Romans 4:6-8 - Justification and Sin

Romans 4:6-8

Just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to who God reckons righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." 

Message: Justification and Sin

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I saw in the previous study, faith is the means of justification. At justification, a person is declared righteous and this declaration will allow said person to endure God's judgment and enter into eternal life. There are different interpretations of what determines this declaration of righteousness - whether it is faith alone as Reformers and Bible-based Christianity now teaches or whether faith is coupled with baptism (as the Romans Catholics and Church of Christ teach and some Southern Baptist churches) and/or also coupled with penance (the act of confessing sin to a priest and receiving a requirement to fulfill). I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness - might be a verse that is used to support this. 

From my perspective, there is a lot of quibbling over things that every Christian will do. Baptism will be followed by all as Jesus was baptized and repentance or being sorry for one's sin is a natural part of a person following Christ and then also a desire to do what the word of God teaches as Paul states in Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God promised beforehand, that we should walk in them. And yet these differences result in different denominations and churches. 

In today's passage, we see that in addition to being made righteous, this means also that a person's sin has been removed and never again will be counted against them. Psalm 32:1-2 records How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the manto who the Lord not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit! Our sins are washed away. Hebrews 10:10 says By this will we have been sanctified (sins washed away) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Jesus washes sin away once and washes all sin away. It is true that we sin, but our sin will never have eternal or separation issues with God. Now, there may be consequences to committing sin in this present life but once we have been declared righteous by God, our sin is not imputed against us any longer. Again, consequences may occur. God hates sin and even in this life God may punish us for the sin we have committed. There is therefore a distinction between eternal consequences and temporal consequences. The Christian needs to continue to confess their sin in this life for it is a part of their growth as a Christian to daily turn from sin and embrace God's power in their lives. 

But eternal cleansing is the main focus and the conclusion of today's passage, Romans 4:8 - "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." This is good news. 

Promise: Before God's judgment seat, in justification, our sin and guilt are removed and we are covered by Christ's obedience, enabling God to declare us righteous in His sight. In Christ, our sins will never be held against us. However, in Christ, during this present life, we may still experience punishment for sin. 

Prayer: O God, your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for declaring me righteous, not because I did something to earn it but because you chose me. Thank you for Jesus and the offering of His body on the cross, having completed a life of being perfect, without sin, so that all the sin of saved mankind falls on Him and is transferred to Him. I will never understand this. In this life, you keep showing me how my sin has consequences and though those consequences are not eternal any longer for me, there are temporal consequences and I confess I don't take them seriously all the time. I am wrong in this. Keep changing my thinking and giving me the power to seek you First. Glory to God.  

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. Faith and Righteousness - Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him. 

Romans 4:1-5 - Faith and Righteousness

Romans 4:1-5

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh has found? For if Abraham was justified by works he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. 

Message: Faith and Righteousness

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I am not yet halfway through this month of studies on justification - how man is reconciled to God, accepted by God. Thus far in these studies I have seen that all people are sinners and their sin results in all people being guilty. And keeping laws only works if completely obedient to all otherwise the Law reminds us we are guilty. Jesus was always obedient. God gave us Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. We access this through faith. 

But, let's break this down even further. Because of sin, man has violated God's order and ways. Thus, we are lawbreakers. Lawbreakers incur a debt that must be paid. In life, serious lawbreakers incur the sentence of life imprisonment. Often there is a hope that an inward transformation will occur in a person that might result in being paroled or relieved of serving the entire sentence. This is available to some but those that committed more serious crimes, even this is not available. 

Deuteronomy 25:1 reminds us what occurs in a court of law: If there is a dispute between men andt hey go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. And it says the guilty are beaten but the righteous are justified and can return to their life. 

This word for acquittal is the Greek word dikaioo used in Romans 4:5 - Him who justifies the ungodly. God acquits are pronounces "not guilty" those who are lawbreakers. But God is not changing a person, but simply declaring that person does not have a debt to Him. Like in our court system, people incur a debt to the court or the ruling body, mankind incurs a debt to God for breaking the commandments. Yet God will justify some. 

The basis of righteousness is Jesus. Again Romans 5:19 says - through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Man acquires this by calling on God and having faith - 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner.' 

But let's be clear - faith does not make us righteous. We are counted as righteous by faith. Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness as recorded in Genesis 15:6. Righteousness though is what makes our debt paid before God.  

