THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Romans 3:21-31)

1. THE FACT OF GOD'S GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MEN (3:21-23).

a. IT IS NEEDED BY ALL.

Without exception, all are proved to be sinners (3:9) and
guilty (3:19). Our best efforts (3:20) cannot make us
righteous. "But now" (3:21) what we cannot do, GOD does.

b. IT WAS PREDICTED FOR ALL (3:21).

Rom. 3:21 "righteousness of God...witnessed" by the O.T.
Gal. 3:8 "the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify

the heathen..." See Isa. 45:22-24; 54:17; 61:10,11.

c. IT IS OFFERED TO ALL (3:22).

Rom. 3:22 "the righteousness of God...unto all"

2. THE METHOD OF GOD'S GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MEN (3:24-26).

a. IT IS BY GOD'S GRACE (3:24).

Rom. 3:24 "freely by His grace" It originated with God.

b. IT IS BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S DEATH (3:24,25).

Rom. 3:24 "through the redemption...in Christ Jesus"

c. IT IS THROUGH MAN'S FAITH (3:26).

Grace offers it to all; Calvary bought it for all.
Are all then saved? No; FAITH must appropriate the gift
Rom. 3:22 "unto all...UPON all them that believe"
Rom. 3:25 "through faith" 3:26 "him which believeth"

3. THE SCOPE OF GOD'S GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MEN (4:25,26).

a. BEFORE THE CROSS (4:25).

God justified sinners BEFORE Christ died (Gen. 15:6).
How could He righteously pass over men's sins from Adam to
Christ? 

Answer: Because He knew payment (propitiation) would
later be made for those sins at Calvary. The cross thus
declares God was just in remitting them. The O.T. offering
only covered sins, awaiting Calvary. Heb. 10:3,4.

b. AFTER THE CROSS (3:26).

Can God righteously justify us sinners today (see Acts 13:38,39)? 
Yes, because on the cross Christ died for the sins of future ages as well as past. 
Isa. 53:6 "all"

4. THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOD'S GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (3:27-31).

a. IT EXCLUDES HUMAN BOASTING (3:27).

Rom. 3:27 "Where is boasting then? It is excluded."
God's method of saving us leaves no room for boasting either
by Jew (2:17) or Gentile (2:1). See Eph. 2:9.

b. IT EQUALIZES JEW AND GENTILE (3:29,30).

Rom. 3:29,30 "one God, which shall justify (both by faith)
Their needs are alike (3:9); God's offer to both the same

c. IT ESTABLISHES THE LAW (3:31).

Rom. 3:31. In saving men by faith. God does not ignore the
law. Instead, He established the justice of its verdict by
paying on the cross the full penalty it demanded.

By David E. Hubbard

Used with permission

Created by SuzyB