Preparing for the Christ: A Better Man than Adam Romans 5:12-21

Text: Romans 5:12-21                                            11/13/2011

Thesis: We were once dead and condemned in Adam but now we’re alive and righteous in Christ.

 

Over the next six weeks are going to celebrate the glories of Christmas. The plan is to take four key figures from Old Testament history and show you how Jesus is far better. We want to feel the insufficiency and inability of the human race so that we can rejoice in the sufficiency and ability of Jesus Christ. We start this morning with Adam.

Adam, as you may know, was the first human. He didn’t evolve he was created. God personally put Adam together and breathed life into him. You see, Adam wasn’t created as a new and improved model of a monkey he was created in the image of God. Adam and all humanity after him were to represent God on this earth by taking care of creation and establishing holy God-honoring families, communities, and cultures. Humanity was created to reflect the holiness, joy, and cooperation of the Trinity all over this planet.

God placed Adam in the Garden and gave him instructions regarding how life works. God then blessed Adam with a wife named Eve and they lived happily together in a beautiful perfect world. There was harmony in every aspect of life. There was no sin or rebellion in any avenue of existence. Humanity was right with God, right with each other, right with self, and right with all creation.

Can you imagine a world with no arguments or frustrations; God never feels distant and you never feel guilty? This is the perfect beginning of it all. Humanity has entered the scene and God said it is “very good” (Gen 1:31). From this point, from this one man and one woman, all of humanity will come. This man and woman created in the image of God will fill the earth with God’s image bearers through procreation. Like begets like so on and on it goes as perfect people follow God’s perfect example bringing all of creation to its perfect end.

So what went wrong? Let’s read Romans 5:12-21 and see how in Adam everything went wrong and in Christ everything is made righteous. Read Romans 5:12-21

I want to fight to keep the universal truths applied to our situation

I. The terrible state of your neighbor and the nations

1. Your neighbor is sinful

Verse 12 tells us plainly that sin came into the world through one man. Verse 15 refers to the “one man’s trespass”. Verse 16 points to “that one man’s sin” and the “one trespass”. Verse 17 mentions the “one man’s trespass”, verse 18 “one trespass”, and verse 19 “the one man’s disobedience”. So obviously this one man’s deed is very important.

Adam, who had a perfect sinless nature without one ounce of evil within, of his own free will decided to turn his back on God and do his own thing. Adam rebelled against God by disobeying his command. So it is right to understand sin according to these ideas: sin is rebellion, going against, disobeying, or trespassing the command of God. Sin is the rejection of God and His good plan. Adam and Eve went where they should have never gone, they went against God. And that one man’s sin brought sin into the world.

The universal invasion of sin into every nook and cranny of creation is a fundamental biblical truth. The bible is clear: the sin of Adam brought death to all men, verse 12, “because all sinned.” The bible is equally clear that every human from that point forward is sinful because we all sinned. All of humanity is wrapped up in Adam. He is our representative and every person who comes from him will be like him; like begets like.

Think about it this way: When God creates a life does he create that person with a nature like the rest of humanity? What I’m asking is does each new child possess a sinful nature bent toward selfishness and evil like our forefather Adam or does God step in with each conception and give that child a nature completely unlike that of its parents? The resounding truth of Scripture is we are all by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). That means you and me and your neighbor came into this world a spiritual still-born unable by our sinful natures to obey or please our holy Creator (Romans 8:7-8). The natural person born in sin does not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolish to him. In fact, the natural person is not able to understand the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

There is a bumper sticker on the chariots of fire that reads, “It’s a spiritual thing you wouldn’t understand.”

Because of the sin of Adam every person born of his line, that means all of humanity, is born in a state of sinfulness. We get more information with this next phrase:

1. Your neighbor is under the reign of death

There is a logical progression here: sin brought death and since sin is everywhere death is everywhere. This is true even before Moses came on the scene and God gave his specific commands. Think of murderous Cain, the flood generation, and the rape of Dinah all were committed under the reign of death and before the law was given. So these sins were not transgressions of specific commands like Adam’s sin but they were sin nonetheless and punished by death.

Hold onto this truth: Death reigned over everything from Adam until Moses and death has spread to all men. Verse 15 says, “many died through one man’s trespass.” Verse 17, “because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man. And verse 21, “sin reigned through death.”

