In this lecture, Don Carson explores the concept of God’s justice and righteousness, particularly as presented in Romans 3:21–26. Carson explains that all humans are guilty before God because of their sin and that justification comes through faith, not works. And faith is available to all. Carson highlights that faith must be rooted in the truth of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection and is essential for salvation, excluding any boasting of personal merit.
He teaches the following:
How Romans 1 argues the universality of human guilt before God
A contrast between Paul’s view and humanity’s contemporary self-perception
The absurdity of balancing good deeds and bad deeds for justification
The heart of all evil is rebellion against God
How rejecting God leads to self-destructive behaviors
God’s righteousness is provided through Christ Jesus as the propitiation for our sins
How God’s justice is demonstrated in both forgiving us and punishing sin
The Gospel Coalition