Romans Week 2

The New International Version (Chapter 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.

Paul wants the jews to realize that its not as if being a Jew and being faithfulness to God’s word hasn’t been of value.

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.” g

Our unfaithfulness can never sabotage God’s faithfulness.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

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!

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

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.

The law doesn’t save us but it opens our eyes to our sinfulways

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

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.

The Gospel is good news for all people.

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, m 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.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

We do not earn our grace, we enter into it.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

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.

There is only one God and He is FOR ALL PEOPLE.

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” w

God blesses and saves people before they are given righteousness

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

Don’t mistake activity for abiding. Don’t believe product negates presence.

God’s grace is given before we have ever

God’s grace always goes first.

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” o He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed

Hope is an active response to our troubles in which we choose to put our faith in God.

Hope in the midst of our troubles is a delcaration of God’s goodness.

Paul tells of God’s promises to abrham to be a large family of many nations

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

When we believe in God and His promises

When we have faith and follow God’s way, we

Since we all have sinned, we all need a savior, and His name is Jesus.

Accomplishments and activities are not a substitute for abiding and acknowledging Jesus’s work.

We are put into right relationship with God not by what we do or don’t do, but by what Christ has done for us.