Now we hate to admit it but the bible is clear on this point: humanity does not rule its own destiny. Sin rules our destiny and it does so through death. Hebrews 9:27 says, “it is appointed for man to die and after that face judgment.” Sin is a wicked task master a despot and a tyrannical ruler who promises many things but delivers only death. So, what is your destiny? Where are you headed? Your destiny is death. Why? Because of sin; you are locked in and it is inescapable.

Let’s keep making it personal. Your neighbor is under the reign of death. His destiny is sure because of his sinfulness. Her future is established and firm because of her rebellion. But you have the Gospel. You have the means of freedom. You have the power unto eternal life. You can do something about it. Church we must return to a biblical worldview. We must see our neighbors and the nations the way God does: sinful and under the reign of death.

1. Your neighbor is judged and condemned

All of humanity due to sinfulness stands condemned before God. Verse 16 tells us that “the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation. Verse 18 says that “one trespass led to condemnation for all men.” Our unbelieving children, our sinful neighbors ruled by death, the nations who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ do not stand before God as neutral. Instead, all of humanity stands before God judged and condemned. Because of our sinfulness we are judged, pronounced guilty, and sentenced under the reign of death.

Because of Adam, and our connection to him, all of humanity is rightly defined as sinful, rebellious, under the reign of death, judged, and condemned. I hope you see more clearly now why we need a better man than Adam. I hope instead of trying to argue with God claiming to be something that you are not you will embrace the solution to what you truly are.

We need a better man than Adam. Remember, Adam was perfect without sin but at the first sign of temptation he caved and all of humanity was cast into sinfulness through him. We need God himself to come in the flesh (Jn 1:14). We need one, born of a woman and born under the law, to live a righteous life in our place. We need a redeemer (Gal 4:4). Bottom line is we need a second Adam.

II. The truth concerning Christ

1.  Adam was a type of the Christ (v14)

Verse 14 calls Adam, “a type of the one who was to come.” Characteristics of Adam’s life are blurry images of the life of the one to come. Here it is crucial to see that Adam is lesser and Christ is greater. God wants us to understand that there are benefits to comparing Jesus and Adam. There are lessons to be learned. In fact we see the riches of Christ more clearly against the background of the poverty of Adam. What we must bear in mind is that these two men are representatives. All that they are is given to those who belong to their line. Picture all of humanity as being in or under Adam. But those people who are born again are now in or under Christ. The curses and condemnation due to Adam are passed on to his line. The blessings and righteousness due to Christ are passed on to his line.

1. Christ gives more than Adam lost

Verse 15, “But the free gift is not like the trespass.” I understand this to mean that the strength, the endurance, and potency of the work of Christ are leaps and bounds ahead of Adam. Let me show you what I mean. Verse 15, “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Adam ushers in death but Christ comes and turns the tables, he flips over the tables of death, and provides eternal life. The plan to do this for sinners for enemies is surely by the grace of God. The outworking of it all, the righteous life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Christ in my place are surely by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ. This grace abounds for you. Will you not take it? Will you not choose to walk away from the death and condemnation of Adam and instead find the life and righteousness of Jesus? Repent of your sin, place your faith in Christ, and you will be saved. Why do you stay with that dead-beat? Jesus is far better.

Verse 16, “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.” Okay, chew on this: Adam sinned one time and death and condemnation for all mean is the product. Now add 4,000 years of sin. Not just one sin but 4,000 years of sins pile up. Jesus enters the scene and offers himself freely. He took the sin of the world upon himself. He died in our place. He was our atoning sacrifice. Adam brought condemnation. Jesus brought justification.

Justification is that great gospel blessing when God pronounces you not guilty. In Adam you are guilty. In Christ you are not guilty. So if you are in Christ by faith then you have been declared innocent of all wrong by God himself. Why? Because Christ took all your sin upon himself and suffered under the weight of the Father’s punishment for your sin. But more than taking your wrong away, Jesus gives you his righteousness. You see, this also points to the greatness of Christ.

Jesus doesn’t bring you back to neutral. Jesus doesn’t take away your sin and sinful nature and then give you a crack at temptation in the Garden of Eden. Jesus rescues you from the reign of death and by his life you are equipped to reign in this life.

Verse 17, “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

If you are united with Christ by faith then the reign of death is broken. You have been transferred into a new kingdom. It’s a kingdom of never-giving up love. It’s a kingdom where all those who enter are immediately given the blessings of the King himself. By his atoning death and his perfect righteousness you are able to reign in this life through him. Walk according to Christ and you will know love and joy; the perfect joy of Christ. Walk according to Adam and you will know guilt and condemnation.

