Preparing for this message, I recall many, many years ago,
I remember sitting right here on this pew. It was after service,
and Brother Charlie's sitting right here, and he said, no message,
no message is a gospel message if it does not deal with man's
ruin, and God's remedy. No matter what the text, no matter
what the scripture, the message must deal with man's ruin and
God's remedy. And I believe that is very clear. I pray it will be to all of us
in this text here in Romans chapter 3 that Brother Terry read. The passage begins in verse 19,
addressing man's ruin. And again, as we look through
verse 26, we see God's remedy. And there are a number of answers
in this passage of scripture. And I've got a few questions
this morning I'd like for us to look at as we go through this. And the first one is this, verse
19, what is my spiritual condition. What's my
condition? Look at verse 19. We know that
what thing soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world
become guilty before God. Under the law, we're bound to
observe, we're bound to obey. All mankind is under God's law. And that law declares that we
are dead, that we are guilty. And to such, every mouth should
be stopped. You ever been guilty of something? I can remember as a kid getting
in trouble a few times and typically I always had an answer, right? I always had an excuse. I can remember a few occasions
where there was absolutely nothing to say. Not a word I could say to excuse
myself, not a word I could say to defend myself. Guilty, guilty. Nothing to say, nothing to reply. God's holy law reveals, it exposes
our corruption, both inwardly and outwardly. The law reveals
my sin. What's my spiritual condition?
Dead. Dead in trespasses and sin. What's my spiritual condition?
I'm guilty. Guilty before his holy law. What's my condition? I'm a sinner. I am a sinner. And as a guilty
sinner, listen, I am subject to his justice, subject to his
vengeance, subject to the wrath of Almighty God. Every mouth
stopped. In Job 9, Job said this, he said,
if I justify myself, if I try that, I'm going to go out on
a limb here. I'm going to try to justify myself. He said if I did that, my own
mouth would condemn me. If I say I'm perfect, my own
mouth would prove me to be perverse. I just need to shut my mouth,
don't I? Just close my mouth, I am guilty. And that's our spiritual condition. Maybe we might ask this question.
Is there anything I can do about that? Is there anything I, and
I'm going to emphasize that, is there anything I can do about
it? Look at Romans 3 verse 20. By the deeds of the law, there
shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by the law is
the knowledge of sin. Isn't that the way we think?
Surely, surely there's something I can do. I can fix this, right? Maybe somebody down the street
can help me with this. Can't I just obey the law? How hard could that be? Remember
that rich young ruler when he approached the Lord and he asked,
what good thing can I do? What good thing can I do that
I may have eternal life? And the Lord Jesus Christ looked
at him and he said, keep the commandments. If you want to
do a good thing, you just keep the commandments. Thou shalt
not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt
not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother.
Love thy neighbor as thyself. That young man said, I've done
all this from my youth, my youth up. What lack I yet? Truly, would we be saved, would
any of us be saved by the keeping of the law? You know, outwardly,
we may convince a few folks that we can do those things. God looks
on the heart. He knows our thoughts. He knows
our imagination. James 2.10 says this, whosoever
shall keep the whole law, All of it, and there's a whole lot
more than just 10 commandments. Whosoever shall keep the whole
law and yet offend in one point, one point. And we've done far
worse than that, haven't we? But to offend in one point is
to be guilty of the whole law. Again, not just an outward obedience. God looks on the heart. And the
problem, listen, don't blame the law. Don't say the law's
too difficult. The law of the Lord is perfect.
The problem's not the law. The problem is right here. It's
this flesh. The law cannot save, the law
cannot justify, the law cannot give us a righteousness. The
law, what does it do? What can the law do? We just
read one of those things. It can do this. It can shut our
mouths and declare us to be guilty. Guilty before Almighty God. The law can teach us. It can
teach us the depths and the darkness of sin. that dwells in us, it
can teach us of our depravity. The law is spiritual, but what
are we? We're carnal, sold under sin. In Luke 16, 15, we read this,
ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your
hearts. For that which is highly esteemed
among men, it's an abomination in the sight
of Almighty God. Again, the law shuts us up to
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask you another question. Is
forgiveness, that being said, I'm a sinner. I can't keep the
law. Is there forgiveness available? Is there forgiveness available? Look at Romans 3 verse 21. The
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets. Psalm 23 verse 3 says
this, He restoreth, He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths
of righteousness. for his name's sake, for Christ's
sake. The righteousness of God without
the law is manifested. That means it's made known. It's
made known. The righteousness of God. Think
about this. We don't really know anything
about righteousness. We have an idea about it. But he's talking about the very
righteousness of God, God who is absolutely perfect, God who
is holy and just and righteous, the righteousness of God. Listen,
His holy law, it must be honored. It must be honored. His justice,
God's justice must be satisfied. Aren't we thankful it's a righteousness
provided? And he provided it. He himself provided it by his
grace. He's provided for and imputed
to guilty sinners his righteousness through his son. We don't provide
our own righteousness. We don't merit, we can't earn
our own righteousness. Listen to this scripture, for
they being ignorant of God's righteousness, what have they
done? They've went about to establish
their own righteousness. and they've not submitted themselves
to the righteousness of God." Paul wrote that concerning Israel. Huh? Brethren, my heart's desire
for Israel is they might be saved. I bear them record they have
a zeal for God. A lot of folks seem to have some
type of zeal for God. They want to do something, but
here's the problem. It's not according to knowledge.
