Saved By Grace

Romans 3:20-31

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

To keep the Law, one must choose not to do what his heart suggests. The heart often deceives us into believing we have done right while doing wrong. Jeremiah 17:9-10 declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” The Law is only able to deal with the outward actions, not the intentions of the heart, and the corresponding results of our actions. God judges both.

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” (Galatians 3:19 ) The Law was given as a result of sin so man could know what right and wrong were since sin had defiled the conscience according to Titus 1:15, and it could no longer be trusted. The sacrifices for sin could defer judgment until a solution was ready. It was a fully authorized temporary expedient, but now the postponement has expired.

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26)

Under the Law, Sacrifices of animals postponed judgment for sin, but as Hebrews 10:3-4 informs us, each sacrifice only extended the postponment, reminding all of the impending judgment . “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." They never eliminated the sin, just postponed judgment. Christ did something different.

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The demands of the Law were adequate for their purpose, postponing judgment on earth. As such an earthly model of the tabernacle, and animal sacrifices was sufficient. The permanent solution required a better sacrifice at the real judgment seat, as Hebrews 9:23-24 tells us. “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

As a result of his work, offering a better sacrifice on the real altar, he was able to pay completely for our sin. I John 2:2 declares, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” He offers to pay off the sin debt of everyone who applies, and the capital is there.

Many companies and individuals fail because they are too proud to apply for help. If they succeed, they want to boast, “I did it myself.” By accepting Christ’s offer we give up that privilege. We can no longer claim to be better than others, or even to have been good enough.

“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” (Romans 3:27-30)

Our salvation requires giving up our pride and accepting Christ’s sacrifice for us. Paul had fulfilled all the Law and described what he had to do in Philippians 3:7-9. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

We cannot earn our salvation, and God has chosen to make it that way so we cannot brag about what we have done. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we find, “Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Our good works are a result of his work, just as our salvation is.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31)

By paying the full penalty demanded by the Law, we acknowledge it as Law. No one is exempt. The Law has not been violated by our forgiveness. The requirements have all been met, and exceeded.