Read Romans 3
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Go Deeper
Romans 3 begins with a back and forth discussion between Paul and an imaginary objector to the Gospel message. Paul wants to make sure the Jewish readers of this letter understand that they, just like their Gentile counterparts, are all under the power of sin. Israel should know better. After all, they were given the Word of God (sound familiar?) but alas, they have fallen into sin time and time again. He references the Old Testament—the only scriptures they had at the time—to show some of the ways God’s Word describes the sinful nature of humanity.
This all leads us to the first stop on the Romans Road (a collection of verses in Romans used to explain the Gospel in a clear, understandable way). Romans 3:23 clearly states the problem: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Everyone has missed the mark. We choose sin over and over. We say “never again”, then find ourselves back in sin like a dog returns to its vomit (Proverbs 26:11). But because of the grace given to us through Jesus, we can be counted righteous in the eyes of God. That’s why the Gospel is good news!
Paul is highlighting something in this chapter that is equally applicable to us today. These Christians in Rome had a tendency to want to lean on the Law as a means for their salvation. They wanted to uphold it as best they could and hope that it was good enough in God’s eyes. But we all know that no one (outside of Jesus) is capable of perfectly upholding the Law because we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standards. If we could, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die in the first place.
So, what are we to make of the Law? It is there not as a means to justify us, but instead to highlight to everyone (Jews and Gentiles) that we have missed the mark. Paul wraps up this chapter with a simple truth of the Gospel: No one can earn it, no one deserves it, but all can receive it if they place their faith in Jesus.
Questions
- Why did the Jewish Christians try to lean too heavily on the law?
- Have you found yourself in the trap of trying to earn your salvation from the things you do (or abstain from doing)?
- How does this message of the Gospel encourage you today? How can you keep it top of mind as you go about your day today?
Keep Digging
For a further explanation of the Romans Road, check out this article from GotQuestions.org.
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3 thoughts on “Romans 3”
The Jewish Christians leaned too heavily on the law, because it had been ingrained into their lives for generations. They believed that to be a Jew meant you were in God’s family and an heir to all his promises. Paul makes it clear that regardless of ethnicity, Jew or Gentile, everyone stands guilty before God. We are helpless sinners. The wonderful, life changing reality is there is a way to be declared not guilty which is by trusting in Jesus to take away our sins. Regardless of our background or behavior God’s remedy is available to all. Trusting in Jesus to forgive our sins and make us right with God then empowers us to live the way he modeled for us. Have you put your trust in him?
I can truly see Paul arguing with himself over these objections. Paul was considered a Pharisee of the Pharisees, he followed the Law to the absolute letter in hopes that it would earn the favor of God that it would be credited to him for righteousness of God. But, in this chapter I believe that he realized how worthless all those practices were really were. Although he was bound by the law, he did not devote himself to the law out of sincerity and love for the one true God, but he allowed the law to be his God and he worshiped his own devotion to such practices. Paul comes to this conclusion that if in the first chapter, that even if he was unfaithful to God in the sense previously spoken, then he himself is condemned.
But I really think that Paul is letting his “righteous reflection” start to die and soon you will see the spirit of God radiate in Paul in Romans that prefectly compliments the gospel message he is writing!
There is no one, not one of us that is good enough for God. There is nothing we can do to obtain heaven or even a second with with God. BUT GOD wants us!! So He made the way for us. Even in doing this we are still guilty in about 2 seconds after we confess, ask for forgiveness, because then we stumble bumble again. But starting in verse 21 we are justified by God because only He can do this, He declares us righteous through Christ. This is a legal matter and no one can change the legality of this because of Christ blood God sees us white as snow verse 24. God’s grace. Jesus completely fulfilled the demands of the law. NOW we need to walk in this righteous justification that was paid for us. We are so blessed, we have so much to be thankful for. We need to share Jesus. People should just see us and know we are different, it should effervesce, overflow, exude from us.
God help me to submit this day to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). I give You God this Wednesday as it begins. I ask Your Spirit to help me with attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions. God thank You for empowering me and using me for your glory. God help me to be different for You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!