264
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
July, 1941
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division 'Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By H elen F razee -B ower By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , President of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
AUGUST 3, 1941 PAUL PREACHES FAITH IN CHRIST R omans 3:21-31; 5:1, 2 ; G alatians 3:1-29
of sin and of the law (cf. 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:20; 3:1). The redemption in Christ Jesus intro duces the new creation, a creation be yond the reach and outside the sphere of sin, and outside the jurisdiction of law (cf. Col. 1:18; 2 Cor. 5:17). II. T he A cceptance by F aith (3:27-31) God’s righteousness can be received only by faith, and therefore justification excludes all boasting (vs. 27, 28). It can not be obtained by works (v. 27), nor by works plus faith (v. 28). It is the righteousness of God without the law. Grace is the fairest flower of God’s creation, and.it is offered to every mem ber of the human race (vs. 29, 30). There is no efficacy in faith per se. It is faith’s Object in whom is righteous ness, that is, in Christ Jesus. The effi cacy is in Him and in His work, re ceived by simple faith. in. T he R esult of F aith (5 :1 ,2 ) Being justified by faith, we have peace with God (v. 1). This rest of heart is not to be confused with the peace of God. The former is for the conscience, the latter for the heart. The hostility occasioned because of the demands of the righteous law of God has ehded, because that law has been fully maintained, upheld, and satisfied by the sacrifice .of Christ. In other words, in the heart of the believer in, Christ, the war is over, and peace l« s been declared. There is made possible for the be liever full access into the presence of God—access available only to those who stand in grace received by faith (v. 2). “The righteousness of God without the law” (Rom. 3:21). Sometimes legal istic teachers will try to tell you that this refers only to the Mosaic law, and that of course we cannot get God’s righteousness by the Mosaic law, but that we get it through the “law of Christ,” by which they mean the Ser mon on the Mount. Paul must have anticipated this very heresy, because he omits the definite article. It is not “without the law,” but “without law.” That is, the ftghteousness of God is bestowed apart from all law of any kind. The Greek word translated “with- Points and Problems 1.
given not to keep from but to reveal sin, because those to whom it was given already were sinners; second, .because of what man is—unable, either with or without file law to retain the righteous ness he had or to attain what is already lost; third, because of what man has done—become guilty before the law by sinning, and fourth, because of what God’s righteousness is—a holiness inde pendent of and wholly superior to every form of human self-righteousness. God’s righteousness is witnessed by the law and the prophets (v. 21). The Old Testament everywhere demands righteousness; if God cannot save sin ners righteously, they cannot be saved at all. • God’s righteousness is provided by faith in Jesus Christ (vs. 22, 23). Man cannot do anything worthy of obtaining eternal life. Nevertheless, all may have it, because it is made available to sin ners, and all men are sinners. It is not the degree of wrongdoing, but the fact of sin that is here in view. God’s righteousness, therefore, is pro vided by grace (vs. 24-26). In these verses are four words that should be considered carefully. First, “justified,” which means that every believer in Christ as a personal Saviour stands be fore God clothed in Christ’s perfection, with no sin upon him and even no rec ord of sin against him (justification is much more than mere forgiveness); second, “freely,” which means “without a cause” or reason in the believer (the same Greek word is used in Matthew 10:8; Revelation 22:17; John 15:25); third, “grace,” which means the favor of God offered to one who deserves the very opposite, and fourth, "redemp tion . . . in Christ Jesus,” which means that His blood meets all demands both BLACKBOARD LESSON
Roman« 3:21 But now the righteous ness of God without the "law is mani fested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness 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 grlory of God; 24 Being; justified freely by his g;race 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 re mission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time bis righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where 1« boasting then f It is ex cluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore w* conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? la he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and un- circumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. LESSON TEXT: Rom. 3:21-31; 5:1,2. - GOLDEN TEXT; «As It Is written. The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17). •DEVOTIONAL READING: Rom. 8:31-39. Outline and Exposition I. T he P rovision for F aith (3:21-26) G OD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS is pro vided “without the law,” that is, "apart from the law,” or, “by another way.” God’s righteousness must be without law, for at least four reasons: First, because of what the law is—a revealer, not a remover, of sin; [These lessons are developed from ■outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the Inter national Council. The outlines are copy righted by the Internatibnal Council of Religious Education and used by per mission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated."]
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