1. It all boils down to one act

Verse 18, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

The one trespass was Adam’s sin when he chose self-sufficiency over God-dependency. The one act of righteousness was when Jesus willingly gave himself for you on the cross. That one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. One man shoved all of humanity into the grave but one man turned it all around. Calvin said it well, “As by one man sin entered into the whole world, and death through sin, so by one man righteousness returned, and life through righteousness” (Calvin, 205).

I want you to see an important phrase in verse 18. It’s the phrase, “for all men.” All of humanity has been ruined by sin. We stand condemned because of that one trespass. But here is the good news. You don’t have to stay condemned. You don’t have to stay dead. All men that are joined to Christ by faith will be given justification and life for all men.

Right now if Gerald Sandusky confesses his sins, if he hates what he has done, and places his hope completely in the death of Christ for those sins then Gerald Sandusky can experience justification and life. Do you believe that? Do you believe that Christ’s work is greater than Adam’s sin? Do you believe that Christ is sufficient for all of humanity? Do you believe that Christ is sufficient for you? Is Christ big enough for your husband, your wife, your prodigal son or daughter, your vengeful coworker, or your ex?

Do you see that God promises that faith in that one man who did that one act changes everything? Christ brings grace, life, and justification. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

III. Christmas marks the beginning of the end of sin and death

On that first Christmas morning 2000 years ago a trumpet sounded but it wasn’t a call to wake up and open presents. That first Christmas morning signaled war had begun. God himself had declared war on sin and death. The battle would wage for 33 years as the Son of God lived a perfectly righteous obedient life. The Son of God, the last Adam, would face temptation but he would not give in. Instead of ruining humanity Christ would redeem humanity and he would do it through the cross and resurrection.

Friend, what Christ offers you this morning is a change at the core of who you are as a person. What Christmas is all about is a new king. If you will receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness then you will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Right now God himself will welcome you as one of his beloved children. You will not need to fear death. You will find strength to fight God’s battles. You will be equipped with the Spirit to stand firm against sin and our enemy.

Christian, ours is a reign of grace through righteousness. We’re marching toward eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here is where we must end this morning. Who do you belong to? Do you belong to Adam or do you belong to Christ? Are you under the reign of death or are you reigning in this life because of grace and the free gift of righteousness? I want to talk with you about these things. I want you to reign in life. I want grace to rule over us. I want us to know we are headed toward eternal life together following Christ the entire way.

As we sing our final hymn I want you to answer that question: Who do you belong to? Do you belong to Adam or to Christ? Today it can change. Call out to God and you will be saved.

 

The Supremacy of God; Romans 11:33-12:1

12/26/2010

Thesis: God is great and great in mercy.

I find it amazing that we are only 6 days away from the year 2011. I, for one, enjoy the new year. It provides me with the opportunity to think back over the past year.  This means repentance for my sins as well as thankfulness for God’s grace. A new year also provides me with the opportunity to look ahead: what should the focus be next year for my self, my marriage, my family, and this church?  Ask yourself: Am I headed in God’s direction? If not, what needs to change? If so, where could you be tempted to deviate from God’s ways?

It is out of this sense of opportunity that every year I endeavor to preach a short sermon series focusing on the 6 biblical core values of this church. We need to be regularly reminded concerning who we are, what must be central, and what we should be doing. Beginning this Sunday and continuing through January we will look at the 6 core values of Mambrino Baptist Church.  Here are the 6 things that should define us and shape everything we do: the supremacy of God, the authority of Scripture, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, prayer, the Great Commission, and biblical fellowship.   Lord willing we will take each of these in turn.

Today we take up the supremacy of God as our topic. Simply put we are a people who cherish the value of God over the recognized worth of every person, institution, and thing.  There is no one and no thing greater than the Triune God, nothing more satisfying, nothing more meaningful, and nothing more powerful.  Though our sin once separated us from him, now because of Jesus we can know and enjoy this great God.

From Romans 11:33-36 I want to remind you that our God is supreme; He is great and great in mercy. It is my hope that a fresh reminder of His greatness will stir you to worship Him with your life from this day forward.

Read Romans 11:33-36

I. Our God is deep (33)

A.  In response to God’s mercy we stand amazed

In verse 33 the Apostle Paul begins a time of worship. He writes the emotionally charged word ‘oh’. This isn’t an ‘oh’ like when you step outside to discover a snake on your doorstep. This is an ‘oh’ like when you discover something far better than you imagined.  And what is Paul amazed by? He’s amazed by the mercy of God by which all people may be saved.