Promise: Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him, but ultimately it is Jesus and His obedience that results in us being seen as continually righteous. 

Prayer: O God, you have made me righteous through the obedience of Jesus my Savior and Lord. You knew that my crime could only result in His obedience. Thank you for bringing me to this saving faith. You sunk it into me on August 10, 1982 and I'm still trying to understand it. Thank you for sealing me forever. Keep instructing people in this truth. Thank you for this study and Ligonier ministry. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

 

Habakkuk 2:4 - Faith and Justification

Habakkuk 2:4 

Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. 

Message: Faith and Justification

Time: Habakkuk is mentioned 2 times and we know little of him (could be a professionally trained prophet in Law of Moses and/or a priest involved in worship). He mentions the imminent Babylonian invasion which probably puts the time period as 609 - 598 BC, in Jehoiakim's reign. Chapters 1 and 2 is an extended dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk was frustrated, but he took out his frustrating in prayers. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

I continue to march through these devotional messages about justification. I'm in the 6th month of this 12 month study of key doctrines related to the 2017 500th year celebration of the reformation. The subject matter has been meaty and intense. I'm 2 years into it, having started December 18, 2018. It is slow going. 

Justification. Previously there was an entire month about salvation by grace alone and to me this message of justification is a close partner. As recorded in the introduction, justification is the key idea of religion, the crux of the message. It is not the only message but it speaks to how we can be reconciled to our Creator. 

I'm 53 now. I've been in church all my life. I had a turning point in August 1982, a month shy of my 15th birthday when at that moment, I prayed to receive Jesus as my savior. I turned a corner that day and since then I've been on a journey to understand this salvation, as well as live it. Part of what I am doing in these studies is reading the conclusions that are voiced in these devotions and then as I study seeing if I walk away with the same conclusion. 

The message of justification here now is that I am justified or found to be acceptable by God which then results in fellowship with Him, eternal life with Him, peace with Him and peace in life, and it all begins with answering the question of -- what must I do to be in a right relationship with God? 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

No one is good continually or all of the time or always. Everyone has sin. 

Genesis 8:21 - ...for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth;

This is a strong statement by the Lord given after He has flood the earth. Yet, he gave a similar statement prior to the flood in Genesis 6:5 -- every intent of the thoughts of his (man's) heart was only evil continually. 

No one is good continually. And also the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. It sounds like that man has a bent towards evil and this bent has been prominent since his youth. 

Romans 3:9-11 - ...both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God. 

None of us has keep God's law. Paul seems to be making this point in Romans 3 toward the Jew who may have thought that as a Jew and being God's chosen people, that they have a special relationship with God. That might be so but in the manner of being righteous, the Jew is not, just like the Gentile. There is none righteous. Again, the intent of man's heart is evil. And there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good. Thus, if one believes that it is righteousness that makes us right before God and on one is righteous continually, then if the standard is continuous righteousness then none of will be worthy. Thus, righteousness must come outside of ourselves. 

One of the questions that springs up in me is this -- is perfect obedience the standard? I think the crux of this is that 'on my own, I cannot attain righteousness.' Can someone be righteous and yet not continually righteous? The following verse speaks to Christ and His obedience making us righteous. 

Romans 5:19 - For as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

So this verse answers the question that partial righteousness is not a goal. For it is only through Jesus One will be made righteous.

Now, it could be that all of the above discussion is focused on grace - that righteousness occurs only through Jesus. Yet, this month we are focused on how does one obtain this righteousness. Is it open to everyone simply because Jesus died? Or does man become a benefactor of Christ's work through a means? 

It seems what a person must do is call on God - believe God - put their trust and faith in God. 

Luke 18:9-14

And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt; "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner.' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

There is a contrast here: the Pharisee is thanking his own work. He is proud of himself. He is proud that he is unlike others because of what he is and that he behaves differently from others. The Pharisee is religious and practices his religion. And this is the point of the parable for the Pharisee trusted in themselves that they were righteous and others were therefore not. But the contrast is that the tax-gatherer looked only to God. 'Lord have mercy.' This man had humility. 

Romans 4:2-3 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 

Abraham believed God. Abraham had faith in God. Abraham focused on God.   

Habakkuk lived in the late 7th century BC. He was bothered that God seemed to be silent and inactive. The people of Judah were guilty of sin, so he wondered why God was not judging them. 

