HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2012 / SPRING / WHAT'S IN GOD'S BIG YELLOW TRUCK?
S P R I N G • 2 0 1 2
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1
DALE RATZLAFF
If we are going to be free from the bondage of sin and legalism, we must have a clear understanding of the gospel. The gospel has been the centerpiece of Life Assurance Ministries from its inception, and my hope is that every person who reads Proclamation! will not only experience the simplicity of the gospel--"he who believes has eternal life"--but see its compelling beauty as its deeper nuances are discovered. It is here, at the gospel, that we need major realignment. It is here where we find the joy of Christianity. It is here that sinful me and sinful you will gain not only hope in a future salvation, but firm, unwavering assurance that we are right with God today and will be forever. Following is the first in a two-part study of Romans 3:21-26.
Leon Morris, renowned New Testament scholar and author of over 50 books, said Romans 3:21-26: "…is possibly the most important single paragraph ever written."1
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
It only takes about 37 seconds to read these six verses, but when we finish, do we really understand what we have read? These verses carry a truck load of truth which has changed the history of Christianity, sparked revivals of faith, and have been instrumental in the salvation of thousands, if not millions, of people. Let's unpack their meaning.
Three metaphors are used here, but they are more than just metaphors; they expand our understanding of the gospel. Justification comes from the legal court system. Redemption comes from the world of slavery, and propitiation comes from the practice of sacrifice. These three are the what, how, and why of the gospel.
"But now" a radical change
The first point we need to remember comes from the first two words, "But now…" These two words are used by New Testament writers to announce that a radical change has taken place with profound implications. If you are just starting on your transitional journey, you have no idea of the radical changes--good changes--that lie ahead. I have gathered together a few texts that use this term so we can comprehend the major realignment Paul is expressing. These verses will help us see that things are different in the new covenant.
Jesus said, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin" (Jn. 15:22).
"Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life" (Rom. 6:21-23).
"For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:5, 6).
"For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy..." (Rom. 11:30).
"If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Cor. 15:19, 20).
"Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Gal. 3:24, 25).
This is a major realignment for many of us!
"…you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light" (Eph. 5:8 ).
But now gets our attention; it tells us that the new covenant changes everything, radically. What are the profound, radical truths to which Paul refers here in our text? They come in quick succession, like race cars in the Daytona 500.
Apart from the law
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets" (Rom. 3:21).
The Jews believed there was a day of judgment coming when God would condemn and punish all who had broken His laws. That day would terminate the present world and usher in the wonderful age to come for all those whom God judged to be worthy. They held that the way to gain righteousness with God was to give alms, fast, pray, and strictly keep the law. They saw God as a just God who would justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. To get the verdict of righteousness, they had to be righteous. They had to have many righteous deeds to tip the balance in their favor in the judgment. Jewish life was centered in the law. As we read through the gospels this fact pops up time and time again. They were zealous law keepers.
Paul, however, makes it clear that this radical "righteousness of God" is revealed apart from the law. The Greek has no definite article, so we should read this phrase "apart from law", all law, any law. This righteousness has nothing to do with law keeping. In fact, these three words, "Apart from law", exclude all human activity.
This righteousness divorced from human activity created a major problem for the Jews of Paul's day. They were so married to the law that to conceive of the righteousness of the gospel as being apart from law was a stumbling block. The early Hebrew Christians fought the simple gospel Paul proclaimed--just as the transitioning Adventist tends to fight the major realignment needed to understand that the righteousness of God is manifested apart from law!
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets" (Rom. 3:21).
We former Adventists grew up on law. The law was the central focus in Adventist's great controversy between Christ and Satan. Obedience to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment was the "testing truth", the issue which would decide our eternal destiny. The Fundamental Beliefs #18 of Seventh-day Adventists states that the writings of Ellen White are "…a continuing and authoritative source of truth…"2 Ellen White references the word "law" over 14,000 times in her writings, and about 500 of these deal with biblical history before the time of Moses. Compare that emphasis with the Bible. The Bible uses the word "Law" about 375 times, and the very first time it appears is in Exodus 12 in connection with the Passover. For the Jews of Paul's day as well as for transitioning Adventists, the concept that the righteousness of God is apart from law is a stumbling block.