In verse 32 Paul summarizes the message of judgment, righteousness, and salvation that he has discussed throughout chapters 1-11. Verse 32, “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” God exposes sin in order to rescue and redeem the sinner. There are many places we could go to see this message but let’s take one: Romans 3:22-25

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

God, in his great mercy sent his Son Jesus to rescue and redeem his sinful and broken people.  We should be given condemnation but instead we are given love. We should be punished but instead through the promised righteousness of Christ we become partakers of the divine nature. We have the righteousness and life of Jesus Christ. We are saved. We are children of God.

‘Oh’ seems like an insufficient word for all that but maybe the word isn’t the problem. Maybe we’ve forgotten about the love of God for us that he would send Christ for us. Maybe we should use words like ‘oh’ more when we talk about God. Our passage gives us three reasons to say ‘oh,’ three reasons to glorify our God who alone is supreme

B.  Glorify him for the depth of his riches

Verse 33, “Oh the depth of the riches of God.”

Think about the riches of the United States. Our collective worth is tied to the economy. If our economy is strong, meaning sales are strong creating stable jobs then our riches increase. The riches of any person or country are tied to the sale of services and goods. But what about the riches of God? What does God need in order to make something? God creates out of nothing.  All that God needs in order to make is nothing and there is an abundant supply of nothing. God can make as much as he wants of anything he wants anytime he wants. God’s riches are deep because he is the Creator. And God’s riches are deep because he owns everything.  Psalm 95:3-5 tell us

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

In Psalm 50:10-11 God tells us: “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”

The riches, fullness, and abundance of God are exceedingly great. But don’t fool yourself into believing this means that God will give you financial or material riches. God might but he doesn’t promise you that. What he does promise you is far greater than money. He promises you the riches of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Look at verses 11-12. “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean?”

“Oh the depth of the riches of God” is a shout of joy because of the forgiveness of God secured in Jesus Christ. There are fresh starts because of Jesus.  What have you done? What weighs on your mind in the quietness of the night? What do you regret? What are you ashamed of? Whatever it is it is not deeper than the riches of God’s mercy secured by Jesus. Praise our great God. Praise the One who forgives. Glorify him for the depth of his riches of grace.

C.  Glorify him for the depth of his knowledge

Knowledge is basically knowing the right thing to do; this is right and this is wrong.  Knowledge is related to discernment; being able to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, what is beneficial and what is harmful.  Knowledge determines what to do and what not to do. Our God has all knowledge. He always knows the right thing to do.

D.  Glorify him for the depth of his wisdom

If knowledge is knowing what the right thing is then wisdom is knowing how to do that right thing.  Imagine that something has gone wrong with your car and it will no longer run.  Knowledge relates to identifying the problem and wisdom relates to choosing the right way to fix it.

When the Apostle Paul rejoices over the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God he is encouraging us to praise and trust the Father, Son, and Spirit. In God there are always answers. In God there is always direction. This is true because God always knows what needs to be done, God always knows how to do it, and God always has the resources to fulfill his plan.  Is God capable of identifying the perfect plan even for fallen creation? Yes. Is God capable of realizing that perfect plan in spite of the rebellion of his creation? Yes.

And here is where we trust God and remain humble. God is capable and He is realizing his plan throughout all of creation. That’s what we trust. And here is humility:

E.   It is impossible for us to grasp the intricacies of God’s plan

Look back at verse 33. Because of the infinite riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God, Paul writes, “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

The judgments of God are the decisions of God. It is impossible for us with our finite selfish minds to understand why God does what he does. His judgments are unsearchable.

The ways of God are the means or avenues by which God does what he does. His ways are impossible for us to fully comprehend. Simply put the will and ways of God are so deep and complex that grasping them is a task outside of our abilities.  When we attempt to grasp all that God is doing and the intricate reasons for doing them that particular way it is like trying to swallow the Pacific Ocean. None of us are capable of handling those depths. Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God.  Our God is deep. Glorify him by worshiping him and trusting his wisdom revealed in his world.

II. Glorify the God who is greater than us (34-35)

Verses 34 and 35 give us reasons why it is impossible for us to understand the ways and goals of God. So these are additional reasons to glorify God; these verses humble us under the supreme God.

