Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (8)
[Romans 3:19-26]
We have already reflected four times on the first subtopic, "The Necessity of Justification," under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification." We are also contemplating the second subtopic, "The Subject of Justification," and the subject of justification is God the Father! God the Father grants us justification.
Romans 3:19 states, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God." What the law says holds the entire world accountable to God's judgment. In other words, it brings the entire world under God's judgment. Verses 13-14 elaborate: "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." Such individuals cannot obtain salvation. They are liars who will not enter heaven. Revelation 21:8 speaks of those who will not enter the new heaven and new earth (v. 1): "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars ...." They will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death (v. 8). The list concludes with "all liars," and Revelation 22:15 reiterates that "everyone who loves and practices falsehood" will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead, they will be outside the holy city, in the fiery lake of burning sulfur (21:8), in hell (22:15). They desperately need justification. To enter heaven (receive salvation), they must receive justification from God the Father.
Romans 3:20-21 states: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law, we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify." One cannot be declared righteous before God by obeying the law; it only makes one aware of their sin (v. 20). The term "But now" (v. 21) is emphasized in triple form: (1) By being placed at the beginning of the sentence, it expresses emphasis. (2) In the original Greek, the term used is 'Nuni' (not Nun), emphasizing it further. (3) While the Korean Bible reads "But now," the literal translation from Greek is "But now, apart from," reinforcing emphasis. If explained metaphorically, it is like the refreshing rain after a long drought, the dawning light at the end of pitch darkness, and the resurrection after death. "Now" is an explosion of great joy, a grand performance of immense gratitude. Those who say "Now" must speak with a strong voice, filled with immense joy. The reason is that, while we were destined to go to hell because of our sins, God, in His grace, granted us righteousness, allowing us to enter heaven (receive salvation). "But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known" (v. 21). It is "apart from the law" because "no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law" (v. 20). In other words, the law hinders righteousness. Therefore, the law has no connection with receiving righteousness. Keeping the law is not the way to heaven. We have been saved and can enter heaven by obtaining justification through God's righteousness. When it says, "testified to by the Law and the Prophets" (v. 21), it refers to the Old Testament Scriptures. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Jesus came into the world not to abolish the Old Testament but to fulfill it completely. Hence, the Old Testament is equal to the New Testament in obtaining salvation and justification. Obtaining salvation and justification in the Old Testament and the New Testament is the same. In other words, the way to heaven is the same in the Old and New Testaments.
Romans 3:22-24 states: "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The "righteousness of God" is obtained through "faith in Jesus Christ" (v. 22). Here, "Jesus Christ" is the foundation of righteousness, and "faith" is the method or means of obtaining righteousness. When it says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (v. 23), it is reiterating the issue of sin, already discussed in Romans 1:18-20. By stating "all have sinned," it emphasizes the gravity of sin, highlighting our sinful state. Despite being sinners, God, in His grace, provided righteousness through the revelation of His righteousness. It further states, "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (v. 24). Here, "through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" is the basis of justification. The phrase "by his grace" means that justification is received as a gift through God's grace. "Grace" is given to those who do not deserve it, making it a gift. We have all received grace and have been justified freely. The transformation of the Apostle Paul into a disciple is an example of God's grace. The abundant grace of God justifies and saves us. Ephesians 2:1-5 emphasizes this: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." We have been saved by God's grace. In Romans 3:24, it states, "they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." God declares us righteous without requiring anything in return; it is a free gift. How can we fully comprehend this value? We have received this incredible grace from God.
Romans 3:25-26 states: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—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." When we commit sin, there is a penalty to be paid. Adam, the first human, disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17) and ate its fruit (3:6). As a consequence, the penalty, as God had forewarned, was death (2:17). In other words, Adam, the transgressor, experienced spiritual death. Before the advent of Jesus in this world, people in the Old Testament, descendants of Adam, also sinned and, therefore, deserved the rightful punishment for their sins. This was necessary for God to be righteous. However, in His forbearance, God chose to overlook the sins committed beforehand (Rom. 3:25). In other words, God treated them as if their sins did not exist, refraining from administering the deserved punishment. Without this forbearance, one might question whether God is truly righteous or just. Nevertheless, the reason for God's forbearance was His desire to manifest His righteousness (v. 25). "He did this to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (v. 26). Essentially, God sent Jesus Christ to this world. Jesus, in perfect obedience, came to this world and willingly went to the cross. When Jesus declared, "It is finished" on the cross (Jn. 19:30), it signified that He had accomplished everything, including bearing the sins of all people in the Old Testament. In this way, God is righteous. Furthermore, God declared those who believe in Jesus to be justified.
In this way, God becomes the source of justification. No one can be righteous on their own. The law also cannot justify righteousness . Only God can declare righteousness. Romans 8:30 states, "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." Only God can declare someone righteous! Because God has declared us righteous (justification), we have obtained salvation, and we are now able to enjoy eternal blessings in heaven.