Sermon Tone Analysis

Scenes of Salvation

For the last two weeks we have been discussing the most life changing and powerful lessons I learned while at OCC.

The first week we saw freedom from the petty tyrannies of ourselves and others as we looked into Romans chapter 14.

Last week as we boldly explored Romans 9-11 we saw God’s eternal faithfulness proven by and demonstrated in the Church.

Today we will peer through the theological lens of Romans 3:21-26 as we uncover what really happened at the cross.

Now many of you will be thinking, I know what happened at the cross, Jesus died for my sins.

While that is correct, I want to know why it worked.

Last week we discovered that all of God’s promises and predictions pointed toward and were dependent upon Jesus’ work on the cross.

What caused this tiny speck in the Palestinian landscape, this infinitesimal dot on history’s timeline, to erupt and send out shockwaves which have been felt over the entire globe, which have affected every era of history: past, present, and future?

The Apostle Paul had the unique privilege of viewing this scene through the spectacles of inspiration.

This is what he writes:

 

/Romans 3:21-26 (NKJV) \\ But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus./

/ /

            Paul explains the results of the cross using three powerful words Justification, Redemption, and Propitiation.

To understand the story of the cross we must understand the words.

Each of these words tells its own story.

Each of these stories highlights a different aspect of God’s work through the cross.

I want to take a look at these stories, but first we must set the stage.

The first actor in history’s drama is God.

The first thing we notice about God is that he is Righteous—that is God is always in the right.

He always does what is right.

He is completely just in his actions, attitudes, and attributes.

The second thing we notice about God is that he is a God of law.

This is seen in nature through the natural laws which God has put in place.

This is seen in the moral laws which he imprinted upon every human conscience.

This is seen in and through the Old Testament, where God directs his people through the royal law.

God is righteous and therefore he loves what is right.

He delights over justice.

He relishes kindness, love, and obedience.

On the same token he also hates what is evil.

Injustice infuriates him.

Cruelty, hatred, and disobedience make his blood boil.

God is righteous and therefore he does what justice demands—like saving and protecting the innocent, and condemning and punishing the guilty.

God’s justice will not let an innocent man suffer, nor will it let a guilty man go free.

The second actor we find in history’s drama is humanity.

The first thing that we notice about people is that we are created, and are therefore subject to our creator—God.

Because we are subject to God, we are also subject to his laws.

Our physical bodies are subject to his natural laws.

Likewise our souls and spirits are subject to his moral and ethical laws.

If we keep these laws than God will be just and he will save and guard our lives.

If we break the laws and sin than God will be just and will condemn and punish us.

The second thing we notice about humanity is that we are all law breakers.

This is what Paul was saying when he wrote:

/ /

/               “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans //3:23// (NKJV)/

 

            Each of us has sinned and each of our sins is a violation of God’s justice and an affront to his nature.

Our sinful lives are offensive to his sense of justice.

The cries of those we have wronged goes out ahead of us and reach the sympathetic ears of a God who is fed up with our sin and who delights in justice.

Now the stage has been set, the actors are ready, and the first word begins to tell its story.

The Court Room - Justification

 

            As the first scene fades in we find ourselves sitting in a musty poorly lit room.

In front of you there is a massive mahogany bench centered between two flags.

A bailiff stands guard in front of an imposing wood door just to the right of judges bench.

In front of the bench sits a thin pasty woman with a typewriter.

She is busy fidgeting with her machine.

Behind her and to her right is an elevated stand with a chair and a microphone.

Across from it you see the jury box.

This jury box is different though, it only has three seats.

In one seat is a short frail man with long white hair and a beard.

He looks as though his suit is made out of a potato sack.

He looks at you and his little gray eyes seem to pierce you soul.

Pinned the front of his burlap cloak is a name tag that reads “The Prophets.”

Sitting next to him is a tall young man with thick black hair and strikingly blue eyes.

He is dressed in what appears to be a black silk woven suit.

On the front of his suit he also has a nametag.

His reads, “The Law.”

On the end is a blind, but very attractive young woman.

Pinned to her blouse is a nametag which reads “Justice.”

You find yourself behind a dull dark table sitting next to a nicely dressed man with kind eyes.

Across from him is another nicely dressed man sitting at a table identical to yours.

He glares at you and you quickly avert your eyes.

Papers are stacked in front of you.

You try to grab them so that you can read what they say, but you can’t.

Your hands are fastened behind your back.

As you look down to see why you notice that you are wearing an orange jumpsuit with black letters across the front.

Like the thunder that peals and crashes when you find yourself too close to a lightning strike, the realization thunders through your being—I am an inmate.

The thought is so shocking that you must have said it aloud because the man sitting next to you assuredly replies “No you’re not.

You are a defendant.

You are not guilty until the Judge says you are.”  

“Who are you?”

you query.

“My name is, “Your Conscience” and I am your attorney.”

“What charges are being brought against me?” you ask.

Your attorney shrugs uncomfortably as he responds, “Capitol crimes, several of them.”

“What is our defense?”

“That you’ve lived a very good life.

If that doesn’t work we will plead guilty but try to mitigate the charges by bringing up the fact that you have in fact lived a mostly moral life.

I mean you have acted better than most people.”

“Do you think it will work?”

“Doubtful,” he responds looking away, “technically neither defense is admissible, but I’ve heard others say that they were going to use this defense, so I thought, hey, why not.

We don’t have anything better.”

At this point you know that things are bad.

Just then the bailiff announces “All rise!

The Honorable God of the universe now presides.

This court is now in session.”

Your heart sinks as you rise to your feet.

The door opens and BOOM!

God appears dressed in a judge’s robe.

He takes his seat at his bench, grabs his gavel and looks at you strait in the eyes.

His are the eyes of an old friend whom you have just forgotten.

His face is determined and firm.