Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans 3:18-25a.

"Justified by Faith"

Safe Haven Community Church.

Sunday September 4th, 2022.

Romans 3:18-25a.

18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes.".

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom 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).

(ESV)

Whether by design or by default, The Forbes Book of Business Quotations lists no "human" entries under "Righteousness" save eight passages of Scripture (Pss.

15:1-2; 92:12-13; Prov.

16:8-9; 29:2; Isa.

3:10-11; Jer.

22:13; Hos.

10:12; 2 Tim.

4:7-8).

The starkness of this category's supporting materials is striking.

While other Scripture verses are sprinkled throughout the volume under various topics, "Righteousness" is the only topic totally illustrated by Scripture verses.

It is as if the editor agreed with the apostle Paul's assessment of the human condition in Romans 3:11-"There is no one righteous, not even one."

And if there is no one righteous, how could anyone say anything worthwhile about "righteousness"?

Men and women can comment intelligently, helpfully, and humorously about "Anger," "Humility," "Obligations," "Purpose," "Tolerance," and "Work"-and a whole host of other interesting human topics.

But "Righteousness"?

According to the apostle Paul, for a human being to speak authoritatively about righteousness would be like an irate person commenting on anger, a destitute person commenting on wealth, or an arrogant person commenting on humility.

In those cases, one would simply find a calm person, a rich person, or a humble person to speak to those subjects.

Unfortunately, one cannot find a righteous person to comment authoritatively on righteousness.

The very condition of humankind-total, complete, pervasive, unrighteousness-disqualifies us at the outset.

What if one only had The Forbes Book of Business Quotations by which to live one's life?

The verses it quotes on righteousness do well in suggesting how to act righteous, which is good for our life on earth.

But how does one attain a righteous standing before God, which is what we need to know for our life beyond this earth?

For answers to that question, Romans 3:18-25 (and Paul's ensuing illustrations and discussion) is our only source of hope.

These verses are the core of the answer to the most important question any person could ever ask: "But how can a mortal be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2).

Job asked, but could not answer, that question.

The world's wisest people, even in our modern day, cannot answer that question.

The only person who can answer that question is God.

Thankfully, he inspired the apostle Paul to record the fundamental truths about man's movement from unrighteousness to righteousness here in Romans 3.

Humanity has expertise in many areas of life and business, but righteousness is not one of them.

Righteousness is the business of God.

F. F. Bruce cites the Roman poet Horace, who criticized writers of tragedies in his day for introducing a god into the plot to solve some knotty problem.

Martin Luther, Bruce notes, "took up [Horace's] words and applied them to the forgiveness of sins: here, [Luther] said, is a problem that needs God to solve it.

True, for sinful humanity cannot solve it, though everyone desperately needs a solution to it" (Bruce, p. 96).

It is God's solution to a knotty theological and practical problem which Paul presents in Romans 3: How can God remain just while at the same time justifying the unjust?

(Boa, K., & Kruidenier, W. (2000).

Romans (Vol.

6, pp.

99-100).

Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

In Romans 3:18-25, we see that God reconciles people unto Himself through faith which shows three things: 1) The Need for Justification (Romans 3:18-20), 2) Justification apart from the Law (Romans 3:21-23), and finally 3) The Means of Justification (Romans 3:24-25a)

God reconciles people unto Himself through faith which shows:

1) The Need for Justification (Romans 3:18-20)

Romans 3:18-20.

"There is no fear of God before their eyes.".

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

(ESV)

The basic sinful condition of people and of their spiritual deadness is evidenced by the fact that, for the unsaved, there is no fear of God before their eyes.

The full text of Psalm 36:1, from which Paul here quotes, reads: "Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes."

Because the ears of the unredeemed are attuned to the lies of sin rather than to the truth of righteousness, they have an inadequate concern about and no fear of God.

Fearing God has both positive and negative elements.

In a positive way, every true believer has reverential fear of God-an awesome awareness of His power, His holiness, and His glory.

Proper worship always includes that kind of fear of the Lord.

Reverential fear of God is the beginning of spiritual wisdom (Prov.

9:10).

That kind of fear is a necessary element in one's being led to salvation, as with Cornelius (Acts 10:2), and motivates new believers in their spiritual growth.

The negative aspect of the fear of God has to do with dread and terror.

Even believers should have a measure of that kind of fear, which acts as a protection from sinning.

The writer of Proverbs observed, "By the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil" (Prov.

16:6).

For the very reason they are God's children, believers are subject to His chastisement (cf.

Heb.

12:5-11).

When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy.

When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect.

(Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., & Wilson, N. S. (1992).

Romans (p.

69).

Tyndale House Publishers)

Please turn to Acts 5

Sometimes God's dealing with disobedient believers can be severe.

One of the most serious things we do is in the remembrance of Christ's death in communion.

For not decerning the body and blood, some are sick and even die (1 Cor.

11:30).

But another aspect of God's judgement relates to stewardship.

One of the most dangerous things you can do is play games with God over your offerings.

I fear for people who withhold their offerings because there is something they don't like.

Such an action is of grave danger to themselves.

Why should even believers have a fear of God? Consider the New Testament warning of Ananias and Sapphira in this area of financial offerings:

Acts 5:1-11.

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?

And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?

Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

You have not lied to man but to God." 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.

And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much."

And she said, "Yes, for so much."

9 But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?

Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last.

When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

(ESV)

* The church is God's idea.

Christ died for the church.

He entrusts the church with the oracles of God, the ordinances, the mission and mandate of the Kingdom.

When people play games with local church ministry, thinking they will make a statement, the real offense is unto God.