Below are a few short quotes from Ellen G. White on the topic of law and righteousness. I recognize that one can find other statements that contradict the ones listed. And this is the problem with all of her writings. When I used to read her writings, one minute I was rejoicing in the gospel, but as I kept reading I found I was condemned by her other statements and left with no hope of salvation. I found myself wanting just to read her good statements and to ignore the bad ones. However, she said:
"I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, the people must have things to revive past history, that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one heretical sentence, in that which I have written."3
If I were to accept all of her statements, then I was left with her many self-contradictory, confusing statements trying to make them all fit into some kind of a rational paradigm of "truth". I found it impossible. Paul states that God's righteousness is apart from law. What does the Adventist messenger of God, Ellen White say?
"Righteousness is obedience to the law."4
"God requires them to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. After man has done all in his power to ensure health, by the denying of appetite and gross passions, that he may possess a healthy mind, and a sanctified imagination, that he may render to God an offering in righteousness, then he is saved alone by a miracle of God's mercy."5
Paul's statement, "Apart from law" not only excludes all works of the law, but also all human activity. For the Jews as well as the Greeks of Paul's day, the role of human activity played a large role in winning God's favor. Yes, and for Adventists human activity plays a huge role.
"We can overcome. Yes; entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome evil temper, every sin. Every temptation…"6
"In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning."7
The first five words of Romans 3:21 carry a truckload of truth. "But now apart from law the righteousness of God is revealed…" Romans 10:4 states this truth clearly, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Commenting on this text, Leon Morris states,
"Romans 10:4, makes it clear that there can be no way of law for the believer. For Paul it was absolutely basic that no righteousness of human origin could avail in the sight of God."8
We see, therefore, that the second big idea in Romans 3:21-26 is that God's righteousness is revealed apart from law.
Romans 3:21 "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets."
God's righteousness disclosed
In past articles I have emphasized the importance of using a reliable, literal translation when doing serious Bible study, and here is an excellent case in point. Compare Romans 3:21 as quoted above from the NAU (Updated New American Standard Bible) to this text in the NLT (New Living Translation) below.
Romans 3:21 NLT "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago."
Notice that the NAU describes the "manifestation", or disclosure, of God's righteousness, while the NLT describes the method of achieving God's righteousness. This is a major difference.
D.A. Carson, who in my opinion is one of the best New Testament scholars alive, makes this comment about the text of the NLT:
"It is quite correct to observe that God's righteousness is attained without any contribution from the "works of the law". But to say that it is now obtained without any contribution from the "works of the law" would be to imply that it was once obtained with at least some contribution from the works of the law--and that is precisely what Paul has ruled out in the previous verses".9
Romans 3:20 states forthrightly, "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin."
We at Life Assurance Ministries are often accused of doing away with the law, but nothing could be further from the truth. We seek to use the law, lawfully. God gave the Law to Israel for three main reasons: (1) It was to regulate the conduct of His people; (2) It revealed their sin, "for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (3) And the law had a prophetic function. The sacrifices pointed forward to the coming of Christ. The writer of Hebrews called the law a "shadow",10 and right in Romans 3:21 we read that this righteousness of God was "being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets."
D.A. Carson continues:
It is not simply that the national identity markers of Sabbath, clean and unclean, etc. are now obsolete, but in a sense the entire law-covenant is ‘obsolete' as mentioned in Hebrews 8 and 9. All the rituals and many of the events in the old Covenant point forward to the new era which has now dawned. This is reinforced by Paul's use of ‘But Now,' stating that there is a dramatic shift in salvation history.11
God's righteousness received
Rom. 3:22 "even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction."
Verse 21 deals with the manifestation or the disclosure of God's righteousness.
Verse 22 deals with the reception of God's righteousness.
We learn here that the method of receiving God's righteousness is through our faith in Jesus Christ, and its scope of effectiveness is for all those who exercise their faith. No one is excluded. The gospel is available to whomever trusts Christ.
It is important that we understand the difference between "the righteousness of God" and "the righteousness of the law." I point this out because Adventists often equate them. Probably the best reference to show this distinction is Philippians 3:8, 9.
…as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
Without question this verse shows that these two types of "righteousness" can never be equated.
Justified sinners
Rom.3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
"Have sinned" is in the aorist tense and communicates a sin of finality. There is no changing the fact that we are sinners through and through. "Fall short" is in the present tense, indicating durative, continuing action. We all continue to fall short of God's glory. What Paul means here by "God's glory" is intriguing. It cannot be the future glory of heaven, and it probably does not mean the glory that Adam and Eve had before sin. Paul uses the word "glory" about 65 times in his letters. And I think what he means here by "glory" is similar to his use of this word in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Here "glory" seems to be the perfection of God. If this is his meaning, then Romans 2:23 could read like this: "For all have sinned and we continue to fall short of God's perfection or ideal." Transitioning Adventists need realignment here. Consider again some statements by Ellen White.
