One of the favorite letters that
I've ever received was given to me from a man who didn't identify
himself. So that seems I didn't like it.
As a matter of fact, my general practice is if someone will not
sign who wrote it, I don't want to hear what they have to say. But at any rate, I received this
letter and this man said if they handed out awards, for answering
questions nobody was asking, you'd win. This was his response to an article
that we put in the paper entitled, Does the Bible Teach the Doctrine
of Election? And this man said, nobody's asking
that question. Well, I disagree. Some folks
are asking that question. Some folks are interested in
that question. In our text, that passage of
scripture that we just read, we are given some questions that
everybody asks. It could be that there are some
people that have not asked, does the Bible teach the doctrine
of election? But I know the questions we're
going to deal with are questions that everybody in this room has
asked at one time or another. As a matter of fact, these are
questions that everybody asks. whether they've ever heard the
gospel or not. I've entitled this message, Questions Answered. These are questions that you've
asked and that I've asked. Questions answered. Now, Paul says in verse 19 of
Romans chapter 3, And we know. I love that kind
of language. We know we're not speculating.
We're not simply giving our opinion. We know they may not, but we
do. We do. Somebody says, you think you
know everything? No, but I think God does. And he's speaking under
the inspiration of God, the Holy Spirit. We know. We know this
is not something we're unsure of. We know. We know that what
things soever the law saith, God's holy law, it saith to them
who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all
the world may become guilty before God. Now, here's the first question
that is answered. Here's the first question that's
answered. And I'm going to begin this by telling you what the
question is not. The question is not, is there
really a God? Every one of us has asked that
question, but we've all really deep down known the answer to.
It's not really a question we haven't known the answer to.
Everybody here knows deep down that there is a God. Everybody
knows that. There is a God. The question
is not, is the Bible really the Word of God? I can't prove that
to you. I know it is, but I can't prove
it to you. The question is not, what's my purpose in life? What
am I doing here? This is not about you. This is not about you. Everybody's
asked that question, I suppose, but that's not a really important
question. The question is not what's my purpose in life, or
what am I doing here? Here's the question that is so
vitally important, and this is where we've got to begin. What
is my state before God? Now that's the question you and
I need to grapple with. What is my state before God? Now, God is. Everybody here knows
that. What is my state before this God? Now, the answer to
that question, verse 19, Now 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 may become guilty. before God. Now there's the answer
to that question. What is my state before God? The answer is guilty. Subject to the judgment of Almighty
God. Turn back to Romans chapter 1.
Verse 28. I want to read From verse 28 down
through the end of this chapter, five verses to read. And even if they did not like
to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate
mind to do those things which are not convenient or which are
not appropriate, which are not right. And he goes on to list
what those things were. Now, listen to this catalog,
if you will, this list of sins that these people were guilty
of committing. He says, being filled, being filled. That means plumbed full. Plumbed
full. Full of this. Being filled with
all unrighteousness, fornication, sexual sin, wickedness, covetousness,
desiring, maliciousness, flat-out meanness and ill will, full of
envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignancy, a cancer, whisperers,
backbiters, haters of God. These folks he's describing actually
hate God. Despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding,
covenant breakers, without natural affection. Implacable. You know
what that means? Unreformable. They can't be reformed.
Unmerciful. Who, knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but they have pleasure in them that do them.
Not only do they commit these things, they like it when other
folks do. Now, I want to ask you a question.
Do these people described, do they deserve the judgment of
God? Do they deserve to be sent to
hell? Do they? Do you really believe that? Now,
let's go on reading. Verse 1, Therefore thou art inexcusable,
O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest. For wherein you judgest
another, you condemn yourself. For you that judge do the same
things. If you think these people deserve
to hell, you are forced to this conclusion. You deserve hell,
too, because you are guilty of doing everything. I am guilty
of doing everything just mentioned in this passage of Scripture.
That's what the Word of God says. So what's our stake before God?
Guilty. Subject to the judgment of a
holy God, deserving of the condemnation of a holy God. What about good,
sincere people? What about them? Look over in
Romans chapter 3 verse 10 or verse 9. What then? Are we better
than they? Are we Jews better than those
Gentiles? No, no wise. For we have before proved We've
demonstrated this beyond a shadow of doubt, both Jews and Gentiles,
that they're all under sin. How many of them are under sin?