A.  You don’t know what God is thinking

Verse 34, “For who has known the mind of God?” Which one of you knows what God is thinking?  Who in this room knows why God causes the rain to fall where it does and when it does? Who can explain why you were born in America and not in Argentina?  Who can tell me why the holocaust and 9.11 and the Tsunami of 2006 occurred? God can. God knows and is sovereign over the greatest blessings and painful tragedies.

Now we know the goal of his plan. He told it to us in Ephesians 1:10. God is going to bring everything together through the power of and for the glory of Jesus Christ. We know the big picture but concerning how everything fits into that plan we must confess our ignorance. But do not fear. We are loved and protected by the merciful God who knows everything.

Remind yourself that you do not know what God is thinking and

B.  God doesn’t need your advice

In verse 34 we are asked, “who has been the Lord’s counselor?” Who in this room does God go to when God needs advice?  When God phones a friend who does he call? Who here has sat God down and set Him straight? That’s blasphemous to think. No one has ever counseled God or informed God or educated God.

Stand in awe of the God who needs no advice. God never says, “I’m sorry I didn’t have all the facts.” God doesn’t need and God doesn’t ask for your advice. That has some ramifications for the way you pray.  Do you pray so that you can tell God what to do? Or are you praying as one who is dependent? Do you pray as one who trusts? God doesn’t need your counsel nor has he asked for it. God needs nothing from you.  Glorify the God who gives because he His merciful and loves because He’s loving.

Glorify Him because God needs nothing from you but gives you everything. And glorify Him because

C.  God will never owe you anything

Verse 35 asks us, “who has given a gift to God that he might be repaid?” Who in this room is holding an I.O.U from God? Who by their goodness or good looks has the right do demand anything from God? Who because of suffering or difficulty has been given a free pass? Verses 34 and 35 really should shape the way we think about the past and pray about the future.

We do not know the details of God’s will.  We don’t understand but God does.  This frees us. God doesn’t expect us to figure it all out. God calls us to trust Him. Trust the One who knows, works, and will always do what is right.  Don’t make demands of him; that’s just pride. Besides you don’t know what you need. Your riches, wisdom, and knowledge are shallow at best. Your judgments and ways are tainted by sin and driven by selfishness.

Paul Tripp was right when he said the best thing to happen is for God to write our stories because if we held the pen we’d write ourselves straight into hell. Trust the God who is rich in mercy and knows exactly what you need. Glorify Him. He is greater than us.

Glorify God because he is deep. Glorify God because he is greater than us. And one more

III. Glorify God because he is the creator, sustainer, and owner (36)

Verse 36 tells us the reason why we can’t advise God or put him into our debt. You can’t sway God. Here’s why

A.  You can’t sway God because he created everything

Verse 36 tells us that all things are from Him.  You can’t bribe the God who created and owns everything. You can’t control the God who controls everything. You can’t tempt God by offering Him his stuff.  Your life is His. Your worship is His. Your love is His.  You gain no power over God by giving them to Him.  God owes you nothing. You can’t sway God because he created and controls everything and

B.  You can’t sway God because he sustains everything

Next, verse 36 tells us that all things are through Him.  Creation depends on Him and continued existence depends on Him. Your heart is beating right now and your lungs are expanding and contracting because God exists. It is the height of foolishness to think that we can threaten God by withholding anything.  You can’t sway God because he sustains everything and

C.  You can’t sway God because he owns everything

Verse 36 says, “to God are all things.” Every person and every rock and every neutron is headed toward God. Why is it that no one can give a gift to God? Because everything is God’s. Everything. Bow the knee before the glorious sovereign ruler of everything. Not because he is an ego-centric tyrant who longs to exploit you.  Bow the knee because he is glorious and he loves you and has redeemed you. Bow the knee because he has given Christ for you. Worship the merciful God.

The humble realize that I can’t give God anything but I stand to gain everything from him. What then should we do? Should we do nothing and ask nothing and try nothing because God is supreme?

IV. You exist to glorify the God who is supreme

A.  To him be the glory forever

When a Christian personally begins to understand who God is, what God has done, and what God is doing the response is always worship. We don’t worship because we like the music. We worship because we see God more clearly.

This is why Paul ends this paragraph with these words in verse 36, “To him be glory for ever. Amen.” Look at who God is. Look at what God has done through Jesus Christ. Look at what God continues to do in you and in the nations.  Glorify him.  Worship him. Make him known. And don’t stop.  Keep on treasuring God. Give him the praise and honor that God deserve forever. And then the Apostle Paul ‘amen-ed’ himself.

