Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Man’s Greatest Need, God’s Provision: His Righteousness

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  Romans 3:21-26

A. The Nature of Gospel Righteousness

1. Initiated by God: Rom. 3:21, Rom. 1:4, Rom. 1:17, Rom. 3:25-26, Heb. 1:1-2, John 1:18

2. Witnessed through all of scripture: Rom. 3:21, 1 Cor. 1:31, John 5:39, Luke 24:25-27

B. The Ground of Gospel Righteousness

1. God’s provision in Christ as a propitiation: Rom. 3:22-25a, Heb. 2:17, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10, 2 Cor. 5:21

2. God’s provision in Christ received by faith: Rom. 3:22-25a, Rom. 1:16-17, Heb. 11:8

3. God’s provision in Christ as a gift of grace: Rom. 3:24, Rom. 5:16-17, 2 Cor. 1:29-31

C. The Display of Gospel Righteousness

1. God’s judicial action against sin on display: Rom. 3:25b-26, Gal. 3:13, Matt. 27:45-46

2. God’s wisdom in the plan of salvation on display: Rom. 3:26, Ps. 85:10, Eph. 3:7-10