Habakkuk 1:2-4 - How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and Thou wilt not hear?...Why dost Thou make me see iniquity...the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. The wicked surround the righteous.

God replies to Habakkuk in 1:5-11 that He will send the Chaldeans/Babylonians to judge the people - Look! Observe! I am doing something - I am raising up the Chaldeans...rulers are a laughing matter to them; they will sweep through the wind and pass on, but they will be held guilty. 

Habakkuk was surprised in verse 12 - thou, O Lord, hast appointed them to judge. For they approve evil. And Habakkuk ultimately declares in 2:1 that he will keep watch to see what God will speak to him and how he may reply. 

In verse 4, God says -- Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. God replies that proud people are not right within themselves, but it is only the righteous who will live by his faith. And then Habakkuk ends his book by saying in 3:19, The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places. 

God is the one. God does it. And I access this through acknowledging this continually in my life - believing in God, asking for His Mercy, declaring the Lord is my strength, trusting in Him. 

Promise: At the most basic level, what I need is God. I believe in Him. I call out for His mercy for I am a sinner. He is my strength. I obviously do not depend on me because in me is evil intentions. Only Jesus makes me righteous.  

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for these truths and taking me through these texts to better understand me and better understand You. I put my trust in You God. I believe in You. Have Mercy on Me God, a sinner. You are my strength. It is You and only You that I need. Keep my eyes on you. Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to me and illuminating me with your words of truth. I don't want to get distracted from this simple message. I pray that I remain focused on you God as the author of truth. I live in this world but I don't want to live by its distracting message, but I want instead to trust in You God only, always. Keep my eyes more focused on you than the events of my world. Thank you for knowing that I need a substitute and that Jesus and His obedience has made me righteous. I cry out to you God in faith. Like Habakkuk I will continue to wait patiently for Your words to speak to me.     

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

- The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. 

Titus 3:4-6 - God's Initiative in Justification

Titus 3:4-6

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His Love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Message: God's Initiative in Justification

Time: Paul wrote his letter to Titus from Nicopolis in AD 63, after the apostle’s release from his first Roman imprisonment. Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus. Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. Paul accompanied Titus to the island of Crete, where he intended Titus to lead and organize the island’s churches in their early years of existence. 

What the Lord is Saying:

There are different ways that Scripture talk of salvation. In Romans 10:1, Paul writes, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for salvation." This is his appeal to Israel to be redeemed by Christ and enjoy all that salvation offers in Christ -- justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. In other ways, like I Corinthians 1:18, Paul speaks to the ongoing purification that occurs in the believer, "For the word of God  is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Titus 3:4-6 explains how we are declared righteous, "when the kindness of God....appeared, He saved us not on the basis of deeds...but according to His mercy..."

The chief need of everyone is to be saved. Everyone is perishing. Everyone needs the power of God displayed in his kindness to save us. Salvation is not by our deeds, but according to His mercy. 

Paul also in these verses refers to "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."  Some have argued that this speaks of the act of baptism ("washing") in order to erase the original sin born onto man or baby. And some say that this is another example of baptism being a part of the conversion process of a believer. Yet, Paul mentions in places like Romans 4:5 faith is the instrument of righteousness - "...not work, but believes in Him ...his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Galatians 2:15-16 repeats this, "even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ."  Thus the idea I think is that anything beyond faith could be construed as a work although some may argue that acts of obedience follow faith and baptism is one of those acts of obedience that should follow faith in every believer. 

So what did Paul mean when he wrote these words -- "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit?" To wash is to remove dirt. The only other use of this word washing is found in Ephesians 5:26, "that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word." This verse provides a parallel act of husbands loving wives just as Christ loved the Church (Eph 5:25) that loving and Christ giving Himself up for the church marks an act of cleansing her by the washing of water with the word. This seems to not be a literal washing but rather Christ's act of giving Himself for the church is so that the church is covered, as in a washing, with the Word of God. So does this help us with Titus 3:5? 

Perhaps Paul is communicating that the washing occurs by way of God regenerating and renewing the follower of Christ through the Holy Spirit. So in both instances it could simply be talking about washing being a symbol or emblem to provide the picture of how the power of the Holy Spirit converges upon us by way of God's mercy -- the Holy Spirit washes us or bathes us or renews us. We are renewed in a bath. From this standpoint, it does not seem like a literal baptism is being spoken. But, I went to the commentaries and saw that Charles Ellicott (19th c Church of England) states that God has put us in the state of salvation by the laver of regeneration which is the baptism ordinance or sacrament. Then Albert Barnes (19th c Presbyterian Church) states it is not the laver but rather a symbol or emblem of regeneration. And the other commentaries have the differing views. 

