READING ROMANS, CHAPTER 3

 

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

 INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 3 

It is by faith the Spirit of the law is made available to the Jew and Gentile, alike. 
In Chapter 2 we understand that God's judgment on sin will come to all men, whether they were Jews who understood the law or Gentiles who had never had access to the literal law. Faith in God, in the heart, matters more to God than outward obedience. At the start of this chapter, Paul answers a series of hypothetical questions that were in opposition to the teachings found in Chapter 2. He goes on to quote a series of Old Testament passages that support His teaching that human beings are by nature sinful. Each of us turns away from God at some point in our lives. Therefore, nobody can be justified by the law. To be justified by the law one would have to follow it perfectly, at all times. This is impossible because human beings are by nature sinful. Fortunately, it is possible to attain God's righteousness: but only by His grace, through faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice for our sin on the cross. The consequence of sin is death. Jesus has died in our place on the cross; therefore, we do not have to die. We can pass through death to life eternal and peace. We must come to this understanding and position in God by faith, and it is available to Jews and Gentiles alike. https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/3/Romans-chapter-3.html

1)God's Faithfulness 1-8, JEANNIE

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!

NOTATIONS:

• The advantage of the Jewish nation is not in an exemption from the judgment of God, even if that sin magnifies God's righteousness. 
• God is faithful despite the shortcomings of the Jewish nation
• Strange hypothetical argument (Re-read verses 3:5 & 3:7) 
• Certain Jews accused Paul of teaching this doctrine because of his perspective on the law. 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What is the one thing Isreal as a nation can boast that other nations cannot? (V.1-2)

2. Can God's faithfulness be nullified? (V.2)

In verse 1, it says Jews have an advantage, but in verse 9, it says Jews aren't better off. How would you reconcile these two statements?

2) No one is Righteous, 9-20, MAMA

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.”^[f] 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.

NOTATIONS:

• Are the Jews better of than the Gentile nations?

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Who is under the power of sin? (V.9)

2. Who is Paul describing? (V.11-18)

3. What happens through the law? (V.20)

4. Are we under the law?

3) The Jews and the Law, Verses 21-31, DESTINY

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^[h] 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,^[i] 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 work? 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.

NOTATIONS:

• How to be declared righteous in the eyes of the Lord apart from the law
• Salvation is a free gift of God to everyone who believes
• A God of Sacrifice

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How is God's righteousness given? (V.22)

2. How are we justified? (V.24)

3. Why did God present Christ as a sacrifice of atonement? (V.26)

4. Is the law nullified by faith? (V. 31)

What's the difference between a 'law of works' and a 'law of faith'?

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Thought Question:

How does Paul answer the question in verse 3:31, “Does that mean the Law is of no good anymore because of faith?” How is the Law established or upheld? 

Prayer Confession: 

Heavenly Father, despite being dead in our sins, and separarted from You and without hope in the world You sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin and to break the power of sin and death in the lives of all, who by faith, trust in Christ Jesus for salvation. Thank you that your Word is true and that you are the unchangeable God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you that no [vain, self-righteous] notion can nullify your Word and that in the end, your Word will be justified. Help us not to be influenced into unholy ways by paying heed to the ungodly or unscriptural arguments of those who deliberately, or ignorantly, promote a twisted gospel or present a perverted picture of Your holy character. Give us a deeper understanding of Your Word, guide us into all truth, and give us deeper knowledge of the Lord Jesus and greater love and appreciation for you. We ask this in Jesus' name, AMEN. (prayer.knowing-jesus.com)