Redemption, So Great and Free

By Johnny Hunt

Bible Book: Romans 3 : 21-24

Subject: Salvation; Grace; Redemption

Introduction

In Hebrews 2:3, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

In my November 5th DEVOTIONAL I read: Is there a sense of greatness in your mind about your salvation? Or do you neglect it? Do you respond to the greatness of your salvation? Or do you treat it the way you treat your will or the title to your car or the deed on your house? You signed it once and it is in a file drawer somewhere, but it is not a really great thing. It has no daily effect on you. Basically you neglect it.

Only, what is it really-this great salvation? What he’s really saying is:

i. Don’t neglect being loved by God.

ii. Don’t neglect being forgiven and accepted and protected and strengthened and guided by Almighty God.

iii. Don’t neglect the sacrifice of Christ’s life on the cross.

iv. Don’t neglect the free gift of righteousness imputed by faith.

v. Don’t neglect the removal of God’s wrath and the reconciled smile of God.

vi. Don’t neglect the indwelling Holy Spirit and the fellowship and friendship of the living Christ.

vii. Don’t neglect the radiance of God’s glory in the face of Jesus.

viii. Don’t neglect the free access to the throne of grace.

ix. Don’t neglect the inexhaustible treasure of God’s promise.”

It is in the context of our Salvation that the Lord Redeemed, Justified, Sanctified and one day will Glorify.

I. THE REVEALING OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS - IT’S PROVISION 21-22

A. The Not - 21

“apart from the law” – sometimes refers to legalism, the strict, self-dependent trust in one’s own effort to perform to the level of divine morality.

Luke 18:9-11

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "’Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.’”

Man’s attempt to become acceptable to God by means of their own human efforts.

God’s righteousness is in no way based on human achievement, or anything that man can do in his own power.

“being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”-they did not show men how to achieve their own righteousness but pointed to the coming Messiah, who would provide the righteousness that God demands of man.

Abraham/Isaac on Mt. Moriah - “God will provide for Himself” Genesis 22:8

Isaiah 53: “He was wounded for our transgressions…” “By His stripes we are healed”

God’s righteousness, that I did not possess, could not be earned or achieved, yet every religion except Christianity is man-made and works centered, and for that reason, none of them can succeed in leading a person to God.

With this said, there is only 2 religions in the world, the religion of divine accomplishment and the religion of human achievement.

The law was given as a means to show how impossible it is to measure up to God’s standard by human effort.

B. The What - 22

Verse 21 begins with “but” – speaks of a contrast between man’s total depravity and inability to please God and God’s own PROVISION of a way to Himself. He made the way.

The Gospel reveals God’s righteousness.

Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "’The just shall live by faith.’"

Therefore, this TRUTH

Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”

A person is made righteous “through faith in Jesus Christ.”

A. W. Tozer commented on this Revelation of Righteousness – “Something has happened to the doctrine of justification. The faith of Paul and Luther was a revolutionizing thing. It upset the whole life of the individual and made him into another person altogether. It laid hold of the life and brought it into obedience of Christ. It took up its cross and followed along after Jesus with no intention of going back. It said good-bye to its old friends as certainly as Elijah when he stepped into the firey chariot and went away in the whirlwind. It had a finality about it. It snapped shut on a man’s heart like a trap, it captured the man and made him from that moment forward a happy love-servant of his Lord.”

“faith in Jesus Christ” – not a single affirmation of certain truths, but placing oneself in total submission to the Lord Jesus. It’s a willful obedience in turning from sin to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

“for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” V23

Anyone will be saved who surrenders and believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Acts 13:39: “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Just as no one is good enough to be saved, no one is too bad that they cannot be saved.

II. THE REVEALING OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS – IT’S PRICE 24

Romans 3:24: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

“Freely” – unearned/unmerited/undeserved.

“through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ” – the idea is of paying a price, a ransom. The freeing of a prisoner from the captors.

QUESTION: What did I contribute to the ransom? Nothing!

1 Corinthians 11:26: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”

“being justified freely as a gift by His grace”

The law reveals God’s righteousness and exposes man’s unrighteousness. Grace reveals God’s righteousness but actually gives His righteousness to those who trust in His Son (God’s gift). That gift of grace cost God the suffering and death of His own Son on the cross, for the believer, there is nothing left to pay.

“Redeemed! Fully forgiven and accepted by God. Blessed with His grace, no longer in terror of His wrath.

i. Life with Him forever.

ii. Loved by God.

Could there be any more blessed and secure identity anywhere to be found?

iii. Child of the Kingdom.