“The Righteousness of God Made Known” (Romans 3:21-22a)

“The Righteousness of God Made Known” (Romans 3:21–22a)

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Sunday AM, June 11, 2017

 

Romans 3:21–22a (NIV)

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

 

      1.  The righteousness that comes to us in the Gospel is God’s.

              a.  The Gospel is God’s Gospel.

              b.  The Righteousness is God’s Righteousness.

      2.  The righteousness of God that comes to us in the Gospel was planned from eternity past and testified of in the Old Testament.

              a.  The Gospel is not God’s alternative plan when the Law did not work to save people.

              b.  It was never God’s intention to save people through the Law. The Law brings us a knowledge and conviction of our sinfulness.

              c.  God’s intention to save people by his righteousness was prophesied in the Old Testament.

              d.  We don’t have a full understanding of the Gospel of God without the testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures.

      3.  The righteousness of God that comes to us in the Gospel has now been revealed in this New Covenant era (But now…).

              a.  The righteousness of God that comes to us in the Gospel is not new; it was there testified of in the Old Testament. “But now” that righteousness of God has been fully revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ – his incarnation, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

              b.  The “Christ event” introduced a new era in God’s salvation plan. We are now beneficiaries of this New Covenant epoch.

              c.  The righteousness of God that comes to us in the Gospel introduces a new epoch in history, but it also introduces a new epoch in each of our lives personally. For all who are in Christ there was a “Then…” followed by a “But now…”

      4.  The righteousness of God that comes to us in the Gospel comes through faith in Jesus Christ apart from the Law.

              a.  The righteousness of God that we receive in the Gospel is not earned by us; it was earned by Jesus Christ. It is his righteousness that justifies us before our Holy God.

              b.  This righteousness of God in Christ is not obtained by our performance of the deeds of the Law; it is obtained through complete trust and dependence on Jesus Christ.