Greetings to all present and online, in America and abroad! Today we continue our study in Romans. How can God save sinners and yet be just? Is it possible that we can somehow pay for the sins we have committed against a holy God to meet His satisfaction? St. Paul in the third chapter has the answers to these serious questions and even more! Let us research this fascinating topic with our teacher as it pertains to understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Landis Fisher has titled this message: “Justice and Mercy”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Genesis 15:1 – 6 (KJV)
Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? Gen 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. Gen 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Romans 3:20 – 26 (NASB)
Rom 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Rom 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; Rom 3:26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) The book of the Law teaches us that God is sovereign and holy, and yet He voluntarily chose to call, sanctify, and save Abraham and promised that through his progeny He would raise up a descendant (or seed) through whom all nations could be saved, both Gentiles and Jews alike.
#2) The Law itself testifies that there was never a person who met it’s perfect demands and that by God’s mercy there was contained within the framework of the Law a system through which God’s mercy could be obtained from year to year by the bringing of an appropriate sacrifice as described in the Law to make propitiation / reconciliation between the sinner and God.
#3) The gospel which is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets provides both God’s Justice against sin and God’s Mercy toward sinners once and for all and is credited to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of both; i.e. He alone satisfies God’s Justice against us and He alone grants God’s Mercy toward us and He alone has done both perfectly to God’s satisfaction. (Hallelujah!)
