Christ Through the Bible-Romans

Text: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

In the book of Romans, we see Jesus as the Justifier. This is the great theme of Paul’s letter to the Church at Rome.  The message is that all men need justification.

 The Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) need justification because they rejected God (1:18-23) and went down the pathway of uncleanness (1:24-25), vile passions (1:26-27), and a reprobate mind (1:28-32).

The Jews (2:17-3-8) need justification because they were violators of God's law (2:17-29) and displayed a lack of faith in God's promises (3:1-8, esp. verse 3). Paul's conclusion: "...for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin" (3:9, cf. 3:10-20).

How can a man be justified if all are under sin? The apostle Paul answers this question in Romans 3:21-31. Men can be justified in the sight of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The careful Bible student will notice how many times Paul mentions "faith" in this section (cf. 3:22, 26, 27, 28, 30). God is the "justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus" (3:26). One can picture the Jewish reaction to this declaration. To them, justification came through being a Jew, circumcision, and the law of Moses, not through Jesus Christ.

Paul anticipates the objection. He asks, "Do we then make the law of none effect through faith?" His answer: "God forbid: nay, we establish the law" (3:31). That is, through our preaching that men are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we are confirming the law. The law of Moses directed men to Jesus Christ. Paul would say to the churches of Galatia that "the law becomes our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Paul, himself as a Jew, came to this realization. What was his reaction when he learned that man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ? He said, "even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 3:16).

To illustrate the fact that men are justified by faith, the apostle Paul mentions the example of Abraham (4:1-25). Abraham was justified apart from works of the law (4:1-8, 13-15). He was justified before being circumcised (4:9-12). How could Abraham be justified apart from the law and before being circumcised? His faith was in God (Romans 4:16-25).

It is our duty for us to consider the meaning of faith. There are those who try to find justification through their works.  Using James as their justification for works they rely on their own abilities to save themselves.   When God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac upon the altar, the scripture says, "Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. Ye see that by works a man is justified and not only by faith" (James 2:22-24). Paul and James are in perfect harmony when speaking about how a man is justified. An obedient belief in Jesus Christ justifies man. Some might object and state that Paul is against works. Not so. Paul affirms that works of obedience save us. When speaking of the judgment of God, Paul says that God "will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life" (Romans 2:6-7). Notice, it is those who seek for glory, honor, and incorruption that God will give eternal life. In Romans 6:17, Paul exclaims, "but thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered." What teaching were the Romans obedient in following? The context determines the answer. Paul says, "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it (righteousness) was reckoned unto him; but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead..." (Romans 4:24-25). When we render obedience to the gospel, we are justified by grace through faith.

What are the results of justification? Paul answers this question in Romans 5:1-5. We have peace with God. At one time we were alienated from God and enemies of God because of our evil works (Colossians 1:21). However, because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Romans 5:1-11), we can enjoy reconciliation with God (Romans 5:11).

Friends again with God! This is the theme of the Bible first announced in Genesis 3:15. This is the theme behind the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15. This is the theme behind the law of Moses. This is the theme that the gospel reveals. The excellent news reveals how a man can be justified in the sight of God and have fellowship with Him (cf. Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-22; Galatians 2:16). Marvelously, the epistle of Paul to the Romans helps us see clearly the great theme of the Bible...justification.

The epistle of Paul to the Romans helps us also to see that great love that God has for us. He wants us to be justified. Paul says, "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him" (Romans 5:8-9).

Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the worship of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:20-26

What is propitiation? It is an offering present to another, to atone for a wrong done to him, to appease his displeasure and pacify his anger, or to render satisfaction to the offended.

The prophet Micah asked these questions: Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?  7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten-thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Micah 3:6-7

These are propitiations in respect of God; offerings by which men think, in the blindness of their minds, to make amends to God’s offended justice and to appease His anger. Micah is asking what do I do to render satisfaction to God?  What can I do to calm His anger?  God demands justice to appease His indignation, which has been provoked.  The answer to Micah’s question is there is nothing he could do to satisfy God.  However, “God hath set forth a propitiation—a satisfaction to His offended justice, a sacrifice which appeases His anger. Keep in mind that it is only God who can justify the wicked.  God told Moses, “by no means clear the guilty.”  To the human judges, God says, “Thou shalt not justify the wicked.”  Only God has this ability.

The propitiation does not fall on man’s ability to appease God, but upon God; it does not act by reconciling us to God, but by satisfying God to us.  Why would God appease Himself for something we have done against Him?  It is His divine attribute of mercy toward us.  There is nothing we can do that will bring about the appeasement needed to justify us before God.

The propitiation is the LORD Jesus Christ.  It is by blood-shedding.  “God has set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation, through faith, in His blood.”  It was the sacrifice of Jesus, even to surrender His life-blood, that becomes a propitiation for us with God.

So, without all the controversy of salvation by faith or works, Paul vs. James remember it is, God who justifies the ungodly.  He is the justifier of the sinner that believeth in Jesus; because He has  ”set forth Christ Jesus as a propitiation through faith in His blood.”

The question of Micah is answered not by works of the Law, or by my efforts to appease God.  Salvation is obtained by Jesus Christ.  Come to God for your pardon and acceptance, however ungodly you may be, the “blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.”

With these thoughts from the book of Romans in mind, we can clearly see the importance of justification. The choice of whether we will be justified in the sight of God is up to us. We can continue down the path of sin and be separated from God for all eternity (cf. Rom. 2:5, 8-9; 6:23) OR we can be justified and receive eternal life that is in Christ (cf. Rom. 6:23).