All. As it's written, there's none
righteous. No, not one. There's none that
understands. There's none that seeks after
God. They're all gone out of the way. They have together become
unprofitable. There is none that doeth good.
No, not one. Finally, one of these good, sincere
people. Ain't no such thing. This is God's judgment concerning
everybody in this room and everybody in the world. What is our state
before God? Guilty. Every mouth may be stopped. No excuses. You can't blame mom
and dad. You can't blame your environment.
You can't blame the circumstances you've been under. I'm not saying
that those things don't have any bearing. They do. We're all
products of our environment. I realize that. But when it comes
right down to it, my sin is my fault. Not somebody else's. Mine. I must stand before God
as guilty. Now, that's our state before
God. Guilty as charged. Do you believe
that about yourself? Well, if you don't, the Word
of God says that's the way it is and you better believe it.
Believe what God says, whether you feel it or not. Believe what
God says. Guilty before God. Second question. And I'll come up with this question
from reading this passage of scripture, verse 20. Therefore. By the deeds of the law. There
shall no flesh be justified in his sight. By the law is the
knowledge of sin. Now, here is the second question.
Is there anything I can do to change that state? I stand guilty
before God. Is there anything I can do to
change that state? You know what the answer is? No. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. for by
the law God's holy law is the knowledge of sin. Now what is meant by the deeds
of the law? Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge
of sin. The deeds of the law are anything you do. Anything
you do. if your work for it is if salvation
and listen to me if salvation is in any way conditioned upon
or contingent upon something you do. That's what. That's the deal
of the law. You know in most churches or
religious institutions. I would call it that. It's taught. God loves everybody. Christ died
for everybody. He wants to save everybody. He
has that purpose for you, but you might not be saved if you
don't do something. He's done everything for your
salvation, but you need to do something in order to make what
He did work. You know what that is? That is
salvation by works. That's all it is. Salvation by
the deeds of the law. If salvation is contingent upon,
if it's conditioned upon something you do in order for it to make
it work, it works. Therefore, by the deeds of the
law, by your works shall no flesh be justified in his sight." All
God's law does is expose sin. By the law is the knowledge of
sin. I love that passage of Scripture. I preached at a funeral on Friday,
and I preached that passage of Scripture out of 1 Corinthians
chapter 15, where Paul's talking about the resurrection, but he
makes this statement, the strength of sin is the law. All God's holy law does, all
His Ten Commandments do is expose our sin. Nothing more. They give
no strength to obey. They expose sin. What is our state before God
guilty? Is there anything we can do to
change that state? No. No. Well, the third question is,
does that mean there's no hope? Are we simply awaiting the time of
execution? We'll look in verse 21. But now. But now. The righteousness of God without
the law is manifested. Being witnessed by the law and
the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of
Jesus Christ. Does that mean there's no hope?
Are we simply awaiting the time of execution? No. Now, the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested. There is a righteousness that
I can be justified by that has absolutely nothing to do with
my personal obedience. Now, if you find that practical,
is that something that interests you? Being saved by somebody
else's righteousness? Well, please listen. Zero in
on this. What does God require of you and I? Perfect righteousness. That's what God requires. Somebody
says, that's too strict. That's the way it is. That's
the way it is. That's who God is. And he will
not lower his terms. He will not lower his standards.
He requires perfect righteousness. He requires a righteousness that
is equal in every respect to his. Now that is what God requires. And that's the way it is. Somebody
says, well, that's too strict. We can't come up with that. Well,
I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. God requires a perfect
righteousness. Now, he will by no means clear
the guilty. We read of a righteousness, though,
that God will accept. But now, look what he calls it
in verse 21, but now the righteousness, what? Of God. We're not talking about just
a human righteousness, but now the righteousness of God. of which he is the author, a
righteousness that he worked out, but now the righteousness
of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ. Now, you may have
a translation that says, which is by faith in Jesus Christ.
That's not the way that it reads this way. That's the way it ought
to read, by faith of, by the faithfulness of, by the obedience
of, by the merits of, by the law-keeping of Jesus Christ.
