The Grand Conclusion – Romans 3:28

 I was thinking that with last Sunday evening’s message we would be finished with chapter 3. But as I was reading it over to see if I had missed anything, it struck me that Paul had reached a peak in verse 28. If the Holy-Spirit-inspired man of God pronounced “therefore we conclude,” then this is important. And thus far we haven’t spent any time specifically thinking about that conclusion, even though indirectly we’ve been looking at it for months. For that reason I then asked myself – “How many times does Paul ever say such a thing as this?” Maybe we should look at this statement topically, examining all of Paul’s major conclusions. But “therefore we conclude” is found only once in the New Testament. And since this is the only occasion, that makes this verse even more important. Just as it was important when Solomon was translated as using that word in Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Paul’s conclusion is every bit as important as Solomon’s.

For your information, in English Paul twice used a related word, “concluded,” but it’s different in Greek. And in those two verses, the conclusions weren’t actually his, but the Lord’s. Romans 11:32 – “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” Galatians 3:22 – “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” The word “concluded” in these two verses doesn’t refer to a con-clusion, but to an in-clusion. The scripture has concluded that all mankind is inclosed in the web of sin. God has included us all under the blanket of unbelief. Although these verses relate to what the Apostle has been teaching us here, they are not really pertinent to his message at this point.

But then I changed the direction of my study, investigating the Greek word behind Paul’s “conclusion.” I wanted to know if he used this word and it was translated in some different way. When I did that, it was if I put my glasses on for the first time that Thursday morning. A whole new world opened up.

The Greek word is “logizomai” (log-id’-zom-ahee), and it’s root is “logos” – “word.” It is translated “conclude” only in this verse, but it is used another 40 times in the New Testament. And the thing that surprised me is that “logizomai” (log-id’-zom-ahee) is found ten times in the next chapter. Now, that develops into a message, and it was exactly where I intended to go after last Sunday evening.

I’ve entitled this message “The Grand Conclusion.” Let’s look at Paul’s conclusion, God’s conclusion, David’s conclusion and our conclusion.

PAUL’S conclusion.“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” This is the summary of Paul’s letter to the Romans up to this point. The bulk of the people of the world are wretched sinners, having cast away their knowledge of God. They have become idolaters and reprobates. And “for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections.” But the Jews are no better, because they have despised “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” “As it is written there is NONE righteous, no, not one.” Furthermore, “we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.”

So Paul’s conclusion involved both Jews and Gentiles – any and every kind of person – any man – “A man.” Actually in Greek there is no article – “Therefore we conclude that MAN is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” To be “justified,” as we have said, is to be declared righteous by the grace and authority of God. That is a major part of what we call “salvation,” which includes forgiveness of sin and eternal glory with God.

This justification has nothing to do with the deeds of the Law which sinners might somehow perform. The Heathen without the written law is no more helpless and disobedient than the Jew with the law. Because the Law carries no provision to wash away existing sin – it’s design is to illuminate sin. It’s like the police helicopter hovering over the criminal with the spot light beaming down on his head. No, justification is the gift of God granted to those sinners whose faith for salvation is in the Lord Himself.

That is the conclusion that Paul has reached to this point. And if the Book of Romans ended at this point, I don’t think that any sinner could possibly argue that not enough explanation has been given. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We have not made void the law, but rather we have established it. The just shall live by faith, not works of righteousness, works of law, or more works of sin. That is Paul’s conclusion. But in order to elaborate, the Holy Spirit lead Paul forward with illustrations and Old Testament examples.

And that brings us to GOD’S conclusion.“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

The first great example to which Paul turns is ABRAHAM. He could have talked about the faith of Adam, or Noah, or Enoch before Abraham, but this man was first of all one of the greater heros of the nation of Israel. The Jews pretended to love this man and to imitate him. However they didn’t spend much time learning about, even though they had more inspired information about him than they did of those earlier saints. For example, we are told that he was a plain old idolater from Ur of the Chaldees. He was no more seeking the Lord, than Nimrod, Nabal or Nero had been, but the Lord chose him, called him, invited him and directed him to a new land – and to a new life. He was given a humble, repentant heart and faith to believe this strange God who spoke to him.

