By: Robert Serreyn
Question? How do I refute someone that uses Romans 3:21 as a proof text that there are different Gospels for different dispensations?
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Answer:
Those that TRY to use Romans 3:21 as THEIR proof text focus on the words BUT NOW and say that there is a change in the Gospel message from the one preached in the Old Testament (Faith + Works) to the one taught in the New Testament and today (Faith + Nothing) but this is NOT the case.
To refute them, just have them read Verse 22, 23 & Verse 24 which says…
(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Let me draw your attention upon V22 where the words which is by faith(not by faith + works), as well as the words unto all and upon all(that includes everybody from the Old Testament to our present time and beyond).
Scripture makes it clear that we are ALL (from OT, to now & beyond) are saved BY GRACE by believing and putting our faith alone in the payment that Jesus Christ made for our sins on the cross.
Romans 11:6 is a good cross reference which says…
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
To put it simply,… A person is either saved by grace, or saved by works, it is not by the combination of both.
Ephesians 2:8-9 gives us the answer…
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There are THREE KEY THINGS that a person needs to keep in mind when dealing with those that believe that there is or was more than One Gospel message.
#1… In the Old Testament all the blood sacrifices ONLY covered sin, The word ATONEMENT means A COVERING.
#2… Christ DID what the the blood sacrifices and the Law could not do and that was being the payment for our sins.
In Fact Galatians 3:24 says that the Law only shows us (School master) that we are sinners in need of a Saviour.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
#3… People in the Old Testament LOOKED FORWARD to the cross, believing that Jesus Christ WOULD DIE as the payment for their sins.
In the New Testament INCLUDING us today LOOK BACK to the cross, believing that Jesus Christ DID DIE as the payment for their and our sins.
In Conclusion:
There has only been ONE GOSPEL MESSAGE and that is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Those that suggest, teach or preach otherwise are presenting FALSE DOCTRINE.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou (you) shalt (will) be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH