Justification By Faith

Introduction: Have you had someone disrespect you? Have you disrespected others? Many years
ago, I was trying to mediate a very difficult problem that arose between church members. At one
point a church member called me a profane name. I knew he did not mean it because he was
upset. A few weeks later, the member came to me and apologized. I didn't know what he was
talking about at first because I had put it out of my mind. On the other hand, I can still recall a
few incidents when someone intended to insult me. Why am I asking you about respect in a
study on righteousness by faith? It is to help open your mind to the idea that righteousness by
faith not only gives us the key to eternal life, it should radically change our attitude toward
others. Let's learn more about this by diving into our study of Romans!

Is faith same as belief?

1. Problems to Avoid
1. Read Romans 3:1-2. Two weeks ago we learned that the Gentiles did not have to
be circumcised. Even if it is not required, is there value in it? (Yes. Paul speaks
specifically to the advantage of being a Jew. He says that they are entrusted with
God's words.)
1. How far does this idea go? All of what Moses wrote came from God. Is it
"an advantage" to follow other aspects of the Levitical law?
2. Read Romans 3:3-4. What if those entrusted with the words of God are not
faithful? Have you heard someone blame God for troubles in life? (Paul says that
God is faithful. If we think that there is a breakdown in the promises of God, the
failure lies somewhere other than with God.)
1. Do those who were once blessed still enjoy an advantage? Are they still a
source of authority? (The fact that those who have been blessed by God
falter in their faith does not nullify God's faithfulness. We must take our
direction from God, not humans.)
3. Read Romans 3:5-8. Can we bring glory to God by being evil?
1. What argument is this group making that Paul rejects? (This group says if
the goal is to bring glory to God, then my bad behavior highlights God's
goodness.)
2. What does this suggest about those who teach that righteousness by faith
means we should disregard the law? (God is still concerned about our
actions.)
4. Did you notice the two arguments that Paul has just rejected? I think they are
important to understand before we jump into Paul's statements about
righteousness by faith. How would you put the correct conclusions into your own
words? (1. God is always faithful. Whether we are trying to explain why
something bad has happened, or whether we are trying to figure out who is a
good spiritual leader, we need to place our trust first in Jesus. Second, the way to
bring glory to God is by obeying Him, not by showing what it means to live an
unrighteous life.)
 5. Read Romans 3:9. What if you avoid these two false positions, what if you
understand and follow the truth, are you any better than those who
misunderstand? (No! You may have this right, but you are still a sinner for other
reasons!)
2. The Law
Let's skip down and read Romans 3:19. What is the purpose of the law? (To make us shut
our mouths! Recall last week's study was a strong warning about being judgmental?)
1. Notice the strange language here. Paul says that the law speaks to "those
who are under the law." Does that suggest that some are not "under the
law?"
2. If you just answered, "yes," how do you explain that Paul next writes "so
that every mouth" is silenced and "the whole world held accountable?" If
the law only applies to some, why would all mouths be silenced and
everyone held accountable? (Paul must mean that the default position for
everyone is that we are under the law.)
2. Read Romans 3:20.

Romans 3:20, why is it impossible for a person to be set right with God by the deeds of the law?

Is the law the answer to our sins? (No. "No one" will be declared righteous by "observing the
law." Rather, the law lets us know what God wants us to avoid.)
What parable did Jesus tell to illustrate the foolishness of trusting in your own righteousness to
be justified before God? Luke 18:914

3. If I stopped right here and asked, "Consider what we have discussed so far. Would
you say that the law is still relevant?" What would you answer? (The answer
would have to be "Yes." The law shows us how to give glory to God. The law
shows us the best way to live.)
4.
3. Righteousness by Faith
1. Read Romans 3:21. Is there a way for us to be righteous apart from keeping the
law? (Yes.)
1. How do we know this is true? Do we just have to take Paul's word for it?
(Paul writes that "the Law and the Prophets testify" to this method of
attaining righteousness part from keeping the law.)

What do you think that means? (The prophets spoke of the coming of a Messiah. The sanctuary
service symbolized Jesus' coming sacrifice. Our inability to keep the law shows us that we need a
better way.)
Give some examples of the Law and the Prophets testifying about the righteousness of God that
would be revealed. Luke 24:25-27; i) Genesis 22:8, 14; ii) Isaiah 9:12,67; iii) Isaiah 53:46; iv)
Malachi 3:13; John 2:1317
 2. Read Romans 3:22-24. What is this new way to be righteous that is "apart" from
keeping the law? ("Faith in Jesus Christ.")
1. Who can take advantage of this offer? ("All who believe.")
2. Does God try to limit those who can take advantage of this offer? (No. We
are "justified freely.")

Must everyone take advantage of this offer if they desire eternal life? ("All have sinned." The
comment about there being "no difference" tells us that no matter how good we may think we
are, the presence of sin in our life means that we will still die unless we accept Jesus' offer.)
Paul tells us we are justified by Gods grace. Many have heard the song Amazing Grace. What is
grace?
e) What encouragement might you give to a friend who said, I just dont have enough faith to
accept what Jesus has done for me? Ephesians 2:8
f) Unlike sanctification, which is the work of a lifetime, justification by faith happens the moment
we fully repent and accept Jesus as our Savior. Is it important to be able to identify the moment
you made that decision?
g) Some suggest it is impossible to be lost after we have been justified by faithonce saved,
always saved. What teaching on this topic do you find in the Scriptures? 1 Corinthians 10:12;
Hebrews 6:46
h) What does Gods plan for our salvation tell us about the character of God?

3) What does this suggest about disrespecting others? What does this suggest about an attitude
of superiority based on our obedience?

3. Read Romans 3:25-26. The phrase "faith in His blood" seems odd. What does this
mean? (This brings to mind the sanctuary service where an animal was sacrificed
to atone for the sins of the person bringing the animal. It was the blood that
removed the sin. See Hebrews 9:22 and Ezekiel 43:20. This tells us that the
sacrifice in the sanctuary service was an example to let God's people know that
Jesus was coming to take away their sins.)
1. These verses say that this "demonstrates" God's justice. How do you
explain that this is justice? (Read Genesis 2:16-17. I believe that the entry
of sin automatically brings death. It is a natural law and God warned Adam
about it. When Jesus died for our sins, so that we would have the
opportunity to enter a sin-free world once again, it showed us that God's
justice is unlike anything we have ever seen before.)
4. Read Romans 3:27. Do you think that you are a pretty good person? Do most of
the people you know have lower standards than yours? What does Paul say about
an attitude like this? ("It is excluded." We have nothing to boast about since
righteousness by faith is a free gift.)
5. Read Romans 3:28. What role does the law play in our salvation? (None. The only
people who are justified, are those who do so on the basis of faith in Jesus'
sacrifice on their behalf. The law has nothing to do with it.)

A) If we are justified by faith in Jesus on account of Gods grace, without the

deeds of the law, does that mean we no longer need to obey Gods law?

B) How has your attitude towards Gods law changed since you were justified by
faith in Jesus Christ?

6. Friend, does your attitude towards others fully reflect the truth of righteousness
by faith? We are all sinners. All of us have only one way to be saved eternally, and
it has nothing to do with our own works. Praise God for what He has done for us!