They've been ignorant of God's righteousness, they're trying
to establish their own righteousness. And they've not submitted themselves
to the righteousness of a holy God. Christ, Christ, the Lord
Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone
that believeth. For a man to be forgiven, for
a woman to be forgiven, To have eternal life, we must be righteous. We must be without sin. I must have not a righteousness
of my own, I must have His righteousness. Here in our text, look again,
the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. without
the law, not without perfect obedience to the law. That's
what the law requires, perfect obedience. We're not perfectly
obedient in anything. That's what his law requires.
Again, aren't we thankful that that's what he has provided?
without the law, with regard to the sinner's obedience to
the law. If I don't have his obedience, if I don't have Christ's
obedience, if you don't have Christ's obedience, none of us
will be saved. We are all. Scripture says that
we are all. All. That's a small word, but
it's pretty easy to understand, isn't it? We are all. as an unclean
thing. And all, again, all of our righteousness,
let's all combine them together, one big great big ball of self-righteousness,
huh? What would they be in the sight
of God? Filthy rags. Filthy rags in His sight. And
we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away. now is manifested. He says it's
now manifested in the gospel. You know, the gospel is the power
of God unto salvation. In this gospel, in God's gospel,
is righteousness, the very righteousness of God, revealed. Christ fulfilled it and He reveals
it to us through His Word. The prophet Isaiah said, he shall
see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant, who's he talking about there? He's talking about the
Lord Jesus Christ. My righteous servant shall justify
many. for he shall bear their iniquities."
That which I cannot bear. He bore it. In the book of Jeremiah
we read, in his day Judah shall be saved. Not should be or might be or
would like to be. Shall be. That should remove
any doubt, shouldn't it? Shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely. And this is the name whereby
he shall be called the Lord our righteousness. Read over a few
chapters later, this is the name she shall be called, the Lord
our righteousness. It's the same name, isn't it?
Where he is? Where he is? Well, here's a good
question. Fourth one, where is righteousness
and forgiveness? This thing of righteousness and
forgiveness, where is it found? Where is it found? Look at the
end of Romans 3 verse 22. Even the righteousness of God,
which is by faith of Jesus Christ. Again. we must have a perfect
righteousness. A righteousness whereby we're
sanctified, justified, received in God's presence as, listen,
holy and without blame. And it's not imputed to us for
anything we've done. No. But it is received by faith. In Romans 5, 1, we read, therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace through God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. Martin Luther said this, he said,
although I'm a sinner, I do not despair. For Christ, who is my
Redeemer and my righteousness, he liveth. In Him, in Christ,
think about this, I have no sin. What a glorious thought, sinless,
no sin. I have no sin, I have no fear,
I have no sting of conscience, no fear of judgment, for in Him,
in Christ, there is no condemnation. I am indeed a sinner, he said,
as touching this present life. but I have a righteousness of
God which is above this life. Who is that righteousness? It's
Christ my Lord. And in Him, in Him, we rejoice,
don't we? Doesn't that just cause the heart
to rejoice? Turn with me to Philippians chapter
three. Philippians 3, in verse 8. Philippians 3, verse 8, yea doubtless, and I count all
things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things." And he's okay with that, wasn't
he? He said, I count them but done. I count all those things
but done that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God, by faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His
death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead." It's in Christ. You see that? It's in Christ. It is. That's not only in Christ, it
is Christ. He is my righteousness. Of Him
are you in Christ Jesus, who is made of God unto us, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Where is righteousness
found? One place. in Christ, in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Well, this righteousness which
is declared in God's Word, who's it for? Who's it for? You still have verse 22, Romans. It says here, unto all and upon all. Unto all and upon all them that
believe. Them that believe, for there
is no difference. This righteousness of God, Scripture
says it is unto all and upon all that believe. Every tribe, every nation, every
tongue, there is no difference. Old Testament believers, New
Testament believers, there is no difference. Jew, Gentile, born free, male,
female, the righteousness of God is unto all and upon all
them that believe. I ask you this, do you believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? That's the question. Do you believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ? You know back in the Old Testament,
I said Old Testament, New Testament, what was said of Abraham? Abraham
believed God. Paul and Silas, remember that
Philippian jailer there in the New Testament, what did they
tell him? Believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Who's that for? Unto all and
upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. No difference. I was thinking
about it. There's no difference. There's
no difference in the message we preach. We don't have a message for this
crowd and a message for another crowd, right? We don't have a
message for believers that are here every service and then a
few people that might sprinkle in some other time. It's the
same message. This message, I guarantee you,
if we would have been able to sit in on Lindy's class with
the little ones this morning, or if we'd have been able to
sit in on Isaac's class, same message. Same message. It does not change. No difference. No difference
in man's need of this gospel. There aren't some that need it
a lot and some that just need it a little bit. We're all in
the same need. We need His gospel. There's no
difference in how men are saved. Same saving power. Same saving
power. Same sin-atoning blood. Same Savior. There is no difference. You know, it took the same saving
power for that woman at the well as it does for any sinner, any
one of God's saints. I was thinking about this, Martha.
