One problem that humans must face when dealing with eternal life is how man can be saved.  In this case when we say saved, we don’t mean saved from poverty, or sickness, or troubles in human relationships, but the root of all of these problems, salvation from sin.  Ever since the first man, Adam sinned, humans have been under sin, controlled by the power of sin.  In the Bible, sin isn’t just an abstract noun. It is considered to be a power. Paul says in Romans 7:23 that he is a prisoner of sin. He is chained to sin and pulled like slave. We are the same.  How can we be set free from the power of sin?  Today let’s look at three aspects of the way of salvation from sin. 

I.                All people are sinners (vs. 9-20)

First let’s look at the fact that all people are sinners.  First please look at verse 9. From chapter 3 verse 1 Paul talks about the advantages of being a Jew. The Jews and the Greeks will both be judged for their actions. However, being is Jew is an advantage because “they have been entrusted with the very words of God.” (2)  There is no other people on the earth like this.  Only the Jews “have been entrusted with the very words of God.” (2) That is the greatest of all blessings on this earth.  Therefore, the Jews have a great advantage above all other peoples. However, they didn’t understand the purpose for which they were given the Word of God.  They had been entrusted with the very words of God” (2) so that they could live by the Word of God and so that they could spread it.  Instead they were proud of their position and they developed a superiority complex.  Therefore, Paul asks, “What shall we conclude then?  Are we any better?” (9) He disagrees and states, “Not at all!” (9) He then states his conclusions to all that he has said from 1:18 about the Gentile’s sin and the Jew’s sin.  In other words, “that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.” (9)   There is no one who is without exception.  Of all the people who have lived on this earth the only person who has never committed sin is Jesus Christ.   Christ who through the power of the Holy Spirit was born as “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35) so He never ever sinned.  However, except for Jesus Christ all people, both the Greeks and the Jews all are under the power of sin.  Paul points this out from the Old Testament in verses 10-18.

“There is no one righteous, not even one;” (10)

“There is no one who understands,” (11)

“All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (12)

When they open their mouth they say things that are like “the poison of vipers” (13) and it kills the other person. 

They are full of “deceit” (13) , “cursing and bitterness.” (14)  This is what man is like. The reason why man does and says such terrible things is because man has sin. Because man sinned, he became a sinner.  He is a sinner and so he sins.  David said, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)

David says that he was sinful from the time his mother conceived him, and he was born a sinner, so he lived a life of sin.  We sometimes wonder why a person became like he is, but in reality that person is no exception.  We too have the possibility of becoming like that person because “there is no one righteous, not even one;” (10) “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (12)

There are some people who complain that they don’t want to go to church because the church is always talking about sin.  They have a strong feeling of resistance towards the word “sin”. That is probably because when they thing of sinners, they think of “criminals”.  They think if that they are not such bad people.  However, if those who do not follow the rules of society are considered “sinners”, then how much more so should mankind who does not follow the law of God be considered so.

The word “sin” in Greek originally meant missing the mark. Man who was made by God to worship God and to live for the Glory of God, became separated from God and began living selfishly. It’s the very same thing as missing the mark.  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (3:23)   Salvation in the Bible does not mean just living by moving forward and thinking positively about our sin.  Salvation of sin by being set free from sin gives us joy and peace in our hearts.

II.              Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ  (vs. 21-26)

Our hope is Jesus Christ.  By the law, no one is righteous before God. “But now a righteousness apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” (21) This is Jesus Christ.  Please look at verses 21 to 24.

Here it says, “a righteousness apart from the law,” (21)  This does not mean that the Old Testament was a different salvation .  It means apart from keeping the law.  This is why is says that both “the Law and the Prophets testify.” (21) This is the salvation that is testified throughout the Old Testament.  “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (22)   As you know in the Old Testament Jesus Christ hasn’t appeared yet. Jesus Christ wasn’t born yet, but the prophets continued to prophesize about Jesus’ birth, and that believing in Him that you would be saved.

For example, in Genesis 3:15 it says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring, and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” These are the words that God spoke to Satan after the snake, Satan, tempted first man, Adam.  Here God is saying that the snake will crawl on his belly and the offspring of the woman would eventually crush the snake’s head.  In other words the offspring would crush Satan into pieces and have victory over him.  This promise was fulfilled in Christ by him dieing on the cross and rising 3 days later.  These words symbolize the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Also Exodus 12 tells us about Israel leaving Egypt.  At that time God gave a strange command.  It is written in verses 5 to 7 of chapter 12. They are to slay a year old lamb and take is blood and paint it on the doorposts of the Israelite houses.  This was to be a sign.  This was a sacrifice to the Lord for the Passover.  When God saw this symbol, he passed over the house and did not judge and destroy the occupants of the house.   This points to Jesus Christ who died on the cross.  Just as God’s judgment passed over the houses that were painted with the blood of the lamb, those who believe in Jesus Christ’s blood will be passed over and not destroyed.

In Old Testament times Christ had not be born yet, but He was prophesized about.  There are at least 350 prophecies about Him and if you include the indirect prophecies there are at least 450 passages.  The Old Testament and New Testament aren’t two separate things, but are tied together. “Now a righteousness apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” (21)  That’s why it says in verses 23 and 24: “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

If the blood of Jesus Christ has no power, then we would never be able to cut away our sins.  We can’t do that by our will or strength.  Ever since man committed sin, we live as a slave of sin.  The wages of sin is experiencing death and man became a being that will perish.  There is nothing but despair.  We have to realize this.  However, this is one way where the power of sin can be broken and hopeless man can be saved from despair and darkness.  That is salvation by believing in Jesus Christ. God opened up the way totally by His grace and on His own. The only way to salvation is by believing in Jesus Christ who was hung on the cross and broke into pieces the power of sin.

Acts 4:12

John 14:6

The root of all problems of man, sin’s salvation is by the grace of God, in the gift of Jesus Christ. This is the only way.

III.            Boasting in the cross (vs.27-31)

The conclusion is that we need to boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ.  Let’s look at verses 27 and 28.

We have nothing to boast in because our righteous is not by the law, but by faith.  No one is saved by doing good, by their good personality, by their good brain, by their family or position or level in society or by their possessions.  We are also not saved by doing good or being merciful.  It is only by the grace of God, by the redemption of Jesus Christ that we are made righteous.  This is main truth of faith.  We can be saved only by believing in Jesus Christ.  There is no other way.  Our salvation, our job, our present situation, the things that we have accomplished, everything, is by the grace of God.  We have nothing to boast in.

Ephesians 2:8,9

Therefore, we have nothing to boast in, but the cross of Jesus Christ.  Christ is the power of God, the wisdom of God.  Our faith is boasting only in the cross of Christ, depending only on the cross, having a faith of only living in the cross. 

Salvation is only in Jesus. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (23,24)

Isaiah 45:22

Therefore, let’s live bragging in the cross of Christ and keep our eyes on God