Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

[Sung Psalm: 32] God is is a righteous judge. The problem is, how can a righteous judge justify sinners? Only if his righteous judgment is satisfied. And that is why God "put forward" Jesus "as a propitiation" - as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus took the penalty for our sin in order to show God's righteousness, because the only way for a just God to justify sinners is if he first deals with sin. In 3:27-31, Paul says that God is not only the God of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles, and he will justify both Jews and Gentiles in the same way–by faith: "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (3:28) But Paul recognizes that some people will hear this as an attack on the law. Is Paul overthrowing the law of Moses? (v31) To that, Paul says, "May it never be! Rather, we uphold the law." Okay, Paul, prove it! You say that we are justified by faith, apart from works of the law, but then you say that you uphold the law – show us how! That is what Romans 4 is all about. Ro