In this lecture, Don Carson examines Romans 3:21–26 as the theological heart of the gospel, where God’s righteousness is revealed apart from the law and made available to all through faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the necessity of understanding human sin, idolatry, and divine wrath to fully grasp the weight of Christ’s sacrifice. Carson highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which both justifies and renews believers through God’s grace.
He teaches the following:
How God’s righteousness is made known apart from the law
How Romans 1:18–3:20 describes the world’s sinfulness and the resulting wrath of God
The Old Testament providing a background for understanding sin and the need for redemption
The continuity and intensification of God’s righteousness and wrath between the old and new covenants
God’s righteousness being available to all humans without distinction, based on faith in Jesus Christ
The significance of Romans 3:22 in the context of universal grace
How Christ’s sacrifice removed God’s wrath and satisfied God’s justice
The gospel involving both reconciliation to God and transformation through new birth
The Gospel Coalition