November 27, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Romans Chapter 3

¹ What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

² Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

³ For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

⁴ God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

⁵ But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

⁶ God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

⁷ For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

⁸ And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

⁹ What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood:

¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways:

¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known:

¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

King James Version. Public Domain

 

Commentary

Introduction

Romans Chapter 3 is a central chapter in Paul’s letter that addresses the universal sinfulness of humanity and the possibility of justification through faith in Jesus Christ. After outlining in the previous chapters the role of the law and the injustice of all people, both among Jews and Gentiles, Paul now turns to the question of how people can be justified before God. This chapter emphasizes the immutability of God’s faithfulness and the necessity of grace to attain salvation. Paul argues that neither circumcision nor adherence to the law is sufficient, but that justification occurs solely through faith.

Commentary

God’s Unchanging Faithfulness (Verses 1–8): Paul begins by addressing the advantage of the Jews and the usefulness of circumcision. He confirms that there is a great advantage, namely trusting in what God has spoken. However, he criticizes those who, despite their knowledge and trust, do not believe in God. Paul emphasizes that God’s righteousness is not nullified by human unbelief. He underscores that God is faithful and that all people would ultimately stand as liars if God’s truth did not endure. This highlights the necessity of God’s righteousness to maintain the balance between God’s faithfulness and human sin.

The Guilt of All before God (Verses 9–20): In this section, Paul clarifies that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin. He quotes from the Scriptures to show that no one is righteous, no one understands, no one seeks God, and no one does good. This universal sinfulness makes it clear that all people are guilty before God. Paul argues that the law serves to recognize sin, but no one can be justified before God by the works of the law. This leads to the realization that human effort is insufficient to bridge the separation between God and man.

Justification by Faith Alone (Verses 21–31): Paul presents the central doctrine of justification by faith. He explains that God’s righteousness is revealed through the law and the prophets, but this righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Regardless of gender or origin, all sinners lack the glory they should have before God. Nevertheless, they are justified by God’s grace and the redemption through Jesus Christ, without merit. Paul emphasizes that God presented Jesus as a propitiatory sacrifice to fulfill the righteousness that is required before God by forgiving sin. He refutes the claim that faith abolishes the law and explains that faith confirms the law by enabling righteousness apart from the works of the law.

Summary

Romans Chapter 3 addresses the fundamental question of justification before God in light of the universal sinfulness of humanity. Paul emphasizes that neither belonging to the people of Israel nor following the law is sufficient to be righteous before God. Instead, justification is possible solely through faith in Jesus Christ. This chapter underscores God’s unchanging faithfulness and the necessity of His grace to overcome the separation between God and man. Paul demonstrates that all people, regardless of their background, are under sin and therefore depend on God’s grace to be justified. The central message is that faith in Christ is the only path to salvation, which does not abolish the law but affirms its true meaning and necessity.

 

 

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/27-11-2024-romans-chapter-3-believe-his-prophets/