In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning.12
…. Conversion is not complete until he attains to perfection of Christian character.13
Human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character.14
Perfection of character is attainable by everyone who strives for it.15
Over and over again Ellen White takes the assurance of salvation away from anyone who is still falling short. However, Romans 3:23 is clear: "We ALL continue to fall short of God's glory." That does not mean that we are not progressing in the area of personal sanctification. The method of sanctification, however, is not through law, but through gazing at the glory of God, understanding who we are in Christ and in union with the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Rom. 3:24: "…being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."
What does justification mean? It is a legal word from the metaphor of court proceedings and means two things:
1. Not guilty, or acquittal of the charges.
2. Declared or pronounced righteous.
Justification does not mean "to make righteous". It is necessary to be able to prove this from Scripture as there are some who teach it means both. Here is a statement from Ellen White:
In order to be prepared for the judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the judgment. The apostle Paul declares: "As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, . . . in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." And he says that the doers of the "law shall be justified." Romans 2:12-16. Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the law of God; for "without faith it is impossible to please Him." And "whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23.16
I have received dozens if not hundreds of emails from people using Romans 2:13 to prove that only those who keep the law will be justified.
On the contrary, what Paul is stating here is that if one relies on law, then one must keep all the law perfectly, and not one Jew or anyone else has done that.
By quoting portions of Romans 2:12-16, Ellen White is saying that we are justified by keeping law, but then she quickly states that we cannot keep the law without faith. This assertion is a perversion of gospel for two reasons. First, in the scheme of Romans, which is a very tightly outlined book, Romans 2 is not designed to show how one is right with God; rather, Paul is carefully laying out the evidence showing why all mankind is under sin, and there is no one who is righteous. There is no one who keeps the law, and if there were, that law-keeping is not the way to achieve the righteousness of God. Just a few verses later Paul writes, "…because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). Ellen White as well as many who send me emails take Paul's statement out of context to support their law theology.
A second error in Ellen White's statement above is that she makes the righteousness of justification internal righteousness. However, in the writings of Paul, there is no question that "justification" means being declared righteous by the righteousness that is "in Christ."17
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness (Rom. 4:2-5).
As the previous texts have stated, true righteousness is our being credited with the perfect righteousness of Jesus. It is not personal goodness or law-keeping. Now, in the next few verses, Paul demonstrates that righteousness also means being acquitted, declared "not guilty" of sin.
…"just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED (Rom. 4:6-7).
Lest there be any misunderstanding, Paul expands the scope of those who qualify for justification to include helpless, ungodly sinners who are enemies of God.18
I happened to be watching TV when the verdict of the court was read to Casey Anthony. Tears came to my eyes when I realized the parallel of that verdict to the declaration of justification. To be sure, that court verdict was not exactly the same as God's justification, because the court's ruling failed to credit Casey with righteousness. In fact, many of us believed Casey was guilty of killing her daughter Caylee. But when the jury found her not guilty, the judge said, "The court finds you not guilty." It did not matter whether or not she was guilty, the declaration of the court stands!
The good news of the new covenant gospel is that if we have placed our faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are acquitted of all sin--our personal sin and the sin we inherited from Adam. The Supreme Court of the universe has acquitted us of all sin and has declared that we are righteous with the very righteousness of God. Don't let anyone try to take that verdict away from you! Later in Chapter 8 Paul will write, "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies" (Rom. 8:33).
Justification by faith is the centerpiece of the gospel. In human terms, being justified before God is like winning the spiritual lottery. Things which we have always wanted, strived for, prayed for and wished for but could never achieve are now ours for the taking.
The big yellow truck
As I thought about what it means to be justified, I found myself putting two experiences together in my mind to form a "justification metaphor".
The first experience occurred one day after church when we decided to go for a ride to the foothills east of Casa Grande. We drove up to the Ray Copper Mine, a huge open pit mine currently in operation. We could look down into the mammoth pit with sloping, terraced sides. It looked as if they had removed a whole mountain. The bottom was so far away from the lookout where we were standing that the trucks hauling the copper ore looked like little yellow Tonka Toys. However, as we were reading all the information posted on several signs, we found out that those "little trucks" were actually huge trucks with tires 11 ft. high. One truck could carry 320 tons of ore!