The quotation which Paul gives us is from Genesis 15. After the Lord had lead Abram from Iraq to Canaan; after sin and blessing; after his battle with the 5 kings, and after Abram and his wife had gotten very old but without any children to inherit God’s blessings; The Lord “brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And (Abram) believed in the LORD; and (Jehovah) counted it to him for righteousness.” Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham, was justified, declared righteous, but not because of anything that he had done. He simply believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Did Abraham ever strive to keep the Law of Moses? Moses and the codified law didn’t exist for nearly 500 years. Abraham wasn’t saved by keeping the law, but that was the claim of most of the Jews. Was Abraham ever baptized, or did he join a good Biblical Baptist church? Don’t be silly. He did some spectacular things, but they were with the power of God and in faith. They were not a contributing factor to his salvation, they were a result of it.

How did the Heathen man named Abram become righteous? How was he justified? It was by faith. Despite being a sinner like every one else, without a shred of personal righteousness – he believed God and the Lord declared him to be righteous. The Lord didn’t owe that man anything, just as He owes us nothing. It was a matter of grace – unmerited favour – that God declared Abraham to be one of His peculiar people. The Lord made a declaration – a conclusion if you like – that Abraham was considered to be righteous.

Now let me take you back to the word “logizomai” (log-id’-zom-ahee). It is found in verse 3, verse 4 and again in verse 5. “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not RECKONED of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is COUNTED for righteousness.” As I’ve said, the Greek word is found 41 times in the Bible. In order of their frequency, it is translated “to think,” “impute,” “reckon,” “count” “account” and eventually “conclude.” One day millennia ago, the Lord said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He could have merely thought, “I’d like there to be light,” and there would have been light. There is no difference in power between the Lord’s words, thoughts, decrees or deeds. He is always omnipotent, and what He chooses – is. This believing idolater named Abram was thought, counted, reckoned or concluded to be righteous, and it was so. It had nothing to do with Abraham’s work or deeds of righteousness – he simply trusted and believed God. “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” And to him that believeth, the reward is of grace not of debt.

God concluded Abraham to be righteous – justified.

Paul’s second illustration was DAVID’S conclusion – another of Israel’s greatest heros.Verse 6 – “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

David is often called the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel,” since many of the Psalms came from his pen. But they were not creations of his genius and poetic talent; they were gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was one of the “holy men of God (who) wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” In other words, David was not only a Psalmist, but he was a Prophet of the Lord. Paul’s reference to this man is taken from Psalm 32 – “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

David was a sinner of the most wretched variety – adultery and murder were written against his account. But the Lord forgave him of even these terrible sins. And what things did David do in order to receive this huge blessing? He acknowledged and confessed his crimes – which is essentially to say – he repented before God. He didn’t say 300 “Hail Marys” or sacrifice a 100 goats, or give the priest a 1000 talents of gold. He wasn’t baptized to wash away his sins. David didn’t DO anything to be cleansed of his sin. And yet he called himself “blessed.” He was “happy” with a spiritual joy that can only come through a newly restored fellowship with the Lord.

And do you see the words “imputeth” in verses 6 and 8? It is the same word that Paul used when he said, “Therefore we CONCLUDE that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” David told Israel a thousand years before the ministry of Paul, that God’s righteousness is a divine gift enjoyed only by those who believe and trust Him. Not only does God give or impute righteous to those believers, but negatively, God DOESN’T impute their sins unto them. And it was David’s conclusion that such a condition is exceedingly blessed – joy-inspiring.

Although it’s not a part of our study for today, Paul is not finished with this word “logizomai” (log-id’-zom-ahee). Verse 9 – “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was RECKONED to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then RECKONED? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be IMPUTED unto them also.”

Now let me skip down to the conclusion that WE should reach.Look at verses 20-25 – Speaking of Abraham “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was IMPUTED to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was IMPUTED to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be IMPUTED, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

The whole point of Paul’s letter was to convince any unbelievers attending the Roman church…. And it is the Lord’s purpose to convince any unbeliever attending our church… That only to believers does God impute His righteousness. It was not for Abraham’s sake alone that the Lord spake, and it certainly wasn’t for Abraham that it was recorded and preserved. It was written for us to learn that salvation from sin will be granted only unto those who believe on the One who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the grave. Christ Jesus was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God to become the vicarious substitute for those whom the Lord determined to save. Everyone of those sinners become repenting believers. And the Lord graciously grants His own perfect righteousness to those specific people.

And that leaves us with a couple of questions: Are you doing your best, striving to be saved and delivered from your sins? Are you trying to keep the law, or perform other good and noble things to give yourself righteousness? If so, you we never see the eternal salvation of God. Or are you simply trusting God and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ? Abraham, David and every other saint of God became saints by grace through faith and nothing of themselves. It is the gift of God.

Do you possess the gift of God’s salvation?