinned because one man sinned and death has passed upon all men. But that is not the whole explanation of the problem - every individual since then (apart from the Lord Jesus Christ) has fallen short of God's glory. We are not in a position to only blame Adam for our sin, because we also have fallen (present) short of what God intended. We are ruined in sin by the fall of Adam and we daily fall short of the glory of God by our own sin.
Only in and through Christ alone can we find redemption and deliverance from sin. Whether religious or irreligious, Jew or Gentile, small or great, famous or infamous - we all fall short and can only through faith in Jesus Christ be counted righteous by God.
There is no righteous act that we can in any way do, That makes us acceptable to God, but faith alone that is through Jesus Christ alone, His saving cross-work has been done. In His redemptive sacrifice God sees us in His Son, And can confer upon us the righteousness of Christ That comes to us as a free gift, but He paid for it at great price, When the righteousness of God found in Him a perfect substitute, And on the basis of what Christ did, His righteousness did impute.
It is not of any attribute, any personal merit, or any work, That we have or could put forth that God did in His grace impart. The blessing of God in saving grace was not in any way by man earned; That only comes to us when Christ and His sacrifice are not spurned. Directed to us is this righteousness revealed through the reading of God's Word, And it guides us to the testimony of those who believe and call Him Lord. No matter who a person is or the kind of life they've lived, The righteousness that God expects is through Christ on whom we believe.
Some may try to differentiate as to sin and its degree. But of this unmistakable fact all of us have to agree; We all have sinned without a doubt and by sin we are condemned. Everyone has come short of God's glory; death is upon all men. There is no comparison between those who sin whether many or few. The fact remains that all of us have sinned, and though we knew - Sin is what separates from God, we did not stop until, Sin found us all condemned before God, that was a bitter pill.
But God be praised! There is a way for us to get back to God. The full redemption price has been paid by Christ's redeeming blood. Through faith in Him the righteousness of God can by us be known - For Christ Himself has satisfied that the blood of His own - Which satisfied once and for all the legal claims against us laid, And through faith in Jesus Christ we rest in the debt paid On our behalf that from sin's claims we could be free. That price was paid long ago, but is in effect for eternity.
"O Gracious God, the description of us all as sinners certainly is true and the awful fact of coming short of ,Thy glory is convicting. But I thank Thee this morning with a heart full of gratitude that Thou hast given the blessing of being righteously accepted through faith in Jesus Christ. I do believe 'the deed was done which shook the earth, and veiled the sun.' I do thank Thee and give Thee all the praise and glory for imparting Thy righteousness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
JUSTIFIED FREELY Righteousness provided by Jesus Christ: Seen in Christ [v.21] Such righteousness is not unknown, for perfection is in Christ Jesus alone.
Available in Christ [v.22] Remarkably though, it’s available to us, when we on the Savior place our trust.
Essential for all [v.22-23] The problem of sin would not go away, unless the Savior was willing to pay.
Available for all [v.24-25] To be justified freely by His grace is available to all, whom are willing on Jesus Christ to call.
Justification in three ways [v.25-26] Propitiation – turning away God’s wrath; remission – passing over; declaration – free at last.
Justification by faith, not works [v.27-30] Faith alone, there’s nothing to do; by faith alone God justifies you.
Justification by faith confirms the law [v.31] The law has done convicting work as a teacher; justification by grace is a legal feature.
“O God of all grace: the wonder of being justified, creates a depth of thanksgiving and worship from Thy people that often escapes us. To be declared righteous on a legal basis means total freedom. That freedom has not been granted arbitrarily, but with the greatest possible authority behind it. “O joy of the justified, joy of the free.” In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”