Romans 3 study

Romans 3:1-31 (KJV)

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Paul is often misunderstood by Christians in that they think he was anti-Law. His writings have been used to promote lawlessness in much of Christendom. Jesus words in Matthew 5:17-19 are a stern warning to those who break and teach others to break even the least of these commandments. In light of this it's important to properly interpret Paul's writings. If Paul was anti-Law then he violated the warning of Jesus Christ. However, as we go through this passage in Romans 3, we will see that far from being anti-Law Paul actually affirms the Law. Paul will be a witness against those Pastor's and theologians that falsely accuse him of being anti-Law.

Verse 1-2 - Paul says here that to the Jews were given the oracles of Jehovah. Paul says this was an advantage to them. What are the oracles of God? Acts 7:35-38 clearly state they are the commandments given at Mt. Sina to Moses. These are the ten words of the Decalogue along with the Mosaic law. The ten words were written by Jehovah's very own fingers. The Mosaic law was given by Jehovah to Moses and was written down by Moses. The Mosaic law is an expansion of the 10 Commandments. In Acts 7:35-38, these commandments/law principles are called "lively oracles". Today, we keep the moral law of Moses as they are a support structure of the 10 Commandments. We also keep health laws as well. All these laws are good for us.

The change in the law talked about in Hebrews is in regards to the preisthood, sacrifical system, temple service and the ceremonies attached to them. Also, the civil enforcement of the law was fufilled in theocratic Israel. Being that there is no more Theocratic Christian nation sanctioned by Jehovah, this is something that will take place at the Bhema seat of Christ and the White throne judgment of Jehovah. Many governments today however enact civil laws on Mosaic principles. Notice how Paul says this is a profit to the Jews not a burden or a negative. Paul here affirms the advantage of having the law committed to the Jews.

Verse 3 - Just because some of the Jews did not believe the record that God sent his Son does not make the faith of God without effect. The validity of God's promises, character, law and righteousness are not dependent on man's reaction to those things but rather are immutable. It may change the results for the individual that doesn't have faith, but in no way alters Jehovah's character.

Verse 4 - Paul affirms the unchangeable nature of God and his word. This includes his law. The statement "let God be true, but every man a liar" should always keep us centered on the word of God rather than man's opinions. Often time Pastor's and theologians are more loyal to their denominations understanding of scripture than a plain "Thus saith Jehovah". If we rely on the traditions and opinions of men rather than the word of God, then we won't overcome nor be justified as have put men before the plain truth of God's word. All men/women will be judged in this antitypical day of atonement. Better to be rooted in Jehovah than rooted in fallible man.

Verse 5-6 - Jehovah is a righteous judge and those who practice unrighteousness will feel his vengeance. This vengeance can be in this life for an unrighteous man/woman, also at the second advent of His Holy Son Jesus Christ. The final wrath will be given after the millennium following the white throne judgment. Man's unrighteousness in no way nullifies the righteousness of Jehovah God. If God's right to bring judgment upon man was dependent on man's righteousness or unrighteousness then he would be an unfit judge. Jehovah is not fickle and his character stands firm despite the unfaithfulness of man.

Verse 7 - Man's lies and disobedience only make manifest Jehovah's glory as the results of their unrighteousness show that without God man is doomed. This abounding manifestation of Jehovah's glory as a result of man's evil ways still does not let the sinner off the hook.

Verse 8 - Paul makes it clear that he does not teach that Christians should do evil do that God's glory manifest even more. He even warns those that those who falsely accuse him of such will justly be damned. This is a sobering scripture because many teach and believe that Paul teaches that the law is done away with. This statement by Paul "whose damnation is just" could also apply to those who falsely accuse him of being anti-Law. Remember 1 John 3:4 says sin is the transgression of the law. These false accusers of Paul who say he is anti-Law are basically saying Paul approves of sin to make God's glory more manifest.

Verse 9-18, Paul describes the state of man before coming to faith in God and Christ. Equally Jews and Gentiles are under sin due to the nature they inherited from Adam which results in many of the failings Paul describes. None can boast of themselves as none seeketh after God. It is only by faith in our Jehovah Jesus Christ that we can be justified in the  Father's eyes. The free gift of grace is given to us and we are imputed (accounted) with the righteousness of Christ.

Verse 19-20, the law exposes sin in the transgressor of the law and pronouncs him guilty. Man cannot boast in his goodness as being a transgressor of the law, his boastful pronouncements of goodness are shut and he is humbled. Men may keep the letter of the law and still be guilty before God because they didn't keep it in faith, but rather by doing the deeds of the law which are the outward forms, carnal ordinances and ceremonies. Jesus made it clear that law keeping starts with the heart and spirit of man not the outward forms of rules and regulations.

