[:en]SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 3
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understand, no one who seek God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)
“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (Romans 3:28)
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (vs. 1-8)
Everyone is guilty before God because all are lost sinners. However, the unbelief of people could not cancel the faithfulness of God. Paul’s Jewish enemies accused Paul of teaching this doctrine – “Let us do evil that good may result” meaning, if one sins, he is doing Lord a favor because God will be glorified all the more. Paul refuted it by saying that people who said this deserve condemnation (v. 8).
NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS (vs. 9-20)
Both Jews and Gentiles are alike under sin (v. 9). No one is righteous.
The sinfulness of mankind is described as follows:
- Their throats are open graves (v. 13a)
- Their tongues are deceitful (v. 13b)
- Their lips are poison of vipers (v. 13c)
- Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness (v. 14)
- Their feet are swift to shed blood (v. 15)
- Ways are marked with ruin and misery (v. 16)
- They do not know the way of peace (v. 17)
- There is no fear of God before their eyes (v. 18)
Therefore, the Law that the Jews thought could save them merely condemned them because the law makes people conscious of sins.
RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH (vs. 21-31)
Righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (vs. 21-22). All sinners are justified freely by His grace through the redemption by Christ Jesus (v. 24). We are declared righteous in God’s sight and secured in our position with Christ before the throne of God. God’s righteousness is imputed to us by paying a price – His blood on the cross. Christ’s sacrifice satisfied God’s law of holiness so that our sins are forgiven with His kindness and grace. Christ’s death provides redemption in our sins once and for all. Therefore, the Jews had nothing to boast of because all sinners are justified by faith not by the works of the Law. If justification is by the Law, then, God is only for the Jews because He only gave the Law to Israel. Therefore, salvation by faith does not cancels the Law because the Law demand death for sins. Since Christ died for our sins, the Gospel established the Law. By accepting God’s grace of salvation, it enables us to obey His Law. Therefore, faith in Christ does not nullify the Law. Rather it upholds the Law.
SUMMARY:
- No one is righteous, not even one.
- God remains faithful despite of the sinfulness of mankind.
- Christ died on the cross to satisfy God’s law of holiness.
- We are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
- A man is justified by faith apart from observing the Law
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