How Can God Be Righteous? (Romans 3)

1. Read: Romans 3:21-22

2. About the Text:

1) We are studying through the book of Romans.

2) It is one of the most difficult to understand letters in the New Testament.

3) The theme of Romans is: the gospel is God’s power for salvation.

4) Chapter one discussed righteousness vs. unrighteousness.

5) Chapter two discussed the righteous judgment of God.

6) Chapter three answers the question “How can God be righteous?”

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. What advantage is it to being a Jew? (1-2)

1) There are many advantages.

2) Mainly, they have the oracles of God, scriptures.

3) This does not make God unfaithful, but faithful.

2. Does unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? (3-4)

1) Unbelief does not erase God’s faithfulness.

2) God is always faithful.

3) It is man who lies and is unfaithful.

4) “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge” (Psalm 51:4).

5) One person’s lie does not nullify the truth.

3. The behavior of believers does not impinge upon the faithfulness of God.

1) “Look at all of the Christians that disagree.”

2) “There’s so many hypocrites in the church.”

3) “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

1. Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (5-6)

1) Man’s unrighteousness demonstrates God’s righteousness.

2) Why would God punish man for demonstrating His righteousness?

3) This is human thinking.

4) If God could not punish man’s unrighteousness, God could never judge the world.

5) That would truly make God unjust.

2. If the truth of God increased through my lie to His glory, why am I judged a sinner? (7-8)

1) This is human thinking.

2) Because it is wrong to say, “Let us do evil that good may come.”

3) Some have reported that Christians believe this; it is a false report.

4) Those who affirm that are correctly condemned.

3. The activity of evil men does not nullify God’s justice.

1) “There is so much suffering in the world today.”

2) “Why does God allow evil people to do evil things?”

3) “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

1. Are the Jews better than the Gentiles? (9)

1) Both Jews and Gentiles are under sin.

2) See Romans chapters one and two.

2. The scriptures charge sin to everyone (10-18).

1) Vs.10-12 – Psalm 14:1-3

2) Vs.13 – Psalm 5:9

3) Vs.13 – Psalm 140:3

4) Vs.14 – Psalm 10:7

5) Vs.15-17 – Isaiah 59:7-8

6) Vs. 18 – Psalm 36:1

3. But aren’t these Gentiles and not Jews? (19-20)

1) What the law says, it says to those under the law both Jews and Gentiles (v.19).

2) Conclusion: No flesh will be justified by the deeds of the law.

3) The law only gives knowledge of sin.

4. One person’s guilt does not mean another is innocent.

1) “But look at him!”

2) “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

3) “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).

1. God’s righteousness is revealed through Jesus Christ (21-26).

1) The law can only condemn, so God’s righteousness is apart from the law.

2) It is witnessed by the law and the prophets.

3) It is through faith in Jesus Christ.

4) It is for everyone who believes for there is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to personal righteousness.

5) There is no difference because …

a. All have sinned.

b. Both Jew and Gentile may be justified freely by God’s grace.

6) They are justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

7) Christ Jesus redeems because God set Him forth as a propitiation by His blood.

8) This propitiation demonstrates God’s righteousness …

a. He passed over sins previously committed in anticipation of Christ’s sacrifice.

b. Presently by showing that God is just and justifies.

9) God justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

2. If we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we cannot boast in ourselves (27-31).

1) The law of faith excludes boasting.

2) So, justification must occur by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

3) God is both God of Jews and Gentiles.

4) He justifies both by faith.

5) This does not make the law void.

6) It establishes the law because without faith law is meaningless.

3. Justification before God means acceptance of Jesus Christ.

1) We must accept what Christ has done for our salvation.

2) We must accept what Christ has commanded for our lives.

3) To tread any other path is to seek self-justification.

4) “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

1. How can God be righteous?

1) He is righteous because He is faithful.

2) He is righteous because He is just.

3) He is righteous because man is guilty.

4) He is righteous because He justifies by faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Invitation