Verses 21, The righteousness of Jehovah was made manifest without the law, as the Gentiles who did not have the oracles committed to them came to faith in the Son of God. They did this not having the law. The law of Moses was not a means of salvation but a prophecy about Christ righteousness. The Prophets spoke concerning Christ and his righteousness.

Verse 22, the righteousness of Jehovah is by the faith of his Son Jesus Christ. We cannot have the righteousness of Jehovah without first having the faith of and in his Son. John 3:16 makes this clear as does 1 John 4:15, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12. Remember, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Im order to get to the Father we have to go through his Son. This righteousness is for everyone whether Jew or Gentile. God is no respector persons. Faith is required for both parties and the field is level at the foot of the stake. A Jew gets no favor over the gentile for having the law committed to him as he must have the same faith the gentile needs to have in order to imputed with Christ righteousness.

Verse 23, this should keep us all humble whether Jew or Gentile as we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Jehovah God. This keeps all from being able to boast whether with the Law or without the law.

Verse 24, We are justified (to render righteous) freely by Jehovah's undeserved kindness (grace) through the redemption (deliverance) that is in Christ Jesus. Realizing this eliminates any boast that we can have. The glory always goes to God and his Son.

Verse 25, God sent Jesus to be a mercy seat for us, that through faith in his blood that we would have forgiveness in past sins through the forebearance (toleration) of Jehovah God. Notice the wording "past sins". Many Christians falsely believe that Jesus death on the stake forgives even their future sins and taken to it's logical conclusion, leads many to live a care free life mingled with sin as they have a false sense of security and this "once saved always saved" mindset. Sins after the stake are blotted out in the heavenly sanctuary as Christ our High Preist mediates on our behalf to the Father. We must examine and confess our sins daily as we pray to the Father in Jesus name. Nowhere in the bible does it teach that Jesus death at the stake gives a license to sin in the future or that it covers future sins. Future sins after the stake our covered in the ministration of Christ as our High Preist in the heavenly sanctuary. Christ gave us the model prayer "our Father" which has a confession of trespasses in it's model, this shows a daily need to confess our sins which refutes the notion that the stake blots out future sins. Also, the bible clearly teaches a Christian can fall away from the faith and this would not be possible if the stake forgave future sins.

Verse 26, God is righteous and He is just and the justifier of those who believe in His only begotten Son. Who is justified according to Paul? It is those people who believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God (1 John 4:15). It's not people who teach that Jesus is only role playing as a Son or that teach Jesus is God Almighty as part of a trinity god but those who believe in the simple words of scripture that Jesus is the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-20, John 3:16).

Verse 27, boasting is excluded by the deeds of the law (outward forms, carnal ordinances and ceremonies) and rather our boast should be in the law of faith. Why faith? Because even when we have faith, it is God who initiated the process by loving us first and drawing us to His Son Jesus.

Verse 28, we are justified (rendered righteous) by faith (belief, fidelity, assurance) without the deeds (outward forms) of the law. This fact eliminates any possible boast in man and his ability to be justified by the works of the law.

Verse 29, if justification came by the law then that would have closed the door to most of the Gentiles, but Jehovah being not a respector of persona is the God of all men/women made faith the criteria for justification. Justification never was by the law and it was always by faith (see Abraham). Notice though that Abraham being justified by faith kept the commandments of Jehovah (Genesis 26:5).

Verse 30, Here we see that God is One and not a trinity and that this One God (the Father) justifies both Jew and Gentile through faith. This faith is in Jehovah's only begotten Son. The deeds of the law give no advantage to the Jew. Once a Jew is justified through faith in the surety (Jesus Christ) then he does have the advantage in that, the oracles of God were committed to him. The Gentile will learn these oracles after they are justified by faith in Christ.

Verse 31, Paul removes all accusations against him that he is anti-Law and this will be the scripture that will be a witness against all the Pastor's and theologians who teach that Paul taught that the law is done away with. Paul says "do we make void (destroy, do away, cease) the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish  (stand still, stand, set, to place, to make firm, to fix, to be kept intact- greek word "histemi") the law."

Paul made it crystal clear that he doesn't do away with the law because of faith but rather keeps it intact and makes it stand. Those who accuse Paul of teaching that the law is done away with will be called least in the kingdom of heaven and justly so.