Remember what Scripture said about Martha? Martha was cumbered
about with much serving. She was busy doing this and doing
that. What about Mary? Where was she?
She was sitting at the feet of the Savior. Did it require a
little more to save Martha than it did Mary? No. No. Both sinners, both in need of
His saving power. What about Levi the publican?
Remember that he was sitting at the seat of custom. And the Lord passed by and He
said, follow me. That's two words, follow me.
And boy, he jumped up, left everything behind, and he followed the Lord.
What about Saul? Was it the same with Saul? The Lord blinded him with a bright
light, brighter than the noonday sun. Blinded him for a few days. Did it require any more to save
him? All the same. All the same. There's no difference in how
men and women are saved. What's scripture say? For by
grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's
the gift of God. Whether it's Mary, Martha, Levi,
just go on down the list. Same saving power. Romans 9.22, there is no difference. No difference. Because we're
all the same. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Can we see that? Can we see that
all have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God, short
of His commandments, short of His requirements, short of His
glory? We've been weighed into balance
and found wanting, haven't we? All of us. All of us. And I ask
you again, who's this for? Who's this for? What's Scripture
say? Verse 23, all have sinned. All have come short of the glory
of God. Who's this message for? It's for sinners. It's for sinners. Jesus Christ, what's Scripture
say? Jesus Christ came into the world
to save sinners. If I'm a sinner, I'm just to
do one thing. I'm just to follow His feet. Beg for mercy. Well, let's read
on in our text. Here's another question. Look
at Romans 3.24. What was the cost of it? What's
the cost of this righteousness? What's the cost of this salvation? What's the cost of redemption? Verse 24, being justified freely
by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The believer. is justified, not
condemned as we should be, but justified, made holy. Listen, we have the believer
has the holiness and the righteousness of his son, as if it were our own. He chose us, He redeemed us. He called us according to the
good pleasure of His own will. That means it's all of Him from
start to finish. What was the cost of it? What
was the price paid? The Lord Jesus Christ is our
Redeemer. He perfectly obeyed God's law. He bore the sins of His people
in His own body. He bore them. Scripture says
He was obedient unto death. Obedient unto death. He was buried
and He rose again and He now sits at the Father's right hand
as our mediator. And Scripture says this, that
we are complete How? In Him. In Him. I ask you again, what was the
cost of it? Turn with me to 1 Peter. 1 Peter
1. 1 Peter 1, look at verse 18. First Peter 1, 18, for as much as you know, you
were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. I ask again, what was the cost?
What then was the cost? Read on. the precious blood of
Christ as of a lamb without spot and
without blemish. What was the cost of it? Was
it anything you or I did or could do? What was the cost of it?
The precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ saved, saved by
the blood of the crucified one. Well, back to our text, Romans
3. Quickly, just two more questions
here. Whose idea was all of this? Whose
idea was this? Do you still have verse 25? What's
Scripture say? Whose idea? Whom God set forth. whom God set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for
the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance
of God." Whose idea was it? Well, we just read there, whom
God set forth. He purposed it. That's what that
set forth, it means purposed. It means foreordained. Whose idea was all this? It was
his. God. Salvation. Salvation is of the Lord. He planned it. He purposed it. Listen, he planned and purposed
this for his elect before the foundation of the world. Salvation purchased. He paid
the price. He paid it in full for his elect. His life and death purposed by
Almighty God. Scripture says He's the Lamb
slain from before the foundation of the world. A salvation revealed
to, performed in, and preserved in every one of His chosen people,
in every redeemed sinner. by God the Holy Spirit. Whose idea was it? Well, we read
it, whom God set forth. He planned it, he purchased it,
and he performed it. Whose idea? Salvation is of the
Lord. And then last, look at verse
26. Why'd he do it? Why'd he do it? What do you read there in verse
26? To declare at this time his righteousness. That he might
be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Why did he do it? To declare,
to demonstrate, to show his righteousness. It's His. It's His. And with
it being His, can't He give it to whoever He's
pleased to give it to? It's all His. And it's a perfect
righteousness provided by the Lord Jesus Christ to every believer. And that believer is without
sin in Christ, without sin and declared to be righteous. The
very righteousness of his son, the very righteousness of Christ. Why did he do it? Well, one more
thing here, that he might be just and justifier. God saves men in such a way that
his justice and his truth are never compromised. Scripture says he's a just God
and a Savior. Man's ruined. That's our condition. Ruined. Guilty. Dead in trespasses and sin. Aren't we thankful that we have
that whole scripture though because it also reveals God's remedy. His righteousness, His Son. He justified us, He redeemed
us, and listen, He's going to present us faultless, faultless
in the presence of God Almighty in Christ, in Him. Aren't we thankful? Thankful
that He's a just God, and the Savior.