John Calvin said that the doctrine of justification is “the hinge of the gospel.” In other words, it is the tipping point. There is no room for any equivocation whatsoever when it comes to holding fast to this truth. It is a watershed truth that separates the true gospel from the false gospel. The doctrine of justification is that important. But conversely, he declared any church that does not hold to this doctrine is a false church that lies outside the kingdom of God. Martin Luther, who was used by God to recover this doctrine 500 years ago in the Reformation, has said that this doctrine of justification is “appointed for the rise or the fall of the church.” By this assertion, Luther meant that every true church teaches and preaches this doctrine. The first time the word “justification” or “justified” is found in the book of Romans is in verse 24, “being justified as a gift by His grace.” To this point, everything in this letter to the believers in Rome has been preparation for this extraordinary truth of justification. Martin Lloyd Jones has said, “Praise God for the buts in the Bible.” “But now” turns the corner from the condemnation of the entire human race to the justification of all believers in Jesus Christ by the grace of God. The first two words of verse 21 are “But now,” which signals a dramatic pivot in the flow of this letter. Justification is the total opposite of condemnation. As we come to Romans 3:21, there is a dramatic shift as he proceeds from condemnation to justification. The apostle argued a devastating case, indicting mankind. All mankind that finds itself outside of Christ is under the wrath of God. There, Paul presented his case for the condemnation of the entire sinful human race. I agree with the Doctor.īeginning in Romans 1:18 and extending through 3:20, those verses constituted the first section of this epistle. He believed that this paragraph is that important to the message of the entire book of Romans. In fact, when he edited his famous series through Romans, Lloyd-Jones began putting his messages into print not with chapter one and verse one, but with these very verses. This section is all about the doctrine of justification. That is quite a strong statement coming from quite a noted man. Martin Lloyd-Jones, arguably the greatest expositor of the twentieth century, said that these are the greatest verses in the entire Bible on the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26). He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished ( P)- 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe for there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, ( N) through the shedding of his blood ( O)-to be received by faith. ( H) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ( I) 23 for all have sinned ( J) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified ( K) freely by his grace ( L) through the redemption ( M) that came by Christ Jesus. ( D) 22 This righteousness ( E) is given through faith ( F) in Jesus Christ ( G) to all who believe. ( B) Righteousness Through FaithĢ1 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God ( C) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law ( A) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
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