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.
Bump.
Yes, your right, James was not talking about saving faith, but putting your faith into action.
In that chapter he was talking if some who came up to you in need and asked for help and all you did for them was to tell then to be warm and be feed without actually helping them, where is your so called “ Christian compassion “ .. it’s empty, dead, phoney.
James was saying to put your money where your mouth is ..... In stead of talking about it, do it.
He was not talking about saving faith, that work was done by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hard sayings, the wisdom of the gospel that was hidden through out the ages to those who are proud, but has revealed them to babes, us in Christ.
Revealed to those who are being saved, but hidden to those who have rejected Christ and his good news.
The LORD must like rabbit trails, then, since he led Paul on so many. I’m happy, as I like rabbit trails, too.!
The wisdom, And the mystery of the gospel that was hidden.
You have a problem with what God inspired Paul to write?
Thank you for posting GC.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
While you have no respect for the Bible I do as the Scripture states above.
2 Peter 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Please notice what Peter said about Paul’s writings it’s pretty clear that you must be eating solid food to understand his writings you take that as you may.
1 Corinthians 3:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
Galatians 2:7-8 New International Version (NIV)
7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.
I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but Paul’s writings are directed specifiably at me since I’m not a Jew which makes me a Gentile, Glory to Father God Abba.
You seem to take this in the sense of "I must perform more good works than the Pharisees." Christ understood it in this way:
"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luk 18:11-14)
The contrast here is between the Pharisees who glory in their works, in their tithes, their refusal to commit adultery, and their loyalty to the Jewish people, and with the Publican, a tax collector, who does not even think Himself worthy enough to look up to heaven when he prays, but smotes his breast, symbolical of his smashing of his own pride and self-righteousness. The Publican goes down "justified" not because he performs more good works than the Pharisee, or even that his sins were less heinous, but because he recognized himself as a sinner in need of a savior. This is the essence of the Gospel, that a sinner, who cannot be justified by his works, is instead justified by his faith.
As for your objections against Paul's verse. You have not demonstrated how we ought to understand it, but have only pointed us to look at the Gospels, as if there is something there to contradict it. Presumably, Paul's verse cannot contradict something in the Gospel. So, then, can you provide a reading of Paul, using his words, that show he does not believe that the works of the law, so far as receiving justification is concerned, are irrelevant to our salvation?
I was just about to sit down and answer e-s’s comment when I saw your reply.
I won’t bother since you did such a good job.
Romans 5 12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!...The imputed sin of Adam was a birthday gift to us... The righteousness of Christ imputed to us is our NEW BIRTH GIFT
Agreed
>> You seem to take this in the sense of “I must perform more good works than the Pharisees.”
.
No!
As usual you impart to me your misinterpretation.
The point is that the Pharisees were totally violators of Torah, even to the extent of writing their own laws to avoid the letter and the spirit of Torah.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 plainly states the conclusion of the whole matter is that the keeping of Torah is the entirety of Man.
In Matthew 5, Yeshua affirms this fact, and states that it is to be so as long as the Earth and heaven exist. Theologians, all being separate from the elect of Yehova, always seek any false excuse to dismiss Torah. They are all “workers of Iniquity.”
To try to turn any of Paul’s declarations into a dismissal of Torah can be seen as a false interpretation on its face. Paul stated plainly in Romans 2 that only doers of the law will be justified.
That doesn’t say that anyone will be justified BY doing the law, but nevertheless only those that do the law will be justified.
All of the apostles state this same opinion, and John in particular takes it to us in stern detail in his first epistle.
Buffoons attempt to twist this fact out of the gospel.
Who could, after having the revelation of the Holy Spirit, turn away from the gospel, if the righteousness of Christ had been imputed to them?
Hebrews 6:
1] Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
[2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
[3] And this will we do, if God permit.
[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
[5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
[6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
[7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
[8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
[9] But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
[10] For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
[11] And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
The Once-saved-always-saved gang, of course say that Hebrews 6 is not a part of God's word.
If we are his, Yeshua writes his Torah on our hearts, which instruction in righteousness is what is to lead us toward righteousness. There is no "imputing" to be found in the word of God.
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 are referring to these verses:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Mat 5:17-18)
It quite clearly says that Christ was sent to "fulfill" the law. To those of us who are saved, we are no longer under the law, but under grace. The damned, however, are strictly under the law, even the law written on their hearts, and they are condemned by it.
As for Torah, you are referring, of course, to dietary laws, circumcision, feast days and other ritual laws. These are abrogated by name throughout scripture, all these jots and tittles, especially in Paul:
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." (Gal 5:2-3)
Paul's dismissal of circumcision is important since without it one cannot keep any of the laws of Moses, such as the Passover feast:
Exo_12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Here Paul rids us of dietary laws, another jot and tittle:
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1Ti 4:4-5)
Prayer sanctifies unclean foods, giving us all liberty to eat them.
Finally, the church in council asserted we were not under the law of Moses, and declared that we were under grace, in Acts 15:
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" (Act 15:24) No commandment to keep the law, or to be circumcised, were given.
I forgot to respond to this. Paul's argument, which you rip out of its context even against your own assertion that we "ought to consider the writing as a whole," is that no one is justified by the law. Hence in Romans 3 he declares everyone guilty:
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Rom 3:9-10)
Note how he writes "we have BEFORE proved" that all are under sin, none are righteous, etc. This was proven in Romans 1 and 2.
Great article. Straight to the point. Good linkages.
Thanks for posting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.