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The Most Important Passage in the Whole of Scripture
The Aquilla Report ^ | November 21, 2014 | Michael J. Kruger

Posted on 11/21/2014 1:51:03 PM PST by Gamecock

What is it that solves the problem of our sins? “A righteousness of (from) God has been manifested apart from the law…through faith in Jesus Christ” (3:21-22). Luther referred to these verses as “the center of the whole Bible.” Martin Lloyd Jones called it “the most important and crucial passage in the whole of Scripture.” Leon Morris said it is “possibly the most important single paragraph ever written.”

As I mentioned in a prior post here, I have been teaching a weekly Bible study on the book of Romans to women in the Charlotte community. For the last several months, we have been plodding our way through the first three chapters as Paul has laid out his case that all mankind–Jew and Gentile–are sinful and rightly under the judgment of God. Paul finishes this section of his letter with this monumental statement: “For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in his sight” (Rom 3:20).

You can almost hear the gavel fall with a boom.

Thankfully, Paul does not end his letter here. This morning, in the last installment of the women’s study for the Fall term (we will resume in the new year), we will move onto to 3:21 and following. There Paul utters two of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture, “But now…” These two little words provide a great sigh of relief for any sin-wracked soul wondering about his fate.

“But now” tells us that something has been done to solve the problem of our sins.

What is it that solves the problem of our sins? “A righteousness of (from) God has been manifested apart from the law…through faith in Jesus Christ” (3:21-22). Luther referred to these verses as “the center of the whole Bible.” Martin Lloyd Jones called it “the most important and crucial passage in the whole of Scripture.” Leon Morris said it is “possibly the most important single paragraph ever written.”

This passage is the basis for the great Reformation doctrine of sola fide–the idea that we are saved by faith alone and not by the works of the law.

But, Paul makes a critical clarification here. He makes it clear that the righteous status we so desperately need comes through faith (v.22), but it is not the faith itself that is the grounds of our justification. The grounds of our justification–the reason God can declare us sinners to be righteous–is because of the righteousness of Christ given to us. He can regard us as righteous because a righteous status has been granted to us.

Thus, faith is merely the instrument or the means by which that righteous status is attained.

This is a critical reminder for Christians today. Whenever our world discusses religion, they will praise the merits of “faith” and laud people who possess it (think Oprah Winfrey). But, notice the world never praises the merits of the object of that faith. It doesn’t matter what you believe in (after all, all religions are the same), what matters is that you are sincerely committed.

For our world, then, faith is its own object.

Contrast that to what Paul is saying in Rom 3:21-22. Paul is saying that you are not saved because of faith (as if it were meritorious in itself) but you are saved through and by faith in Christ. The object of the faith is what is definitive.

So, the Reformed doctrine of sola fide does not mean what the world might think it means. For the world, it simply means that all you need is faith. For the Reformers, it meant faith is the sole instrument by which you acquire a righteous status in Christ (and thus not by works).

For those who doubt their faith and find their faith to be weak, this is a great encouragement. Our hope is not in how strong our faith is, but in how strong and righteous our Savior is.


TOPICS: General Discusssion; History; Theology
KEYWORDS:
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To: editor-surveyor; metmom; All
As usual you use your lack of understanding

I have already proven that you have no understanding. The proof is that you can't give a detailed response to anything I say. Instead, you have done nothing but thump your chest and prove that you are hellbound.

101 posted on 11/23/2014 3:40:04 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: editor-surveyor

So where do you go to offer the appropriate sacrifices for the sins you commit?


102 posted on 11/23/2014 4:08:44 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

Why do you mock the religion forum with absurd questions?
.


103 posted on 11/23/2014 4:53:14 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Most of what you post is nonsense.

To respond is folly.

Matthew 7:23 describes your condition.
.


104 posted on 11/23/2014 4:56:02 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

You’re telling us we have to obey the Law.

How do you decide which parts to pick and choose to obey?


105 posted on 11/23/2014 5:27:45 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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Comment #106 Removed by Moderator

To: LS; PROCON

Thanks, even I am familiar with John 1:1 and I applaud your point.


107 posted on 11/23/2014 5:37:02 PM PST by OKSooner
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To: Zuriel

>>That’s one of the common defenses of ‘the don’t move a muscle to believe’ crowd.<<

That is your underlying presumption as I never took the point that faith is comatose. Faith is an action.


108 posted on 11/23/2014 5:47:32 PM PST by redleghunter (But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.)
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To: redleghunter

**That is your underlying presumption as I never took the point that faith is comatose. Faith is an action.**

True. Then obedience to Acts 2:38 is faith. Just as Abraham leaving Haran to come to the promised land was faith.


109 posted on 11/23/2014 9:26:19 PM PST by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: editor-surveyor
Theology is just the all-encompassing term for man made beliefs that are promulgated as Biblical truth.

Believers have no need for theology, nor ‘interpretation.’

Believers read and hear the word of God, and thereby find faith, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Theologians believe in their beliefs and interpretations, and have no need for the Holy Spirit.

This is very well said. It's where I've finally gotten to while trying to understand Christian Faith and the "denominationally damaged" christians amongst us and throughout history.

You can't always tell by looking, but often can by listening. And not just with others, but also with ourselves and our own internal dialog.

110 posted on 11/24/2014 8:18:53 AM PST by GBA ("Ashes to ashes" or "Dust to dust", it's all about the "to".)
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To: Zuriel
True. Then obedience to Acts 2:38 is faith. Just as Abraham leaving Haran to come to the promised land was faith.

Yes there is a hymn addressing the above.

111 posted on 11/24/2014 2:57:58 PM PST by redleghunter (But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.)
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To: editor-surveyor; redleghunter
"The rabbit trails of long, rambling sentences that lead the easily distracted astray to follow the error of their own hearts, as Peter so clearly stated."

You will not find the words in the Bible, but both Trinity and the imputation of Christ's righteousness are thematic facts found in the Word.

112 posted on 12/14/2014 2:47:02 PM PST by GarySpFc (We are saved by the precious blood of the God-man. Evidenceforjesuschrist.org)
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To: editor-surveyor; redleghunter
I would say that most ‘theology’ students were never in fellowship.
Theology is just the all-encompassing term for man made beliefs that are promulgated as Biblical truth.
Believers have no need for theology, nor ‘interpretation.’
Believers read and hear the word of God, and thereby find faith, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Theologians believe in their beliefs and interpretations, and have no need for the Holy Spirit.

Is that so? I'm a theologian, and almost every theologian I know walks in the light with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

113 posted on 12/14/2014 2:56:38 PM PST by GarySpFc (We are saved by the precious blood of the God-man. Evidenceforjesuschrist.org)
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To: GarySpFc; redleghunter

You have made it clear that you “believe” that you walk “in the light.”

I have also pointed out the ways that you are not in the light, so are we going back to this endless confrontation?

I thought that we had agreed to disagree.

I have yet to know a theologian that accepts the plain words of scripture. If they did, they would have no need for “theology.”

Theology is the philosophy that there is a need for an “enlightened” man to interpret the word for the lowly and limited sheep.
.


114 posted on 12/14/2014 3:19:07 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor
Theology is the philosophy that there is a need for an “enlightened” man to interpret the word for the lowly and limited sheep.

Wrong! Theology is not a philosophy, and so you obviously don't have a clue what you are discussing.

115 posted on 12/14/2014 6:32:46 PM PST by GarySpFc (We are saved by the precious blood of the God-man. Evidenceforjesuschrist.org)
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To: GarySpFc

I have the clues, you have angry retorts, as usual.


116 posted on 12/14/2014 8:13:20 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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