Identity in Christ Series: Week Nine I Am Righteous

Romans 1:18-3:20 describe for us the fallen, helpless condition of mankind.  There is no hope or any way man can redeem himself from the curse of the law.  Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

Romans 3:21-26 shows us the way for mankind to become righteous and will be our primary text for this study.  

Romans 3:21-26 (NLT) 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

 

What do we know about God’s Righteousness? (Vs. 22-23)

 

First, we know that Jesus is righteous .  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Secondly, we know that God revealed His righteousness through Christ.  Galatians 4:4 (NLT) But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Thirdly, we know that God’s righteousness comes to us through faith.  Romans 3:22a (NLT) We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. We trust, meaning we put our confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, make us right with God, and to give us the power to live in faith.  

Next, we know that righteousness is offered to all.  Romans 3:22b And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  Settling our account (justification) with God is offered to everyone.  No distinction is made between Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, bond or free.  All are offered this amazing gift.

Finally, we know that no one is righteous apart from God.  Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. James 2:10 (NIV) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Romans 3:10 (NIV) As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.”

Let’s continue by looking at what we know about God’s Grace.  (Vs. 24-25a)

First, we are justified by grace. Romans 3:24-25 (NASB) being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 

Webster’s Dictionary defines justification as: the act, process, or state of being justified by God; the act or an instance of justifying:  vindication.

Justification means to acquit, or to put in the right, to declare righteous. It is the opposite of condemnation.

The picture here is of sinful man being guilty and standing before the righteous judge.  We deserve the death sentence, eternal separation from the Holy God, however, when we come with repentant hearts, God applies the payment made by Jesus on the cross and pronounces us “acquitted!” We are justified (just as if we never sinned) because Jesus took our place and carried our sin upon Him on the cross.  

Second, God justifies sinners “as a gift of His grace,” not because of who they are or anything they have done. (Sermon Central: GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST by Dennis Davidson)

Thirdly, redemption is an act of God’s grace.  Redemption means to ransom or to pay the price to free slaves or prisoners of war. Mark 10:45 (NLT) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  

Jesus already ransomed all mankind, however, it is man’s choice whether to renounce sin and accept that ransom or not.  

Born in 1954 in Los Angeles, California, Patty Hearst is the granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst media empire. On February 4, 1974, at age 19, Patty Hearst was kidnapped by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Not long after, she announced that she had joined the SLA and began participating in criminal activity with the group, including robbery and extortion. Hearst was captured by the FBI in September 1975, and the following year, she was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 35 years in prison.    

(http://www.biography.com/people/patty-hearst-9332960)

Her father paid millions of dollars for her release. The ransom had been paid and Patty could have escaped but she did not want to escape. 

Finally, we see that the cross was a public demonstration of God’s righteousness.  (vs. 25b-26) Jesus went to the cross to pay the ransom for sinful, guilty man. The sins of all who had/will ever live needed to be paid for.  
Throughout the ages, man has reaped what he sowed, however, from the beginning no one had ever received the full punishment for the sins they committed.  God was not condoning their sin; He was waiting for the appointed time, the death of Christ on the cross, to demand the payment for the sins of all mankind.   

 

Christ’s death paid for past, present, and future sins.  None were left out.  His death was the once-for-all payment required by our holy, just God.  

In Conclusion, to be made righteous, all that is required of us is to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior; to accept His free gift of salvation and redemption.  The ransom has been paid, our freedom assured; the choice is ours.

We, as born again believers, are righteous in God’s eyes.  Our penalty has been paid.  When condemnation rears its ugly head, we need only point the enemy to the cross and the moment we received Christ’s free gift of salvation and he has to slither away because he has no leg to stand on (pun intended! :))