Now, the righteousness of God is Christ's law-keeping. The
righteousness of God is Christ's obedience. It's truly the righteousness
of God. And that righteousness is literally
charged to the account of those who believe. It's not that we
have no hope. Yes, we're guilty before God.
That's true. Yes, there's nothing we can do to change our state
before God, but that does not mean there's no hope. There is
a righteousness of God, a righteousness, the perfect righteousness of
Christ, which he charges to the account of those who believe
it's the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Now, here's the fourth
question. How can I know this is true and
not some fairy tale? Can this be verified? I mean,
that although sounds to be good, too good to be true. Here I am
guilty. I can't change my state. But yet there are some people
who are justified before God. He takes his own righteousness,
the righteousness of Christ, and gives it to these people.
How can I know that's true? Well, here's how I can know that's
true. Look in verse 21. But now the righteousness of
God without the law, and that means without my personal obedience
to the law. You're saved by perfect law-keeping, but it's not your
law-keeping, it's His law-keeping. But now the righteousness of
God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and
the prophets. How can I know this is true?
It's not some fairytale because it's witnessed by the law and
the prophets. Because it's what the scripture teaches. I'm getting
the teaching of scripture. The Bible is the word of God. I can't prove that to you. It's
a presupposition. that must be believed. I can't
prove it to you. I don't feel any need to prove
it to you. I know it is. I don't feel a need to prove
what I know to be so. I know the Bible's the Word of
God. Now, you say, well, I don't believe that. Well, OK. OK. I
mean, it's a free country. You can believe whatever you
want to. I realize that. But I know this. If the Bible's not
the Word of God, what's the standard for truth? There is no truth.
I mean, everything's up in the air. Who knows what's true? You
can take that route if you want, but I know the Bible is the word
of God. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. The Bible claims to be the very
word of God without error. And I know what I'm saying is
true is because it's the definitive message of the scriptures. Turn
with me to Isaiah 54. Let me show you an Old Testament
scripture. Isaiah 54. No weapon, verse 17, the last
verse of Isaiah 54. No weapon that's formed against
thee shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage
of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me. Oh, that's what the Bible teaches,
isn't it? Their righteousness. is of me,
it's the righteousness of which I am the author. We know this
is true because the scripture teaches it. Look back in Romans
chapter 4, page across from our text, Romans chapter 4. Actually, we're going to be considering
this more next week. But look what it says in verse
5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David
also described the blessedness of the man under whom God imputes
righteousness without their works. Is that attractive to you? Having
God impute the righteousness of his son to you without your
words? That's the gospel. Now the righteousness
of God without the laws manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets. Now, here's the fifth question.
I see that this is the teaching of scriptures, but here's my
fifth question is, who is this for? Turn back to our text. Romans 321, but now the righteousness
of God without the laws manifested being witnessed by the law and
the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by the faith
of Jesus Christ. Well, who's it for? Unto all and upon all
them that. Believe. For there is No difference. Who's this for? Is it for everybody? No, because everybody's not saved.
You know it's not for those folks in hell. They don't have a righteousness
before God. Who's it for? It's not for everybody.
It's for those who believe. Now what in the world does it
mean to believe? That's who this is for. It's for those who believe. What's
it mean to believe? Well, it means more than simply giving agreement.
I dare say most of the people, maybe everybody in here is giving
agreement to what I say. I don't know. But it means more than
getting agreed. Someone says, well, I agree with
that. Well, I'm glad you all agree with what's true. No doubt about that.
But it means more than that. Those who believe are those who
rely. Not only do I believe that the
righteousness of Jesus Christ is the only righteousness that
God will accept. I do believe that. But not only
do I believe it, I am relying upon His righteousness, His obedience
to save me. I've committed the salvation
of my soul to Him. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1.12,
I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded, I'm convinced
that He is able to keep that which I've committed to Him.
I've entrusted to Him against that day. What have you entrusted
to Him? The salvation of my soul. That's what faith is. It's relying
on Christ. God knows whether I'm telling
the truth. You know, it's one thing to say you believe on Christ.