Paul saw the greatness and mercy of God and it overwhelmed his heart. He sealed his words of praise with agreement. ‘Amen’ means it’s true.  That’s right. This is glorious fact. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are worthy of all praise.

Obviously this has implications for our worship gatherings. We must come together to celebrate, worship, and glorify our great God through faith in Jesus Christ according to the wisdom and power of the Spirit.  We will worship God to the extent that we see God for who he truly is. We must be Christ-centered.

And the glory of God has implications for more than our worship gatherings.

B.  God must be the reason for everything we do.

This is the conclusion. This is what we do because of who he is, Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

You are alive today because of the Father’s mercy. Your sins have been forgiven because of the Father’s mercy. You’re going to go eat lunch today because of the Father’s mercy. We celebrate Christmas because the Father is merciful.

In response to the mercy of God what should we do? Worship God by doing everything out of faith in this God and for the glory of this God. God is so glorious he must be the reason for everything. Everything else is idolatry.

Sit in the pew and remind yourself, “God is worthy. This is for Him.”  Sit in your car on the way to work and remind yourself, ‘God is worthy. This is for Him.” Set at your table and remind yourself, ‘God is worthy. This is for Him.” Work and love and breath and serve and worship because God is worthy of our everything. Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Do you understand what is truly going on? Do you understand what this world and your life are truly all about?

We must cultivate an awareness of God’s greatness. Read the bible looking for the greatness of God.  Read the bible searching for the revelation of God’s mercy.  Read the bible broadly and study the gospel particularly. Jesus is the visible display of the invisible God. Study Christ.  Jesus is the exact representation of God. Make mastering what has been revealed about Jesus Christ your aim.  We must fight to make Jesus central to every day otherwise we will waste every day.

May God shine the light of his glory into our hearts today. May God show us Jesus Christ such that we honestly believe that God is worthy of every task and every thought in every minute of every day.

The Gospel; Romans 3:19-26

Text: Romans 3:19-26                                                       9/7/08 a.m.

Thesis: God is righteousness, God demands righteousness, God provides righteousness (Barnhouse, II.8).

 

Intro: Let’s start with a question: when you think about the gospel what do you think?

Do you think about God, man, Christ, and salvation? Do you think about righteousness, God’s wrath, or forgiveness?

After this sermon and as we memorize Romans 3:19-26 I want you to think about the gospel in terms of righteousness:

God is righteousness, God demands righteousness, God provides righteousness.

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has given us a helpful gospel in a nutshell. Keller wrote,

“The gospel is that God himself has come to rescue and renew creation through the work and in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.”

The good news of the gospel is this, the righteous God who requires righteousness rescues and renews the unrighteous by making us righteous in Christ.

There is a lot there to convict and encourage the soul. This morning as we work through Romans 3:19-26 my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will be here to make this sermon more than the vibration of my vocal chords.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will be here this morning to make this sermon a powerful proclamation of the gospel so that you are brought to understand the gravity of your sin and the glory of God shining through the face of Jesus’ righteous face.

 

Read Romans 3:19-26

 

I) Conviction of sin is necessary for salvation

a)      God’s perfect law exists to shine a spotlight on our sin

i)        In the context of Romans 3 ‘the law’ refers to the entire content of the Old Testament.

ii)      The law is not just the 10 commandments or the 5 books commonly called the Pentateuch.

iii)    Here in Romans 3, the law is all that is said by the Law and the Prophets.

iv)    In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus gave us a law and prophets in a nutshell. Jesus said

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

v)      The law says many things and God intends for the law to be applied to every facet of our lives from our attitudes about God and man to our own personal righteousness as we deal with God and man.

vi)    But when the law speaks about our attitudes and actions it’s not for the purpose of showing us how to be righteous.

vii)  The law speaks in order to show us that we are unrighteous.

viii)            This law makes its demands on the whole world in order that every person would stop making excuses.

ix)    Verse 19 “so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world be held accountable to God.”

x)      The law reveals the righteousness of God and the law reveals the unrighteousness of the entire world.

xi)    Job was the guy who probably had the worst life ever. Since Job lived in the time before Abraham and Moses that means he lived before the time of the law.

xii)  When Job was finally brought face to face with God in all of God’s righteousness Job’s only response was to shut his mouth. In Job 40:4&5 Job said,

