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We’ve all heard John Newton’s hymn, Amazing Grace:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

But did you know, he had an evil twin brother who wrote:
Excessive works! How tiring the sound
That came from all of me!
I once was bad but now I’m good
Thanks to my sincerity.
’Twas works that earned my place with God
And deeds that made Him smile.
How long I toiled and proved my worth
And trudged that second mile.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Being paid our hard-earned ex-ertion,
We’ve no less days to sing man’s praise
And boast of all we’d done!

John Newton didn’t really have an evil twin brother.^[1] But it would seem that many have been deceived into thinking they can earn their way to heaven. Today’s passage, and the book of Romans as a whole, warns us not to believe this lie but to be justified by faith alone.

Warning: Many, especially longtime Christians, or church attender, will be tempted to either checkout, daydream, or think this message is for someone else. I would humbly submit the masterful work from the enemy is getting Christians to stay nominally committed and moderately motivated. The devil in C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, says, “A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all – and more amusing.” So, let us not be lulled to complacency about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Theologian Leon Morris calls this passage, “the most important single paragraph ever written.”^[2] And the Reformer Martin Luther said these verses are central to the whole Bible and that the entire Christian life rises and falls on our understanding of it.

EXAMINE       Romans 3:21-30    Exclusive Inclusiveness

²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. ²⁷Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

3 realities about God’s righteousness

God’s righteousness is apart from religion.

²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

Paul explains that righteousness is not something we earn or accomplish through our works. Even if a person does not claim to be religious, we notice their habitual actions aimed at establishing their identity. We might see this…  

• As a person looking for a job, they exaggerate a resume with job experience, work skills, and educational achievements. They seek to justify their hiring, but wrongly with exaggerated claims.
• As a parent who finds identity in their child’s school achievements and extra-curricular performance. Further, they lack the ability to say, “No” to their child as they grow. And as they become adults, they have grown accomplished, but also self-entitled and combative, as they have not experienced environments that challenge them in any form. And for Christian parents who fall into this trip, they often find their child rejecting faith values and the parent is devastated, but for the wrong reasons. The parents are confused by their child’s changing behaviors and beliefs, but more so are wrecked because they feel displaced for how this makes them appear before their valued community. So, they lash out at anyone who gives advice; their marriage becomes strained because the focus was always on the kids; they’re unhappy with their career with whatever the latest complaint is; and they hide from genuine biblical community. Their justification has been misplaced.
• Or what about the student who feels pressured by parents and teachers, and has the comparison syndrome with successful siblings? They don’t seem to measure up to a projected image, and their mental health is in crisis, grades are a roller coaster, and everyone around them is to blame except the person in the mirror.
• Not last to be mentioned is the man who has honored his country through military service, worked hard and retired from an employer. But now, the man watches the news and gets irate each day because of the way cultural values have changed and politicians endlessly failing on their promises. Where is this man’s hope and justification?

You see, modern humanity is just as religious as ancient societies with idols and sacrifices. And Romans reveals to us that God’s righteousness is apart from human religion.

Paul says, God’s righteousness is manifested (πεφανέρωται). The original language can translate the word to mean “shine,” “light up,” much like someone would describe the rising of the sun after the dark night or a tragic storm. ^[3]  Further, the tense of the verb suggests a decisive act that has taken place with forever effects; like a fulcrum of circumstances or the turning point of history.^[4] God’s righteousness is manifested…. incarnated… and the grace of God has dawned upon humanity and on full display through Jesus Christ.

Religion bears witness to this gospel. The OT Scriptures support God’s righteous revelation.
The sacrificial system hinted that righteousness comes through the shedding of blood (Lev 17:11).
Yet, the blood of animals was always insufficient, which is why it needed repeated (Heb 10:1-4). However, the blood of Jesus was the perfect
and final sacrifice, once and for all (Heb 10:10-11).

