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by Lane
Rogers
Romans/Galatians/Terms
that Need to be Understood
There are
several key words and expressions used in the Book of Galatians and
Romans that need to be understood before a study of these books is
engaged. This is a brief description of some of the key terms.
1.
Righteousness There
are several aspects of the concept of righteousness that are found in
the book of Romans and Galatians. (1) Righteousness is needed by all
mankind, because all mankind is sinful (Romans 1-3:20). (2)
Righteousness is provided to us by a loving God (Romans 3: 21-26).
Therefore, righteousness cannot be obtained by any means of our own
efforts but rather it is provided to us by God. (3) Righteousness is
received by men/women who believe (Romans 3:37-4:25. The only
requirement to receive righteousness is belief. Man reaches out by
faith to receive this gift from God. (4) Righteousness is experienced
in the spirit of man. It is not experienced by the outer man but in the
real man that dwells inside (Romans 5:1-8: 17). (5) This
righteousness is guaranteed by God's eternal purpose ( Romans 8:
18-39). Thus, righteousness in not temporary or conceived on the spur
of the moment, because God planned it in the eternal. (6)
Righteousness was rejected by the Jewish nation (Romans 9-11). They
wanted a system of righteousness that might be obtained by a system
of works. They wanted to contribute to their own righteousness or
purchase it, or earn it. (7) The manifestation of righteousness is
expressed by righteous living. By the life we live we make it known
that God was right in what He did. Thus, righteousness is what was
needed, provided, received, experienced, and guaranteed; it was
rejected and is manifested.
2.
Law
Paul uses the term
'law' in two different ways. When Paul speaks about “the law” he
is making a reference to the Law of Moses. When Paul speaks about
“law” he means any law.
The
definition of law is "a legal system of regulations demanding
obedience or demanding observance, where one violation condemns."
Here is an example; The speed limit is 30 MPH or 40 kilometers an
hour. I exceed that speed limit and a representative of the law
catches me and issues me a citation. He gives me a ticket and I am
now declared to be a violator of the law. I must now appear before a
judge of the law. If he declares also that I am a violator of the law
then I must pay the penalty that the law system demands.
This also
applies to spiritual law. In Galatians 3:10 Paul quotes from
Deuteronomy 27:26 which states that the law of God demanded absolute
observance and pronounced a curse on the first violation. A
man is cursed if he does not observe everything that is written in
the book of the law. Law is a system that demands observance and
condemns the violator at the first offense.
In Romans
10:5 Paul states that the law only promises life based on the keeping
of its regulations. In Galatians 3:13 Paul writes: "Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
Galatians 3:13-14 and Romans 10 say the same thing that Paul is
saying in Galatians 3:10, that being, the law is a system that
demands total obedience and punishes immediately any disobedience to
it.
In
Galatians 2: 15-16 Paul repeats the same phrase three times to
emphasize that because the law
condemns at
the first offense, no one can be justified by observing the law. Paul
writes, "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners'
know that a man is not justified (first use of the phrase) by
observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put
our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified (second use
of the phrase) by faith in Christ and not by observing the
law, because by observing the law no one will be
justified "(third use of the phrase).
In Romans
3:19-20 Paul writes that no one is justified by the works of the law
because the law only makes people aware of their sin. In Romans 3:23
he says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God....." "Fall short" is in the prefect tense
(Greek) and means that all stand short of. Why do all stand short of?
Because all have sinned. Without faith in Christ we will always
"stand short of" God's glory. So, in this study when we use
the word "law" we will attempt to use it as Paul used it.
That is, a legal system where one violation condemns the offender.
3. Legalism
This word is not found in the Bible but it comes out of the concept
of law. In the New Testament, particularly in the book of Galatians
the word used instead is Judaiser.
The
definition of legalism is, "a code of deeds and observances as a
means of justification." Legalism then is not just trying to be
right but believes that because I am right I am justified. That is,
because of what I do I am justified before God. In the book of Micah
we read: "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down
before the exalted God?" The legalists will not stop with
this question. To understand this we need to see the questions raised
in the rest of the verse. In Micah 6:8a, God tells us what He
requires. "He has showed you O man what is good. And what
does the Lord require of you?" Thus in reality, the Lord
requires three things: "To act justly and to love mercy and
to walk humbly before your God." (Micah 6:8b). What does
this mean to us? We are to live according to the Word of God. In
regard to others, I am to live according to Mercy. In regard to God,
I am to walk according to humility. This is all that God requires. To
live righteously, to act mercifully, and to walk with humility.
4.
Justification The word justification simply means "to
vindicate." Paul uses this word over and over in the book of
Romans and Galatians. In Romans 3:12 Paul writes that there is now a
righteousness that is completely separate from the Law. This
righteousness was discussed in the Law and in the Prophets and is
achieved by the believer through faith in Christ. Thus, faith in
Christ results in justification (vindication) of the believer (cf.
Romans 3:22-25b).
These words
tell us that we are no only vindicated but how we are vindicated. All
of this is accomplished through the Grace of God. But there was a
cost. In Romans 3:25 Paul writes that Christ paid for our sins as
well as those of the previous generation. The sacrifice of Christ and
his atonement was God's way of showing his justice. In short,
to be justified by faith in Christ is to be counted righteous.
5. Grace
χάρίζ charis or charity. Grace is misunderstood and a
misused word. Grace is a "free gift." However, in the Bible
grace is described as God's system of salvation by faith in
Christ.
In Romans
6:23 we read that because of sin, death is what we have earned, but
life is what we have received because of the grace (free gift) of
God. (The free gift of God was God's plan of Salvation).
6. Faith
and Belief The two words literally mean “to trust, to rely, to
commit.” Faith and trust are the means which the grace of God is
obtained. It is because I believe on what Jesus did at Calvary, that
I am justified by Faith, I am saved by faith, and I am saved unto
faith.
7.
Freedom/Liberty Freedom and Liberty in the book of
Romans/Galatians finds a relationship to three things: (1) law (2)
sin (3) death. As long as one is under the law where one offense
condemns then a person is under the mastery of sin. Because I am
under grace, I am not condemned by sin. This does not mean that I can
freely sin but it does mean that we are free from a system where one
violation condemns.
Concluding
Remarks
In
conclusion there are ten words that are discussed in the book of
Romans and many of the same words in Galatians. Sin,
guilt, and
condemnation
are discussed in Romans 1:8-3:20. This is man's
condition. He
is lost. Atonement,
grace, faith, and
justification
are God's activity. Sanctification
is man's separate state. Glorification is man's present glory.
Vindication
shows that God has proven to be righteous in all of His acts.
by Lane
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