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

xiii)  Before he saw God’s righteousness Job believed about himself what we believe about ourselves. Namely, I don’t deserve this.

xiv)  I’m a good person. I’m a good Baptist. I’ve been baptized. I go to church. I tithe. I try to do what is right. I do not deserve this!

xv)    And the law says, “you who think you’re doing well with your law keeping; you are accountable for all of the law.”

xvi)  James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”

xvii)          It doesn’t matter how much good you do. If you sin one time you are guilty of breaking every command.

xviii)        For this reason the law exists; so that you know you are accountable to God and there is nothing, no work, that you can do to get yourself out of your death sentence.

xix)  When you read the requirements of the law in the Old Testament and on the lips of Jesus you are supposed to think, “I’m lost. I’m undone. What a wretched man that I am.” You’re supposed to stop making excuses about what you deserve.

xx)    Don’t double your efforts because by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

xxi)  The law doesn’t save you. The law points out your sin and drives you to Christ who alone can save you.

xxii)          If there is going to be true conversion, that means if you are going to be a Christian, you must experience godly grief over your law breaking (2 Cor 7:10).

xxiii)        You must be broken over the fact that you have sinned against your creator.

xxiv)        God is righteous and I cannot do enough, be enough, feel enough, pray enough, get baptized enough, or give enough to be seen as righteous in his sight.

xxv)          To be justified in his sight is to be declared not guilty in the law court of God’s righteousness.

xxvi)        When God sees you as justified it means when his righteous gaze falls upon you he does not see your sin he eternally sees you as innocent of all transgression.

xxvii)      And because you are innocent you are not condemned.

xxviii)    The right use of the law then is to shine the spot light of God’s righteousness into your life and make you hopeless and helpless.

xxix)        There is no conversion without being broken over the knowledge of your sins.

xxx)          You are broken because you realize

II) The righteousness of God is necessary for salvation

a)      In verse 21 the pendulum swings from the hopelessness of your unrighteousness to the hopefulness of God’s provision of his righteousness.

i)        The truth of the matter is that if verses 19&20 do not bum you out, rain on your parade, or stop your sandcastle then you do not understand verses 19&20.

ii)      These verses hold the Jews accountable who had the law. These verses hold the Gentiles accountable who had the law written on their hearts.

iii)    These verses hold all of us accountable and then verse 21 begins with the words, “but now.”

iv)    You are that. You are unrighteous, accountable to God, and incapable of being justified by your own efforts.

v)      But now there is hope.

vi)    The righteousness of God has appeared. Not an earn-your-own-righteousness but a you-are-given-the righteousness-of-another.

vii)  The law says, “if you do it all and do it all with the right attitude then you are justified”. (Romans 2:13)

viii)            And the law and the prophets testified that there is one coming who would do it all and do it all with the right attitude.

ix)    The Messiah is coming to bear the punishment for our unrighteousness and give us his righteousness.

x)      There are so many passages but let me give you one.

xi)    Isaiah 53:9-11

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. ¹⁰Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

xii)  The law and prophets said this is coming and we have seen it; Jesus fulfilled the promise of God’s righteous servant who would bear their iniquities and make many to be accounted as righteous.

xiii)            2 Corinthians 5:21 should be playing in your minds right now, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

xiv)            This carries us into our third point

III) Faith in Christ, who gives us his righteousness, is necessary for salvation

a)      Faith is the pipe that connects us to the source righteousness. Faith connects us to Jesus Christ.

i)        Now faith is not righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ, believing that Jesus Christ died in your place to pay for your sins and reconcile you to God joins you to Christ.

ii)      You are saved when the Holy Spirit brings the presence of Christ to you. It is by the Holy Spirit that you are sealed eternally for Christ.

iii)    Because of Christ you are justified. You are counted as righteous. You are seen by God as possessing the righteousness of God.

iv)    We do not earn this gift. We do not deserve this gift.

b)      The honest truth is that all of us without distinction deserve death.

i)        We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

ii)      Sinned is in the aorist tense which means in the past we sinned and that sin has ramifications in the future.

iii)    Namely, we are unrighteous because of our past law-breaking and we are under God’s wrath.

iv)    Fall short is in the present tense which means right now we keep falling short of living in and for the glory of God.

v)      Romans 1:13: We all keep exchanging the glory of the immortal God for excuses and things that aren’t God.

vi)    We keep believing that other things like doing good works, or finding a spouse, or having kids, or being successful or accumulating stuff will make us happy and remove our guilty feelings.