• We can redeem religion by availing yourself to prayer. One’s prayer life is almost a single evaluation of their faith. Jesus taught that prayer was not a ritual as much as a relationship with our Heavenly Father. And few things shape your outlook on self-identity and circumstances than one who is “rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all things” (cf 1Thes 5:16-17; Php 4:4-8).
• Additionally, we redeem religion by allowing our faith to go beyond the Sunday experience. Saying that, some will minimize Sunday gatherings. Let me be clear, any attempt to increase your faith without gathering with church family and other believers will start exciting and appear freeing, but will leave you empty, alone, and embittered. The key is to allow Sunday to inform the rest of the week.
  > Discuss the sermon with family & others.
  > Prepare by reading the upcoming week’s sermon text and listen to the worship songs
  > Practice action steps from God’s word (Jam 1:22).

God’s righteousness is apart from race.  

In reading Romans, we must remember we are reading a letter to a mixed audience of Christians who are Jewish & Gentile. Previously, Emperor Claudius banished Jews from Rome, but 5 years later after his death, the Jews returned (Ac 18:2). And the relational dynamics between them were unhealthy.[5] Paul sought to address this tension not with diversity roundtables, equality exercises, and inclusion seminars, though there can be constructive conversations.[6] Instead, Paul’s method of restoring unity in the church was a profound emphasis on the reality that there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and ²² the righteousness of God [is] through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

The Jews thought they had an advantage with God. They had God’s blessing. They had forefathers who believed in God. They had the Scriptures provided and passed down generationally. They had the promises of God. But they failed. They broke covenant with God. They turned their back on God and sought man-made idols and earthly satisfaction instead of eternal treasure.

Likewise, Romans/Gentiles viewed themselves superior; just like people today who take pride in their race: American-ness, Southern-ness, Texan, Midwest-ness, Northern-ness, or their Blackness, Asian-ness, Latino-ness, Arab-ness, or any other mix of cultures.

And while there is nothing wrong with individuals finding dignity and delight in their cultures, this too can become a primary, distinguishing identity and part of our self-justification; which becomes cause for defensiveness and division.

Tony Evans said, “The racial application to [Paul’s teaching on the gospel] is that it is technically incorrect to say, ‘I’m a black Christian,’ or ‘I’m a white Christian’ [or any other ethnicity…]. Then you make your color or culture an adjective. It’s the job of the adjective to modify the noun…” But black and white culture have nothing to do with the essence of being a Christian. It is better to say, ‘I’m a Christian whom God made black/white…’ You must be Christian first! If we could get enough Christians to be Christian before white/black/Spanish… it won’t take 240 years to fix the race issue.”[7]

The moment a Christian attempts to make their identity in anything apart from grace, they will have exchanged the glory of God for selfish pride.

In ancient days the Romans wanted Christians to place Jesus equal to worshipping all their other gods. They said, “You Christians are too exclusive and threaten our social order because you won’t honor all the deities.”

Today, the world’s empires say, “You Christians are too exclusive and threaten our social order because you won’t honor all identities.”

The world wants to divide us into oppressed and oppressor groups along the lines of race, class, and gender. Instead, Christianity offers a unity that can’t be produced or purchased apart from the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  

Paul say in Romans 5:17, there’s only one race of people – those in Adam. And Paul reminds both groups there is no distinction – and in another letter writes, “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but a new creation… There is neither Jew nor reek, slave nor free, male or female, for you [by faith] are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:15; 2:28); and Rom 3:29 “God is God of Jews and Gentiles and will justify both only through faith [in Christ.]”  

> A wonderful application of gospel centrality in our culture is to exercise hospitality with those different from you: conversations, friendships, meals, service, sharing faith – are all beautiful expressions of God’s kingdom.

God’s righteousness is in Christ alone.

 A third reality of God’s righteousness is that it’s in Christ alone. Another way of explaining this reality is that no one is going to heaven apart from believing in Jesus Christ (cf Jn 14:6; Ac 4:12).