The second experience is one many of you likely share with me: stumbling onto an infomercial on TV. Invariably it promotes some new gadget that really looks like something that would be useful. The presentation makes you want it: "This is a $79.00 value for only 19.95." Then the announcer will say, "But wait, if you purchase today we will include--" and then he throws in several other things. All this, he says, for only $19.95. "But wait, order today and we will double your order for no additional cost!"
Well, justification by faith is better than that infomercial! Picture that big, yellow, ore-carrying truck able to haul 320 tons loaded not with ore but with the benefits of justification by faith. Then hear God offering you something that sounds too good to be true--except this offer is not an infomercial. This offer is reality!
Anyone want to be assured of eternal life? "He who believes has eternal life" (Jn. 6:47). Eternal life is included with justification! It is in the truck!
Does anyone want peace with God? "Therefore, having been justified we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1) at no additional cost! It's in the truck!
Anyone reading who would like to be dead to sin? "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11). Death to sin is also in the yellow truck!
Do you want to be released from the arm of the law? "But now we have been released from the law" (Rom. 7:6). The offer is good today! It's in the truck!
Are you living under continual condemnation, trying to be good enough but always coming up short? "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1) Just get into the big yellow truck of justification today!
Anyone waiting for the sealing of the Holy Spirit, looking to some indefinite time in the future when, after we have cleansed ourselves to become ready, we hope to receive the "latter rain" to help us reach the perfection required to live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor? "…having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13). If you are in the big yellow truck, you are sealed, it is a done deal!
Are you tired of trying hard to live a holy life? "It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Just think of the muscle in the big yellow truck with its over 2,000 horsepower! Accept the fact that God is at work in your life to will and do His good pleasure. He is the driver of the big yellow truck. Your job is to believe Him and get in!
Do you ever feel low on resources and wish someone would leave you a large inheritance? "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light" (Col. 1:12). If you are in the truck, you are qualified. Please note that "has qualified" has already happened. We don't work for our inheritance; we claim it as our right as justified believers.
Do you ever feel weak? "The Spirit also helps our weakness" (Rom. 8:26). Believe me, if this promise were not true, I would not still be actively proclaiming the gospel. If you are in the big yellow truck, you can feel the rumble of the massive power carrying you up the hill!
More questions
How is your prayer life? Do you know how to pray? Do you know when you have prayed enough? Do you know how best to pray for others? "We do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us" (Rom. 8:26). Wow, what a promise! You can claim it if you are in the big yellow truck.
Do you have trouble getting your head around the concept of predestination? "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself" (Eph.1:5). If you are in the big yellow truck, you are in!
There may be readers who are in the valley of decision regarding their spiritual journey. I invite you--no, I implore you, be reconciled to God. What we have studied in these verses is the pure, new covenant gospel. Will you accept its simplicity? Will you come to the foot of the cross, admit you are a sinner, and accept the free gift of God's grace in Christ Jesus?
If you do, you will be justified by faith. You will be acquitted of all sin; you will be declared righteous with the very righteousness of God. Then your name will be in all the promises. You can then rely on the promise that says the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. You will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it.
Believe Him and receive Him now! You will be the recipient of a big truck load of blessings that come all wrapped in justification by faith! †
Endnotes
- Leon Morris, Commentary on Romans, p. 173.
- Seventh-day Adventists Believe, 2005 ed., Pacific Press Pub. Assn., p. 247.
- Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 52.
- Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, p. 101.
- Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, p. 148.
- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 144.
- Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, Mar. 3, 1898.
- Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, p. 276.
- D.A. Carson, Atonement in Romans 3:21-26, p. 119-139.
- Hebrews 10:1.
- Carson, p. 119-139.
- Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, Mar. 3, 1898.
- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 505.
- Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 531.
- Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 212.
- Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 435.
- Paul uses "in Christ" 85 times in his epistles.
- Rom. 5:6,8,10.
Copyright 2012 Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., Casa Grande, Arizona, USA. All rights reserved. Revised April 18, 2012. Contact email: proclamation@gmail.com
Dale Ratzlaff is the founder of Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., and owns LAM Publications, LLC. He served as an Adventist pastor for 13 years, seven at Monterey Bay Academy where he taught Bible. He and his wife Carolyn left the Adventist church in 1981 when he realized he could no longer teach the investigative judgment in clear conscience. He has authored Sabbath in Christ, The Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists, The Truth About Adventist "Truth", and Truth Led Me Out. These are available through his website, Ratzlaf.com. The Ratzlaffs reside in Casa Grande, Arizona.
