https://content.lessons.church/files/bundles/iJK0B3nfDkL/Study Files.zip?dt=1661522739430

Study Files

Session 4 Video

How can God save sinful Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus without violating his integrity or breaking his promise?

Session 4

Romans 3.21-4.25: The Question of Romans

Free video resources for you and your church. Designed for use in these environments: Adult Studies, Student Ministry, Leadership Training, Personal Growth.


The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

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Lesson Outline

https://content.lessons.church/files/study/ZcX8h1zT7xA/Me9J8WawA1x/Romans (Michael DeFazio) 2017.pdf?dt=1661522600944

In this series, Michael DeFazio (New Testament faculty at Ozark Christian College) will walk through the book of Romans to clarify the Gospel, unify the church, and prove God’s righteousness. 

Romans

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The middle of Romans 3 – 3.21ff – is the heartbeat of Romans. I’m not even kidding.

- Douglas Moo: “Rarely does the Bible bring together in so few verses so many 
important theological ideas…. Here, more than anywhere else in Romans, Paul 
explains why Christ’s coming means ‘good news’ for needy, sinful people.”

- Martin Luther claimed that this section was “the chief point, and the very central 
place of the Letter, and of the whole Bible.”

Here’s the problem though: This section is dense and compact and full of beautiful truth that it’s hard to squeeze it out without ruining the whole thing.

First, let me back up a bit. It’s time to get a good bird’s eye view of Romans.

- 1-4: Paul Explains the Gospel
- 5-8: Paul Explores Salvation…
- 9-11: Paul Engages a Problem…
- 12-16: Paul Encourages the Church…

For now, Romans 3.21-26. Lots of translation differences. I’m going to read what I think is the way Paul intended it…

- 3.21-26 is an answer, but what is the question. Ask the right question, understand the answer. 

- Here is the question, and I think it is the question of Romans. It’s a little long, but no one said Romans was easy: How can God save sinful Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus without violating his integrity or breaking his promise? 

- Note the twofold problem with salvation by grace through faith:
  - Is God letting people off the hook (by not punishing sin)?

  - Has God abandoned his covenant promise to save through Israel? We’re 
pretty good at answering one part of the question. How can God save us 
through Jesus without violating his integrity as a judge, without punishing 
wrongdoing as his own character demands?

    - Jesus died as a propitiation to redeem us from sins.
      - *Hilasterion* – “Place of atonement” representing the means of 
atonement
      - Jesus bore the wrath of God and so freed us from that 
necessary consequence for sin.

    - This is what we catch: Jesus’ sacrificial death proves God to be just 
and the one who justifies. Case isn’t closed, however. What about 
Israel? What about the covenant?

  - This is the second part of the question: Paul frames Jesus death as an act of 
faithfulness.





Session 4: Romans 3.21-4.25: The Question of Romans

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