It's another thing to believe on him. As a matter of fact,
what you're saying really doesn't mean much. It's what's really
in your heart, what God sees. But I tell you this, all my eggs
are in this one basket. I'm not, God is my witness. I'm
not looking anywhere else. I'm looking solely to the obedience
of Christ. His perfect righteousness as
my only and all-sufficient ground of acceptance before Him. Who's
this for? It's for those who believe, to
all who believe. Do you believe on Christ? Are
you relying on Him for Judgment Day? Well, then this is for you. It's for all who believe. Look at this phrase in verses
24 and 25. He says, upon all of them, that
verse 22, all them that believe that there is no difference for
there's there's no difference between one man and another.
All sin comes short of the glory of God being justified freely
by his grace. Through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be propitiation
through faith, in his blood. Did you catch that phrase? Through
faith in his blood. When Christ shed his blood on
Calvary's tree, what were his last words? It's finished. It's finished. What's that mean? That means there's nothing left
to do. Is God satisfied with the blood
of His Son? Is anything else needed? Is God
satisfied? Is God completely satisfied with
what Christ did? Is He? Absolutely. Do you have faith in his blood?
Do you believe that his blood is enough to make you holy in
the sight of God with no contribution from you? Faith in his blood, actually,
this is for those who believe. Having been justified by his
grace through the redemption, through the redeeming work of
Christ on the cross, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation,
taking away, a removal of the reason for wrath. See that verse
25, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation? That word
means a removal. God doesn't have a reason to
be mad at you through the blood of Christ. That has been removed,
a mercy seat, a taking away, a disannulling, a removing of
sin. That's what Christ did on the
cross. God set him forth to be a propitiation through faith
in his blood. OK, here's the next question,
but is there nothing for me to pay? Is there any small print
anywhere? Is there nothing for me to pay? Romans 3, 24, once again being
justified freely. And this is the only thing that's
truly free to you. It's the only thing. There's
no small print. That means without a cause. God does not look for
a reason in you to have mercy on you. He doesn't look for a
reason in you in any respect. This justification is free. Now, I have a home. It'll be
paid for within a few years. clear. If through my generosity, I decided
to give it to you, totally clear, yours. Now that would be one
big gift. That's worth a lot of money by
anybody's standards. I mean, a house is not just all
I've given you, five dollars. If I gave you my house, an act
of generosity on my part. And you looked at me and said,
well, I really appreciate it, but I don't want to be indebted
to you. Here's five dollars. That'll take care of the debt. You know what that would do to
me? Well, number one, it would insult me. And number two, you would show
how little you really value that house. It's not worth much to
you. Now, if I try to pay God for
the gift of His salvation, all I do is insult Him, nothing more,
and I prove to Him how little I really value what He did. What
He did is infinite in value, and there's no way I could ever
pay for it. Is there anything we can pay?
Indeed, what could you pay? What could you come up with that
God could accept? There's not a thing you could
come up with. But thank God, nothing is required. He justified
us freely. Freely, nothing to pay by His
grace. Now, who planned all this? This
seems so elaborate. Look back in our text in Romans
3. Verse 25 says, whom God hath set forth. Now, that word set
forth means ordained. purpose whom God has set forth
to be a propitiation through faith in his blood who planned
all this God did. Every part of this is according
to the purpose of God. He worked with all things after
the counsel of his own will. God planned every aspect of salvation. It's all part of his purpose.
You know, this is something that really struck me. Romans chapter 9 verse 11 says
to the children, talking about Jacob and Esau, for the children
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose, did that word purpose, that the purpose of God according
to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, the elder
shall serve the younger, as it's written, Jacob of a love, Esau
of a hate. Romans 9-11 speaks of the purpose of God. Now, this
is something that struck me. I can still remember what took
place on 9-11. I can remember how I felt. You
know, I'd always had such confidence that nothing could happen within
our shores. You know, we're the United States. We're so secure.
And I can remember how Romans, I mean, on 9-11, my security
was taken away. My false sense of security was
taken away. And every one of us experienced that. It was so
scary to see what happened. But you know, that's exactly
what Romans 9 and 11 does. It takes away people's false
sense of security. It shows them that salvation
is altogether out of their hands. Nothing you can do to save yourself.
