Romans Chapter 3
1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgement."
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let's do evil, that good may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned.
9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.
11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one."
13 "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit." "The poison of vipers is under their lips."
14 "Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
17 The way of peace, they haven't known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgement of God.
20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;
26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn't he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
Footnotes
- Verse 4
- Psalm 51:4
- Verse 12
- Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7;20
- Verse 13
- Psalm 5:9
- Verse 13
- Psalm 140:3
- Verse 14
- Psalm 10:7
- Verse 17
- Isaiah 59:7-8
- Verse 18
- Psalm 36:1
- Verse 25 (sacrifice)
- or, a propitiation
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Romans Chapter 3 Guide
Paul here turned to a brief discussion of certain objections. First, "What advantage, then, hath the Jew?" He replied, "Much, every way." He then mentioned only one, which he spoke of as being "first of all," meaning of supreme importance, "that they were entrusted with the oracles of God." Therein lay the supreme advantage of the Jew.
Then arises a new question. If man's faith fails, will God be unfaithful? To this the apostle replied that is it impossible for God to be unfaithful. The faithfulness of God is demonstrated by His unchanging attitude toward man. If man sins, God judges him; if man repents, God forgives him.
And yet still another question logically follows. If sin is the means of glorifying God by demonstrating His faithfulness, is it righteous to punish the sinner? The reply is that unless God punishes sin He has no basis on which to judge the world at all.
So far, the whole argument presents a picture of humanity from the divine viewpoint. It is so terrible in itself as to create a sense of hopelessness in us.
With the words, "but now," the apostle began the declaration of the Gospel. The whole is summarized in the statement that "a righteousness of God ha& been manifested." This righteousness of God is at the disposal of those who believe.
The apostle then told of the great provision of grace by first naming the foundation blessing, or justification, "by His grace"; and then announcing the medium through which grace has operated to that end, "the redemption," a word fraught with infinite meaning, to be more fully unfolded as the argument proceeds; and finally naming the Person, "Christ Jesus," who has accomplished the work of redemption, which issues in the justification of the sinner.
The work of the Cross is set at the heart of this Evangel of salvation, and is seen to be a fulfilment of God's purpose, by God's Son, for the vindication of God's righteousness, in the action of God's forbearance.
The result is now set forth in a statement that is as startling as it is gracious: "That He might Himself be just," or righteous; "and the Justifier," or the One who accounts as righteous "him that hath faith in Jesus." This is the glorious Evangel.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Romans Chapter 3 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Objections answered. -- (1-8)
- All mankind are sinners. -- (9-18)
- Both Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their own deeds. -- (19, 20)
- It is owing to the free grace of God, through faith in the righteousness of Christ, yet the law is not done away. -- (21-31)
Verses 1-8
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses 9-18
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses 19, 20
It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.
Verses 21-26
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favours. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses 27-31
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.