10.1 Sermon

Sermon Passage: Romans 3:21-26
Sermon Title: We are declared righteous by faith alone.
Sermon By: Davy Ahn (Youth Pastor)
Sermon Summary:

​Faith is all that is required from us for the salvation that is given to us freely. Faith is the only response that leads us to salvation. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God, as our judge, has declared us righteous and not guilty of any of our sins.
When a boy gets in a fight with his younger brother, the consequence of his wrongdoing is relative. Therefore, if the boy does wrong to his parent, his consequence is that much more severe. We see clearly that the punishment to our wrongdoing is relative to the victim of our wrongdoing rather than the wrongdoing itself. When we sin against man, we are penalized according to human laws. But when we sin against God, we are penalized by the divine law which clearly says that any sin, any kind of sin committed against God, brings about the punishment of death and eternity in Hell.
But our God, having infinite love and grace for his creation, gave his Son freely to us that his death would pay the price for our sins. God has not charged us any kind of payment or penalty for this salvation. The passage says this justification is given as a gift. Free of charge. But we must remember that this gift was not free. Salvation had a steep price but God, in his love, allows us to enjoy salvation through only faith. The price that God paid for us is the death of his own son, Jesus Christ.
The above points us to the fact that God is righteous. As God is gracious and loving, God is righteous. To say “God is gracious”, we know that God has shown grace to us through history. Also, to say “God is loving”, we know that God has shown love through history. So now, as Paul says “God is righteous”, we know that God must have shown righteousness. And this righteousness of God is the justifying act of God that we see in the redemptive story of the Bible. God has made us righteous through his righteousness. And to be declared righteous, God is only requiring faith. And through faith, we are not only treated as righteous but we are declared righteous. this is now our reality.

Questions:
1. Paul says we have been declared righteous. Do you live your life as someone who has been declared righteous? How does knowing this truth help us in our daily lives?
​2.    God requires only one thing from us: Faith. How has having faith in the Gospel been difficult for you?