Who claimed all this? God did. Every aspect of salvation,
Him being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of
God. You've taken with wicked hands, crucified and slain. He's
in control of everything. He planned every aspect of salvation. Now, why did he do this? Look
in verse 25. Why did God do this? Whom God
has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. And
here's why I did it. He did this to declare his righteousness. for the remission of sins that
are passed through the forbearance of God to declare, I say at this
time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. Why does God do all this? He's
able to save people. Not primarily. No, you got it wrong. That's
not why God did this. God did this to declare his own
righteousness. You remember that statement by
Shakespeare? We've all heard it. All the world's a stage. It is. He told the truth. All the world
is a stage for God to declare his own glory, and he's using
everything for that end, and he's doing this to declare his
righteousness through the remission of sins or pass through the forbearance
of God to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness, that
he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
You know, to some people, I realize, to some people it's not even
an issue. Who cares whether you can be just and justifier? But anybody
who knows God, they have to have this question answered. How can
God be just and yet justify somebody like me when I'm unjust? How
can He remain just and yet justify me? Only the gospel answers this
question. It tells us how God can be just
and take somebody like me or you and make us holy in His sight
even when we're not holy and still be holy in doing so. That's
what the gospel, it makes known who he is. That's his purpose
behind what he does is to make known who he is. Thank God salvation
is included in that. We're the, we benefit in this
without question, but his purpose for doing what he does is his
glory, that he might be just and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus. Here's the next question. You
can find this in verse 27. Is there anything in which we
can glory? In this thing of salvation, is there anything that we can
take any credit in? Verse 27, where is boasting then? It is excluded. It's shut out by what law works,
neither by the law of faith. Is there anything we can boast
in or glory in? Absolutely not. What can we conclude
from all this? Verse 28. Therefore, here's the
conclusion of the matter. Therefore, we conclude that a
man is justified, declared by God to be not guilty, just in
God's sight. Therefore, we conclude the man
is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Now, here's
the conclusion of all this. A man is justified before God.
Not because of his faith. You're justified because Christ
died for your sins and made you just before God. But what's the
evidence that God did that for you? Faith. Faith. That's the evidence. We conclude. This is a rock-solid conclusion.
It's literally a numerical calculation. Two plus two always equals four. And a man is always saved by
what Christ did, and the evidence of that is that he believes that.
He rests in that. He's not looking anywhere else.
This is a rock-solid conclusion. We conclude that a man is justified
by faith without, apart from, the deeds of the law. Our justification has nothing
to do with our works or our acts of personal obedience before
God. This is a conclusion. Verse 29, here's the next question. Is He the God of the Jews only?
Is this only for Jews? Is He not also of the Gentiles?
Yes, of the Gentiles also. Is this only true for certain
types of people? No, it's true for everybody.
If you believe on Christ, you've been justified by God. I don't care who you are. Right
now, If you believe on Christ, if you're relying on him, you
have been justified by God himself. That's the gospel. Verse 31. Verse 30, seeing as one God would
should justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision
through faith, do we make void the law through faith? Well,
what about the law? You've been talking about being
saved by His grace and being justified before God. So what
about the Ten Commandments? What about the law? Are you just
doing away with all that? Are you just saying it's all
of no consequence? It doesn't matter? Do we make
void of the law through faith? Do we just say, well, just get
rid of the law? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law. This is how God's law is honored.
Faith in Christ. This doesn't do away from the
law. or do away with the law it honors the law of god do we
make board the law of faith and not at all we established the
law god's holy law is going to be honored and listen to me if
you're saved it's not because god lowered his terms and you
no longer have to be saved by perfect law keeping you speak
that you know you'll take faith as a substitute not at all god's
law is honored through faith in christ i have saved by perfect
obedience to the law of god and it's not my obedience it's christ's
obedience But I'm saved by perfect obedience to the law of God. What's our state before God?
Guilty. Can we change that state? No. Does that mean there's no hope?
No. There is hope. There is a righteousness. that God has provided, even the
righteousness of Christ. Well, how can I know this is
true? Because the scripture teaches it. That's why. Well, who's this
for? Everybody? No, for those who
believe. All who believe. For those who believe. Is there
nothing for me to pay? No. Who claimed all this? God did. Why? to declare his
righteousness. Is there anything we can glory
in? No. What can we conclude from all
this? Well, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without
the deed to the law. Is this for all types of men?
Yes. Jew, Gentile, black, white, rich,
poor, bond-free. What about the law? It is established. It is honored through this. That's bright.