FROM SIN TO THE SAVIOR

ROMANS 3

While all Scripture is inspired of God and profitable, there are some parts of the Bible that contain more doctrinal truth than others.

St. Augustine was converted through reading Romans. Martin Luther launched the Reformation on Rom. 1:17: “The just shall live by faith.” John Wesley, founder of Methodism, was converted while listening to someone read from Luther’s commentary on Romans. If there is one book that every Christian should understand, it is this epistle. Why?

(1) It presents doctrinal truth—justification, sanctification, adoption, judgment, and identification with Christ.

(2) It presents dispensational truth in chapters 9-11, showing the relationship between Israel and the church in the eternal plan of God.

(3) It presents practical truth, teaching the secret of Christian victory over the flesh, the duties Christians have toward each other, and their relationship to government.

Romans is a great exposition of the faith. It is the complete and most logical presentation of Christian truth in the entire NT.

If a Bible student wishes to master any one book of the Bible, let it be Romans! An understanding of this book is a key to unlocking the entire Word of God.

Chapter 3 forms the bridge between “Sin” and “Salvation.” In the first section (vv. 1-20), Paul deals with condemnation and concludes that the whole world—Jew and Gentile alike—is under sin. In the last section (vv. 21-31), he introduces the theme of justification by faith, which will be his theme in the next two chapters.

In fact, chapter 3 is really the seedbed for the rest of the book. In vv. 1-4, he deals with Israel’s unbelief, and this is his subject in chapters 9-11. In v. 8, he mentions the question of living in sin, and this matter is discussed in chapters 6-8. (Note that 3:8 is closely related to 6:1.) Verse 21 brings up the topic of justification by faith, his theme for chapters 4-5. Finally, in v. 31, he mentions establishing and obeying the law, the theme presented in chapters 12-16 (note 13:8-14).

I.                  CONDEMNATION OF SIN. ROM. 3.1-20

A.   The questions Paul asks.

1.               Is there any advantage of being a Jew? Vs. 1-2

2.               Has Israel’s belief cancelled God’s Word? Vs. 3-4

3.               Why not sin and glorify God more? Vs. 5-8

4.               Is the Jew better than the Gentile? 9-18

B.    Those little “key” words – “all”, “none”

C.   Three kinds of sin mentioned in vs. 13-18

1.               Sin of words – speech, tongue.

2.               Sin of ways – deeds

3.               Sin of will – “no fear of God”

D.   The law condemns – it does not save. The Jews thought that the law would save them. Vs. 19,20.

1.               The whole world is guilty.

2.               By works – keeping the law – no flesh can be justified.

II.              CANDIDATE FOR SALVATION. 21-23

A.   The righteousness of God steps in. v. 21

B.    The righteousness is by faith of Jesus Christ. V. 22.

1.                Philippians 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

2.                Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

C.   It is for all and upon all them that believe. V. 22

1.                John 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

2.                John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

3.                John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

4.                Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5.                1 John 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

6.                Revelation 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

D.   God reminds again about man’s sinfulness in v 23.

III.          CAPABILITY OF THE SAVIOR. 24-31

A.   “Justified” – Declared righteous – not guilty, just as if I never sinned.

B.    “Grace” – God’s unmerited favor. Getting something we do not deserve.

C.   “Redemption” - the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law by the atonement of Christ (Webster)

D.   “Propitiation” - appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to satisfy his wrath. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Rom.3. 1 John 2.

E.    “Remission of sins.” Forgiveness; pardon; that is, the giving up of the punishment due to a crime; as the remission of sins.

Jesus Christ can save anyone at anytime at anyplace.

He is God. He is the only way for salvation.

CONDEMNATION OF SIN

CANDIDATE FOR SALVATION

CAPABILITY OF THE SAVIOR.