January 7, 2014
GOD IS JUST AND FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES
Romans 3:1–20
Jeff Welskopf
Central Truth
Everyone is estranged from God and is without hope apart from His merciful hand upon us, which channels grace into our lives.
Key Verse | Romans 3:20
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
Romans 3:1–20
God's Righteousness Upheld
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 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.”
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
No One Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we Jews 1 3:9 Greek Are we any better off? 2 3:9 Or at any disadvantage? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 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.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being 3 3:20 Greek flesh will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Dive Deeper | Romans 3:1–20
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.
When I first became a Christian, no one had to tell me that many of the things I did were not pleasing to God. These things were obvious; however, many other things that I was accustomed to doing were gray areas, and some were downright rebellious in nature. In my life, I have experienced many different groups of Christians. Some say that we are under grace and will push the boundaries of their actions and behaviors to the edge to areas that in no way appear to be Christian. These people claim that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. They do not understand what it means. Paul speaks emphatically that we are not given a license to sin because we can. That brings no life.
The other group that I encountered were those who held the behavioral law as being most important. Do not smoke, drink, or chew, or go with girls that do. Their lives are dictated by a list of rules and have little to do with the freedom found in Christ as described by Paul and other writers of the Bible.
We are made conscious of our sin by His Word, and we are encouraged by the Spirit to live lives without the constraints of sin and all the trouble it brings. We have true freedom and no condemnation. Being declared righteous is no small thing, yet God does it freely through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
Discussion Questions
1. Why is it important to be declared righteous? Unpack that a little.
2. Who can be declared righteous?
3. Are those who have not been declared righteous by God able to be conscious of sin?
4. Why is this even relevant to our lives? Discuss.