The Righteousness that Saves

Feb. 9, 2003
Northwest Bible Church Worship service
Alan Conner

Rom. 3:20-24
The Righteousness that Saves

INTRO
We have come to what most scholars say is the heart of the epistle to the Romans. To put the teaching of the passage succinctly: God alone can provide us with a righteousness that saves.

I. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS CANNOT COME FROM OURSELVES OR THE LAW (v. 20).

God demands righteousness in His law. To enter heaven one must have righteousness, and not a man-made righteousness for such is as filthy rags in the sight of God. We must have a righteousness that meets God’s standards, but our sad problem is that don’t have this kind of righteousness. We are miserably unrighteous.

1) The works of the Law cannot justify. WHY? Because . . .

2) The Law reveals sin.

3) The Law condemns sin.

II. BUT NOW (v. 21).

BUT NOW is one of Paul’s favorite ways to draw a sharp contrast from a bad previous condition to a glorious present condition.

Rom. 6:20-22
Rom. 7:6
Rom. 11:30
Eph. 2:13
Eph. 5:8

BUT NOW -
It indicates a proclamation of current spiritual change.
It indicates a proclamation of hope.
It indicates a proclamation of divine intervention.

III. GOD ALONE PROVIDES A RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT SAVES.

V. 21-24 – Main thought:
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested. What is this righteousness? Phil. 3:9. It is the righteousness that comes from God which alone can save because we are unrighteous and unable to produce any righteousness that pleases God.

Qualifying clauses:
Apart from the Law (v. 21)
Witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (v. 21)
Received through faith for all who believe (v. 22)
Resulting in justification for the believer as a gift by His grace (v. 24)
1) "gift" – Manner of justification.
2) "grace" – Source of justification.
3) "accomplished by Christ’s redemption" – Cause of justification.

IV. GOD TO THE RESCUE.

Thank God for "but now, . . .." God is always coming to our rescue.

APPLICATION: