ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
LECTURE III
RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED Romans 3:21~4:25
It is with a feeling of relief that we turn from the study of the sin of man to the great theme of the righteousness of God. We saw in our last lesson that Paul cuts the ground from under the man who seeks to reform himself. The Spirit of God shows how futile it is for the sinner to try to make himself righteous by joining the church, by observing ordi~ nances, by being moral and kind and benevolent. We often sing:
"Could my zeal no languor know, Could my tears forever flow, These for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone."
Do you really believe that, my friend? Blessed is the man who comes to the end of himself, and sees what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for him. Verse 20 of chapter three concludes the first division of this epistle. The word "therefore" indicates the conclusion of what has gone before. "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. But now ..." Note these two words which so strikingly introduce the s&c.Qnd _g~eaJ divisi2n of the epistle, which extends from 3:21 to 4:25. In the first division of the book we saw the sinfulness of man unveiled, but now we are to see the righteousness of God as it is revealed in Christ. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified ... But now ..." All the world is guilty before God, "but now" God offers the sinner the free gift of His righteousness. Man has no merit of his own; "but now" Page ·HJ
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