Romans 3—Righteousness Apart From the Law

· Romans 3-Righteousness Apart From the Law Romans 3 Paul begins with a rhetorical question voicing the thoughts that the Jewish scoffers would have after hearing that they have blasphemed God, that they are also unrighteous and God is impartial, why should they follow the old covenant (circumcision) what benefits does it bring them if the law of Moses doesn't save or make them righteous, what advantage do the Jews have if God is impartial as stated before on Romans 2. He reminds them of how blessed they are by being God's chosen people, they were the ones chosen to carry out the delivery of God's holy scriptures through prophets who were as 2 Timothy 3: 16 says inspired " 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, "- 2 Timothy 3:16 NASB. The Jews were given direct instructions that no other nation had but most important of all they were led by God himself, the prophets carried God's warning and messages granting them protection and many more things. Paul once again circles back to asking rhetorical questions this time a question that shows the foolishness of man. He asks whether if some of God's people have unbelief does it negate God's faithfulness to them.( a little added commentary on my part this is like asking if a tree falls and no one is near to hear it did it make a sound or negate the fact that the tree actually fell or like modern day don't confuse me with that facts i've made up my mind.. If the label says poison and I say I don't believe it's poison and drink it does it make it less true that I will be poisoned?.. The answer is no.) so Paul also answers negatively and harshly " 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." " -Romans 3:4 NASB. Reminding them that God is true and man is a liar. The pattern used in Romans 3 is Paul asking one rhetorical question after another making sure to answer clearly so that there is no doubt on what's being said. He then proceeds to dismantle Man's foolish thinking of self righteousness and the false belief that God needs mankind to show His(God) glory, that he needs our unrighteousness and our sin to show he is righteous and to be able to judge. Paul answers if that were true then why is condemned a sinners( because behind that logic wouldn't that mean that by sinning we are doing God's work, wouldn't doing bad be rewarded with good?) All of this leads up to one of the most important statements said in this chapter that applies to both Jews and Gentiles. " 10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." " -Romans 3:10-18 NASB. It's a clear reminder that we have all sinned against God, that our so-called righteousness is worthless and that there is no GOOD in mankind. Paul breaks down all their deep rooted self boast that they have gained through practicing The Law of Moses reminding them that the law was and is to remind them that they are and will be held accountable to God, to show them and make them aware of sin and not to justify their sin. Now Paul makes the audience aware of the fact the righteousness of God has already been manifested for all to see by the show of the fulfillment of the law as Jesus himself said in Matthews "17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them". -Matthew 5:17 NASB and the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament about the coming Messiah.( I have a pdf of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus called the proven Messiah in the file section), Paul then continues by talking about the imputed righteousness of God through faith in Jesus -" 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins." - (Romans 3:22-25 NASB). By raising a case against the Jews and Gentiles he shows and delivers God's message that there is nothing they can boast about, that there is nothing they can do be it works and keeping of the law that will make them justified in front of God and clean of sin with the exception of believing in Jesus Christ . The messiah who came for everyone, for the Jews and for the gentiles, for anyone who is lost and seeks him.the one who fulfills the law on our behalf to free us from its wages.