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.
Do you offer any evidence to support your contention that most theological students make this error?
Every theological student who errs, does so by straying out of fellowship first.
I did not argue Paul and other apostles did not preach water baptism. Somehow you are thinking I am. I pointed out the Gospel message was not baptism but what baptism points to. The death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus. You pointed out this such in your last post.
My underlying point was water does not justify us but we are justified by faith in Christ’s finished work. Baptism, akin to circumcision is the seal of the covenant. Abraham was justified before circumcision.
>>This is where the Greek words fall far short of the Hebrew. What is translated baptism, which is simply immersion in water to the Greek language, is really the Mikva, which is the whole process of repentance, which is punctuated at the point of full understanding and acceptance, by the new believer falling face first into a river, to symbolize the washing away of the sin nature.<<
Where you see the Greek fall short we have ample evidence of NT believers accomplishing all of the above. Acts 10 clearly shows this.
No argument on that.
I was just responding to your comment on what you thought Paul included in his gospel.
Baptism is not just getting wet; ask Peter, who equates “Baptism” as he knew it with our Earthly step toward salvation.
.
>> “Every theological student who errs, does so by straying out of fellowship first.” <<
.
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.
.
I see that I have stepped on your man made theology.
Do not assume that I don’t understand it; I was fed that garbage too for years on end, and found by reading the word for understanding, rather than for support of the unsupportable, the truth prevails through the Holy Spirit.
Its a tough lump, but for eternity’s sake, it has to be swallowed.
.
Same post as before applies to this nonsense as well.
The only tough lump to be swallowed, is your human pride, that you are substituting for the Holy Spirit.
Like I said before, Millions have been saved, and gone to heaven, based on the writings of the Apostle Paul.
I was unaware that pomposity, arrogance, and judgmentalism were in such short supply here that such strenuous efforts were needed to replenish them.
Read for understanding, quoting liars can make one look foolish.
There are no millions in heaven. The millions are in Hades, awaiting their salvation at the last trump.
.
When you consider all the thousands of theologies that are out there, and realize that at best, only one of them can be correct, how do you sort it out?
.
Since I don’t care for your cocksure and insensitive attitude, I’ll pass on holding such a discussion as you propose. Best wishes.
We don't,..we let God sort them out.
So which laws of the Torah are we to keep?
And where do you offer the appropriate sacrifices for your violations of it without a consecrated priesthood and a consecrated Temple to go to?
Another one in a long line of posters who declare *You’re wrong* without ever telling you what (they think) is right.
In that case, it’s with a totally clear conscience that I blow off their opinion. If they have nothing more to back their statement, if they can’t be bothered supporting their position and telling me why they think I’m wrong, I can’t be bothered taking them seriously.
Anyone who has the truth should never be reticent to share it. The fact that they don’t tell what’s right means they have nothing of more substance than their opinion.
**My underlying point was water does not justify us but we are justified by faith in Christ’s finished work. Baptism, akin to circumcision is the seal of the covenant. Abraham was justified before circumcision.**
That’s one of the common defenses of ‘the don’t move a muscle to believe’ crowd. Only thing is, God called Abram out of Haran, unto a land that was promised to him,.........and he OBEYED. Only a 400+ mile trip the old fashioned way. What was Abram faithful about BEFORE he was called out? Well, for one, burnt offerings, most likely.
His circumcision was 24 years AFTER he came to Canaan.
It’s a symbol of separation from the world. Likewise, Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude all exhort those called to be saints to turn from worldly ways, and be separate. To grow in Christ, old things are passed away, and all things becoming new.
The apostles taught that water baptism was done in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and was done pronto if the hearer was ready. Every instance spelled out in Acts shows water baptism was done right away. One of my peeves is this delayed action baptism which is so common, even in One God Apostolic churches. “Let’s all come back next week for Jim’s baptism, so all the relatives can be here for the big event!” (that kind of pastoral management really tests my ‘patience and longsuffering’)
As usual you use your lack of understanding as a basis of attack.
All of the commandments were given to be obeyed.
All who are in him obey the commandments that are applicable to them.
All of the pretenders grouse, and twist selected sentences from Paul “hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
.
>> “We don’t,..we let God sort them out.” <<
.
But God does all of his sorting out at the Great White Throne.
Good luck on that!
.
In other words, you will go with the heretics.
Pretty much what I thought.
Try reading Irenius “Against Heresies.”
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.