Thus, where are we at the end of the day? I believe the text can have only one meaning, and yet we do not have Paul here with us and so we sit as detectives trying to figure out what it is that it says. Because of the differing views, my conclusion is we can't know and so this issue is non-essential to our salvation and can result in debate. And yet, if I had to choose an interpretation, I would say washing is a symbol or emblem of regeneration rather than speaking of the act of baptism as an ordinance for salvation. 

Promise: What I know is that Jesus has saved us by His mercy and not by our deeds and we must have faith.

Prayer: Lord, it is fun to take time to look at your word, examine it and study it to see what it says. Lord, in this passage I understand that faith is clear and I thank you for giving me that faith in You and confirming yourself to me over and over. I am not righteous and yet you have made me righteous by the life and work of Christ Jesus and me believing in Him. I thank you that I have been baptized and you showed me the importance of this. God, there are places in your Word that I must admit I have questions and I do not have an overwhelming conclusion of what is meant. Help me Holy Spirit to walk in truth and reveal to me what is the right way, but keep me strong in You and studying and focusing on those things that matter most. Help me God to speak to others about your truth and respect people that may have a different conviction. You speak to me and use me and for that I will never understand but thank you for this. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. 

Romans 5:18-21 - The Obedience of the One

Romans 5:18-21

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Message: The Obedience of the One

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

These are somewhat difficult passages. I studied this four verses in these 2 lessons: Constituting Us Righteous and The Reign of Grace. I was reminded recently of a verse from Mark in the story of the paralytic and how the focus often in the gospels is on the Jewish scribes and I think Paul is also speaking to them here, answering their potential questions as we all look at Jesus and who He is and what He truly offers - helping them see it is through righteousness (obedient acts of good works) that we are made right with God and it is God that makes us righteous (declared good). 

As mentioned in the previous lesson, Paul does a contrast of righteousness and condemnation in Romans 5:12-21. The previous lesson looked at man's condemnation or a human's inability to be worthy before God. Now let's look at the contrast or the solution to this. 

The condemnation of man is then contrasted with the righteousness of Jesus. With Adam, one sin resulted in all being sinners. We are guilty because of sinning one time. In contrast, Jesus fulfilled the entire Law and then took all sin upon Him. With Adam one sin was committed, with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin. Thus, verse 16 says the gift is not like through the one who sinned or stated again here - through the obedience of the One (Jesus) the many will be made righteous. The focus here is that One makes many righteous. 

One results in death. The (only) One results in life. And Romans 5:17 also makes another key distinction, in Adam's sin death comes to all. In Christ, one must receive grace and the gift. Grace and righteousness is a gift. I think this refers to Christ giving, man receiving.  

Other misinformation that I have heard is Jesus's death means man has the means to being obedient - but again the focus returns to man's obedience. No idea where that idea comes from, but man is still guilty even after Jesus dies and pays for sin. What happens is when Jesus calls someone so that they will receive grace and the gift. On his own man is not capable of making himself a child of God. He must be chosen. 

Jesus is the one who saves. Transfer your trust to Him and let Him take care of it. Let grace reign in our life. Let God's provision reign in our lives. The last phrase of verse 21 says it all:

even so grace 

would reign through righteousness 

to eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

RC Sproul stated, "The question is not whether we are going to be saved through works; the question is whose works. We are saved through the works of the One who alone fulfilled the terms of the covenant of works." 

Promise: What gets us eternal life? Being righteous and this does not come about through our own deeds but rather by God's grace accomplished through Jesus Christ Our Lord. 

Prayer: O God, our life on this earth is continually judged by what we do and who we are. And it is so easy to then think that this is how judge us. In a way you do, but as a Holy God, you demand obedience - always. And only Jesus was always obedient. Thank you that when see me, you see His obedience. I am trusting in Jesus Lord. Every day I want to trust in Him. And yet Lord, every day I need your help. Every day is a reminder that I am lost without You and without You I can do nothing. So I seek You once again. I come to You and ask You to be my strength, to help guide my decisions. I want to be careful and to be careful to glorify You in all I do. Show me the way. Thank you being My Way. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Romans 5:17 - Human Inability

Romans 5:17 

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 

Message: Human Inability

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Paul does a contrast of righteousness and condemnation in Romans 5:12-21. Today, let's just look at the condemnation. 

