August 13, 2017
Morning Service

In finishing chapter 1 and 2 last week, we saw that God has given us a free will to choose the pathway that we walk in this life.  We can choose to be a Christ follower and through our obedience to His word we can expect Him to bless us and fulfill the many promises He gives us.  We can also choose not to follow Him.  We can decide to follow any path we want and find some way to justify it in our minds (create our own truth).  That is a life of disobedience and be assured God will not bless you in that lifestyle.  Paul has dismantled the many excuses that people are making to justify their own sinful actions.  He touched on each of these excuses. “There is no God, I follow my own truth, I’m better than most people, and even I am a member of a church.”  He closed chapter 2 by stating it is not a physical act (circumcision) that makes the difference, but it is the surrendering of the heart that really matters.  In chapter 3 Paul will paint an ugly picture of how each person is naturally sinful and face an impossible task of totally fulfilling the Law and earing our justification before a Holy God.

  Romans 3:1-4  Then what advantage then has the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision?  (2)  Much, by every way! Chiefly, indeed, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.  (3)  For what? If some did not believe, will not their unbelief nullify the faith of God?  (4)  Let it not be! But let God be true, and every man a liar; as it is written, "That You might be justified in Your sayings, and will overcome when You are judged."

·         The Jewish nation is God’s chosen people.  They were privileged to be given the Law, made many covenants with God, and even Jesus came from their linage.  These privileges however do not make them any different than anyone else.  They still have to make that choice to be an obedient Christ follower, choosing to surrender their heart.  Their unbelief in no way made God a liar; it was still their free will choice to make.

 

 Romans 3:5-8  But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)  (6)  Certainly not! For then how shall God judge the world?  (7)  For if in my lie the truth has more abounded to His glory why am I still judged as a sinner?  (8)  Why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come;” as we are slanderously reported to preaching.  Their condemnation is just.

·         Paul here is explaining how some people view sin and God’s reaction to it.  They seem to think that since God forgives our sin then by sinning we bring more of His grace into our lives and this is a good thing.  Paul says, “Wrong!”  God is never pleased with a choice that we make that involves sin; no matter what excuse or justification we use for it.

 

Romans 3:9-20  What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks all with being under sin, (10)  as it is written: "There is none righteous, no not one;  (11)  there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God."  (12)  "They are all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable, there is none that does good, no, not one."  (13)  "Their throat is an open grave, 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 way,  (17)  and the way of peace they did not know."  (18)  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  (19)  But we know that whatever things the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be under judgment before God, (20)  because by the works of the Law none of all flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law is the knowledge of sin.

·         Paul here quotes a variety of OT scriptures, bringing home the point that none of us are good enough to justify ourselves before a Holy God.   This is not a very pretty picture of us is it?  We must admit to ourselves that we are sinners.  No amount of work, sacrifice, keeping of the Law, or generosity justifies or cleanses us from our sin.  We need help.  We cannot do this on our own.  We need a Savior.

 

  Romans 3:21-24  But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;  (22)  even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who 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;

·         In verse 23 Paul finally just summarizes what he has been trying to say; all of us are sinners and fall short of the perfection required to have a close relationship with Him.  BUT there is hope.  We are not justified or saved by our works, but by our faith in Jesus Christ and the grace He offers us as our redemptive Savior.  Paul now explains further speaking again of Jesus.

 

Romans 3:25-31  whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed;  (26)  for the display of His righteousness at this time, for Him to be just and, forgiving the one who has the faith of Jesus.  (27)  Then where is the boasting? It is excluded through what law? Of works? No, but through the law of faith.  (28)  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the Law.  (29)  Or is He the God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, (30)  since it is one God who will justify circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.  (31)  Do we then make the Law void through faith? Let it not be! But we establish the Law.

·         In God’s perfect plan of salvation, Jesus came to this earth and lived a sinless life to be the propitiation for our sins.  In short that means, He paid the price in full for our sins so that we may be justified in the eyes of God.  In this act God does nothing against his holy character because in Jesus’ death the debt of sin was paid in full.  We are given full access to God, not thorough our righteousness, but through Jesus’.

·         God created the Law, which reflected His Holy character, but knew all along that we could never keep it to the letter.  It was there to make it very apparent to us that we needed help.  We needed a Savior.  At just the right moment in time, Jesus came to this earth and became that Savior for us.  For us then, we simply have to accept His gift and then love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

·         Paul asks the questions then “what about the Law, is it now void?”  No it is through this faith in Jesus and the gift of salvation that we fulfill the Law.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17; “Do not think I have come to destroy the Law or the prophets, I did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.”