Sermon Outline:
“Just By Faith: The Heart of the Gospel”
1. The Cross Declares the Word of God (v.21)
2. The Cross Defines Salvation as the Work of God (v.22)
3. The Cross Demands the Glory of God (v.23)
4. The Cross Distinguishes the Grace of God (v.24)
5. The Cross Displays the Satisfaction of God (v.25a)
6. The Cross Demonstrates the Righteousness of God
(v.25b-26a)
7. The Cross Delights the Person of God (v. 26b)
8. The Cross Divests Man of all Boasting Before God
(v.27-31)
Sermon Text:
Romans 3:21-31
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
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. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Sermon Notes:
“Just By Faith: The Heart of the Gospel”
The Doctrines of Grace
We are not saved by the goodness of our works, but according to the riches of God’s grace. We are saved by grace alone; through faith alone; on the Word alone; because of Christ alone; to the glory and praise of God alone. Our new life in Christ is all of grace and not by human works whereby any person can boast. One man can stand on the top of Mount Everest and other stand at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, but neither may touch the stars. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Thus, what man could never do through human achievement, our Lord did by divine accomplishment! Salvation is the free gift of grace by God through Christ in the regenerating work of lost people through the Holy Spirit to quicken man, being dead in trespasses and sins unto new life (Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9). This is our eternal heritage in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What came to define the biblical gospel after the Reformation of the early 1500’s became known as the five points of Calvinism or the doctrines of grace. Here is a bit of their history, how they are defined.
The 5 points of Calvinism is a misnomer because Calvin didn’t write them, his followers did. About 100 years after the reformation the followers of James Arminias in 1610 wrote the Remonstrance – a protest against Reformed Theology. They had five points…
1. Man has the moral ability to believe apart from God’s grace.
2. Conditional election – foreseen faith.
3. Universal atonement – potential atonement.
4. Man can resist the grace of God.
5. Man can lose salvation.
In 1618-19 the Arminian view was rejected by the Synod of Dort, it was rejected as heresy. That’s when the five points of Calvinism was written. It was a response to the five points of Arminianism.
The five points of Calvinism spells T.U.L.I.P.
1. T is for total depravity of man.
2. U is for unconditional election.
3. L is for limited atonement.
4. I is for irresistible grace.
5. P is for the perseverance of the saints.
This is the biblical gospel beloved of our eternal hope and glory. Rejoice!