Verse 12 says that -- Through one man (Adam) sin came to all mankind -- and with sin came death to all mankind because all sinned. This is the matter of Adam being our federal head. He sinned once and it spread to all mankind and in the process all are doomed to death because all have sinned. Everyone does not have to sin the same way as Adam to be condemned, simply sinning one time in any way makes one condemned. 

This condemnation of man occurred before the Law was given and in the world. I looked at this previously in my lesson of Romans 5:13-14 whereby Paul is not saying in verse 13 that the Law must be present for there to be sin. The Law is written on our hearts. Abraham who was present 430 years before the Law was still accountable to obedience in all its forms. 

The big concluding point here is that man is not capable of justifying Himself. Adam's sin condemned all mankind. At this point death reigns in us and obedience to the Law will not happen because sin is present. So humans have an inability to attempt to keep the Law for justification. I think this is one of the chief lies of Satan - to be good enough. But, good enough is not the issue, the issue is never sinning. Only Jesus is capable because only Jesus does not sin. 

Promise: Mankind is not born neutral, but rather born guilty and corrupted, then called ones are renewed by the Holy Spirit so those can then please Him. 

Prayer: O Lord, keep me humble for I had nothing to do in being saved by You. I am condemned because I sinned. Thank you Jesus for fulfilling that which I cannot. Thank you for allowing me to receive your grace. Now I need to live everyday for you. Thank you for continuing to reinforce this in my life. As your ambassador, vessel, bond-servant - be my words and voice to communicate this to others. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. 

Romans 2:13 - Righteousness According To The Law

Romans 2:13

...for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

Message: Righteousness According To The Law 

Time: Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).

What the Lord is Saying:

Thus far I have identified that everyone is a sinner and because of this we are all guilty before God of violating what He has commanded. The Law reminds us we are sinners, but on our own we cannot cover this guilt. We often think we can cover this guilt and penalty of sin by living a good life. This is noble and good to do but it does not excuse our sin. 

The story of Adam and Eve begins with the idea that doing good will mean we can receive eternal life. They were created, put in the garden and could live their life doing good and receive eternal life. What changed? They sinned one time. 

That's tough. That assaults us because no where in life does one mistake nullify your entire worth. I think of my work in local city government. Employees are protected, even from mistakes. In my department, one has to really mess up to be fired. It is seen that one mistake would have to be done seven times with each time bringing it to light, before a person could be let go and if the person starts showing improvement they get to start over. Now in the private sector is generally, a mistake and then a second chance, but on the third offense that is it. So in essence you have one chance to get things right and even with this there is give and take. 

Romans 2:13 emphasizes that is the doers of the Law who will be justified. I think how this likes to be interpreted is any type of law doing justifies us and each person gets to decide the level at which they are obedient. And so what religions do is come up with checklists that must be done to be seen as pious and worthy before God. But these checklists vary. Religions will even say that what makes their checklist the best is they are the only true church and therefore what they say is only valid. 

Leviticus 18:5 says -- So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the Lord. But even in this verse we would rather infer "most of the time" versus "all of the time or perfectly." 

In James 2, James makes the point that we cannot simply be partial in our obedience to the Law. Yes, it is good to love our neighbor, he says, but we cannot show partiality, meaning we must be completely loving to all neighbors at all times. And he says in verse 10 -- For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. He goes on to say that if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, then you are a transgressor. One failure makes us guilty of the entire law. 

That's a compelling text and a good reminder that sin is sin.

Promise: The Law teaches us what it is to be righteous, but our sin condition prevents us from doing it to be righteous, not because we are not obedient to it, but because we are not perfect in our obedience. Thus, the Law condemns us. 

Prayer: Lord, these are lessons that are the opposite of what I learn as I walk in the world. And I recognize that Satan has confused people further by erecting faith systems that confirm the partial keeping of the Law or keeping it according to their rules and ways. But you remind me of the whole truth in this book, not just the one's we like to sample. You are complete and I need to be a complete reader of the Bible and not simply a sampler. Keep me centered on this truth for the voices in the world of another way is deafening. I want you to stay number one in my life Jesus. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned.