264 - Chamoy Peach Rings, Dragons Milk S'Mores, Romans 3:21-26

In this episode, we dive into one of the most important sections of Paul’s letter to the Romans—his teaching on justification by faith alone. R.C. Sproul reminds us that this is the very heart of the gospel: God declares sinners righteous not because of anything in them, but because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and received by faith.

• Declared Just, Not Made Just – Why our righteousness must come from outside ourselves and what Luther meant by simul iustus et peccator (“at the same time righteous and sinner”).

• The “But Now” Moment – Paul’s announcement that God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the law, rooted in both the Law and the Prophets.

• Faith as the Instrument – How the Reformers rejected baptism and penance as the instrumental cause of justification, insisting instead that faith alone links us to Christ.

• The Double Transfer – Our sins placed on Christ and His righteousness placed on us. This is the great exchange at the center of the gospel.

• Propitiation & Expiation – Why we cannot afford to lose these biblical terms, and how Christ both satisfies God’s wrath and removes our sin.

• The Just and the Justifier – How God remains perfectly just while also declaring sinners righteous in Christ.

Justification is not cheap grace. It is free for us, but costly for Christ. At the cross, God satisfied His justice and extended His mercy—making Him both just and the justifier of those who believe.