Guilty, yes. But also Justified. Praise the Lord. We’re already three chapters in. Can you believe it? What a delight it is to study the words in this book. I hope you feel that too because today there are all kinds of what I could call arguments but instead we’ll go with explanations. First, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for this book. Thank You for the way the words argue against old behaviors and for new ones and how faith is the most important thing. Lord, help us in our study to grow our faith. All for You. Amen.
Please read Romans 3:1-4
All the World Guilty
1 Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very [a]words]. 3 What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it? 4 Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture],
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].”
It was hard to break this down, but let’s try it here. What did he just say?
The Jews received the Word of God. Yet some didn’t believe. That fact does not ‘nullify’ or make ‘invalid’ the faithfulness of God and that Word. Faith is the most important. In another place, you can read that we as Christ followers have been entrusted with the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:14 14 Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Faithfulness is one of God’s most praiseworthy qualities. He is always Faithful.
Please read Romans 3:5-8
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.) 6 Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
7But [as you might say] if through my lie God’s truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Their condemnation [by God] is just.
The wrath of God is coming, one day, on all the unfaithful and sinful people among us. It’s more than a good enough reason to share your faith with others. Praise Him for eternal forgiveness. There’s not a day the faithful can’t be forgiven anything if they but ask. His mercy is new every morning and His favor rests on all of us.
Please read Romans 3:9-20
9 Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power. 10 As it is written and forever remains written, “There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.
11 “There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God.
12 “All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.”
“The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And they have not known the path of peace.”
18“There is no fear of God [and His awesome power] before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment]. 20 For no [b]person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].
Through the Law we become conscious of sin and that should lead us to repentance but only Faith is the remedy for sin.
Please read Romans 3:21-22a
Justification by Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. 22a This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son].
There it is Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus. You can Trust Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son. He’s worth it. Trust Him with everything. Your present, your future, your eternity. Faith is the only thing He is always looking for.
Please read Romans 3:22b-26
22bThere is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] [d]sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. 26 It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior].
Let’s take a slow walk through these few verses.
All have ____________ and ________________ fall short of the glory of God, and are being _________________________ as a ________ by His __________,
That grace which comes through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus to be received through Faith.
Every day we can thank Him for what He’s done for us in these few verses. Yet, every day He is very much with us and His grace is all over our lives so there are even more things to thank and praise Him for.
Please read Romans 3:27-31
27 Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith. 28 For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not also the God of Gentiles [who were not given the Law]? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed it is one [and the same] God who will justify the circumcised by faith [which began with Abraham] and the uncircumcised through [their newly acquired] faith.
31 Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].
Faith. Faith keeps us from boasting. Faith is our justification. All of us under One God. Praise be to His Name.
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Footnotes
[a] Romans 3:2 -the oracles of God [His very [a]words]- I.e. the Old Testament promises.
[b] Romans 3:20 -For no [b]person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. – Lit flesh.
[c] Romans 3:24 -as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, – I.e. His favor and mercy, extended to man who can do nothing to be worthy of it. It is God’s amazing gift.
[d] Romans 3:25 -as a [life-giving] [d]sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith- By laying his hands on the head of the sacrifice the person offering the sacrifice identified himself with it and through its death it became an atonement or covering for his sin. Because the unblemished sacrifice “covered” his sin it placed the person offering the sacrifice in a right relationship with God. Later under the new covenant the perfection and sacrifice of Christ would cover (atone for) the imperfection and sin of those who identified with Him and accepted Him as Savior.