And this is where Christians are deemed exclusive, intolerant, and racist. But pay attention to these verses and you will see that Christianity is the most inclusive exclusivity.

²⁴ [we are] justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  

Paul uses 3 key words to describe God’s inclusive gospel. Admittedly, these are big church words, profoundly theological and somewhat unusual. Yet, they are important and necessary for eternal life. And if you can memorize an obnoxiously long Starbucks[8] order, or the changed passwords of various online accounts, then you can make a modest attempt at learning biblical terminology of Christian faith.
  

• Justified: a legal declaration of one becoming righteous and experiencing true and lasting peace between God and humanity.^[9] You might more easily remember this explanation:
  “Just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned.” But it’s actually better than that definition! If God only treated us as if we’d never sinned, then that would simply be neutral.[10] We would either sin eventually in the future, or we would still be without the righteousness and blessing of Jesus. By faith, we are not just declared innocent, but we are endowed with the irreversible gift of Jesus Christ. God views us exactly as He does His Son.

• Redemption: a payment made to liberate from oppression, prison, enslavement, or another type of binding obligation.^[11] Jesus’ statement on the cross, “It is finished,” (tetelestai – accounting term) marks the application of what Jesus accomplished. While salvation costs us nothing, it costed Jesus everything.

• Propitiation: indicates the penalty of sin being satisfied with the power of sin being removed.^[12] Christ’s righteous sacrifice was sufficient to provide salvation past, present, and future. Thus, the cross is not just Jesus demonstrating faithful love but declaring forever liberty. “As far as east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps 103:12)

Christianity is exclusive to sinners. If you’re a sinner, then you qualify to be included in God’s plan of salvation. Paul uses a lot of words to describe the dazzling diamond beauty of the gospel. These 3 words are God intersecting His plan of salvation with your story. As Paul asks and answers: what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded.

Christianity is exclusive to sinners.
If you’re a sinner, then you qualify to be included in God’s plan of salvation.

dave_dwb

Our response is not to boast, not to become a bully for worldly applause, but to be broken by the cause of Christ. Christ’s mission was to save sinners, such as me. Such as you. Such as all those in the world.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

Jesus did not just assist our assurance, help our humanity, inspire our spirit, or enhance our faith. Jesus came to save us.[13] To be a Christian means we are saved from God’s holy wrath and fearful condemnation; saved from ourselves – our pride, our missteps, our misunderstandings, our weaknesses, our worries; and saved unto righteousness and good works. Saved to follow Jesus and allow His life to shine through us.

And in this gospel the church is one
We do not walk alone
We have His Spirit as we press on
To lead us safely home
And when in glory still I will sing
Of this old story that rescued me
Praise to my Savior the King of life
I stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ
We stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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^[1] Illustration adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Romans, vol. 6, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2016), 82.

^[2] Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 173.

^[3] Charles R. Swindoll, Romans, vol. 6, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2016), 83.

^[4] James D. G. Dunn, Romans 1–8, vol. 38A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1988), 165.

[5] https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2012/something-about-the-book-of-romans-that-will-help-you-really-get-it

[6] Few have written and addressed “critical theory” from a Christian perspective than Neil Shenvi & Pat Sawyer. See: https://shenviapologetics.com/dei-done-right-disentangling-christian-community-from-critical-theory/

[7] Adapted for readability in message from Tony Evans, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/07/21/christians-should-put-their-faith-above-their-race-and-culture-the-rev-tony-evans-says/

[8] https://www.today.com/food/starbucks-barista-s-tweet-obnoxiously-long-order-goes-viral-t217269

^[9] James White, “Justification,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 970.

[10] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/the-just-as-if-id-definition-of-justification/

^[11] Stan Norman, “Redeem, Redemption, Redeemer,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1370.

^[12] Jeremiah H. Russell, “Expiation, Propitiation,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 533.

[13] Concluding paragraphs, as with other insights throughout this series are indebted to J.D. Greear, Essential Christianity.