vii)  All of us without distinction, young and old, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

viii)            We cannot be counted as righteous. We cannot be allowed into heaven.

c)      That’s precisely why justification is a gift

i)        Read verses 23-25a

ii)      Justification, being declared by God and seen by God as righteous can’t come through doing or praying or feeling.

iii)    Justification comes because God gives you his grace. Christianity is built upon the truth that unrighteous sinners are freely given the righteousness we do not deserve.

iv)    We are given God’s grace as a gift without the slightest hint of deserving grace or earning grace or paying God back for his grace. It’s completely free to us.

v)      But this gift was costly. Not costly to us the receivers but costly to God the giver.

vi)    Justification, our gracious free gift from God came at the cost of his son’s life.

vii)  The life of God the Son, Jesus Christ, was the cost of redemption. Redemption is the ransom paid to either free prisoners of war or buy freedom for a slave.

viii)            Verse 25 explains the price that was paid by Christ.

d)     Christ Jesus was put forward by God as a propitiation by his blood.

i)        A propitiation is a sacrifice that appeases the wrath of another. Some people don’t like the idea that God acts in his wrath toward sinners and they especially do not like the idea of God’s wrath being poured out on his Son.

ii)      But God’s wrath is at the heart of our unrighteousness problem.

iii)    Let’s do a quick overview- Romans 1:18; 2:5,8; 3:5

iv)    Clearly the problem is that our unrighteousness demands God pour out his wrath upon us.

v)      God’s holiness demands that he punishes those who rebel against and spit upon his holiness. A just God demands a fitting punishment for every crime or he is not just.

vi)    This is what makes our gospel news good news. God put Christ forward as a propitiation.

vii)  It is God in his love that sent Christ to be our wrath bearer. It wasn’t man crying out for a wrath bearer. It wasn’t man saying we deserve a wrath bearer.

viii)            It was God who ordained our salvation through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

ix)    Christ has swallowed up every ounce of God’s wrath against you. For all those who receive this righteous, crucified, and resurrected Jesus there is no more condemnation.

x)      The wrath of God has been satisfied for all those who do not work for salvation but trust Christ for salvation.

xi)    This truth is what separates Christianity and all other religions. Every other religion makes you earn your salvation.

xii)  But in Christianity salvation comes to those who simply rest in the truth that my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

xiii)            To which all other religions say, “that’s not fair.” Your God is an unjust God because he receives empty handed sinners into his glory. But here’s our final truth

IV) Because of Christ God is just and the justifier of sinners

Read 25b&26

a)      Since Jesus is the God-man he the sufficient wrath appeasing sacrifice for those who have faith in him.

i)        If the Holy Spirit has never shown you the all surpassing glory of Jesus Christ you will never believe that Jesus’ death was enough to pay for all your sins.

ii)      Guilt in the church is not a product of sin. Guilt in the church is a product of a deficient understanding of Christ.

iii)    In the mind of the Father, Jesus’ death is sufficient to pay for your sins. Why is it not sufficient in your mind?

iv)    But Jesus’ death is not just sufficient for your sins it’s a sufficient payment for former sins.

v)      Who paid for Abraham’s lack of faith? Who paid for Moses striking the rock? Who paid for David sleeping with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah?

vi)    Who paid for the ransom of the Israelites from their captivity? Was it a lamb?

vii)  No, it was THE Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

viii)            Those sacrifices were acceptable because the coming sacrifice of Jesus would be all sufficient.

ix)    When God put Christ forward as a propitiation by his blood for your sins it did two things.

x)      It secured your justification before God and it ensured that God’s righteousness would be upheld.

xi)    God is just. No sinner gets into heaven. Only the perfectly righteous are there.

xii)  And God is the justifier. Sinners are made righteous and welcomed gladly into heaven.

xiii)            All of this happens through a miracle called faith.

xiv)            To be a Christian is to see that God is righteous.

xv)  To be a Christian is to tremble at the fact that you have none of the righteousness God demands.

xvi)            And being a Christian is rejoicing in the hope that through faith in Christ’s righteous life and atoning death God counts you as righteous.

xvii)          Will you confess your sins today? Will you trust in Christ today? Today is a day for salvation. Today is the day for you to understand the gospel and cry out in prayer for God to save you.

xviii)        You can do it where you are. If you have questions that’s why I’m here. Let’s stand together and worship Jesus who is Lord of all.

xix)            Hymn number 296