Transcript Document 7188860

ROMANS AT A GLANCE
A Study of the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
CHAPTER 3
Romans 3:3-4
JEWISH OBJECTIONS
OBJECTION 1
The Jews: "God has promised blessings to us Jews. Now if
some don't receive those blessings because of unbelief,
doesn't that mean God has broken His promise and is
unjust?” (Rom 3:3)
Paul: “Not at all! God is always just even if every man is
unrighteous. As a matter of fact, there is a sense in which
the unrighteousness of man serves to establish or bring
into focus the righteousness of God.” (Rom 3:4, Ps 51:4)
JEL–ROM 3-1
Romans 3:5-6
JEWISH OBJECTIONS
OBJECTION 2
The Jews: "But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the
righteousness of God, wouldn't He be unjust to punish us
for our sins? Wouldn't He be unfair to condemn us for our
sins when we, by our sin, show God to be just.” (Rom 3:5)
Paul: “Of course not! If that were true then God could not
judge anyone, or condemn anyone of sin.” (Rom 3:6)
JEL–ROM 3-2
Romans 3:7-8
JEWISH OBJECTIONS
OBJECTION 3
The Jews: "If good things come as a result of my sins (e.g.,
God's justice, mercy, and grace are revealed), then why
am I criticized and condemned for my sins. Instead, I
ought to be praised! Indeed, even as you have proposed,
Paul, I ought to sin more that more good may come.”
(Rom 3:7)
Paul: “I never said any such thing! The condemnation of
those who slander me is just!” (Rom 3:8)
JEL–ROM 3-3
Romans 3:9-18
JEWISH OBJECTIONS
OBJECTION 4
The Jews: "Paul, if we do have some advantages as a result
of being God's chosen people, are we better off than the
Gentiles?” (Rom 3:9)
Paul: “Not at all. I have already said plainly that you Jews
are under the condemnation of sin just like the Gentiles.
Even your own prophets have said that the Jews are under
the condemnation of sin.” (Rom 3:10-18)
JEL–ROM 3-4
Romans 3:10-19
THE FINAL WORD ON
JEWISH SINFULNESS
What did the law say?
“There is none righteous, no
not one . . .” (Rom 3:10-18)
To whom does it say this?
“. . . to those that under the
law . . . ”; that is, the Jews
(Rom 3:19)
What is the result?
The Jews' boasting mouths
are shut up and they are
shown to be guilty before
God. (Rom 3:19)
JEL–ROM 3-5
Romans 3:20
JUSTIFICATION
 The
establishment of a person as just by acquittal
from guilt
 To
judge, regard, or treat a person as righteous
and worthy of salvation
 The
legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God;
the pronouncement of the sinner as righteous
JEL–ROM 3-6
Romans 3:20
WHAT IS LAW?
Law is the expressed and
binding will of God
JEL–ROM 3-7
Romans 3:20
THE JEWS' PROBLEM
WITH LAW
1. They did not want to admit that they had violated law
(Rom 2:17-3:20)
2. They sought justification by works of law (Rom 9:31-32)
3. They 'stumbled' at the thought of a crucified Christ
(Rom 9:32-33; 1Cor 1:23)
JEL–ROM 3-8
Romans 3:20
LAW
KNOWS ONLY ONE DEMAND . . .
FLAWLESS OBEDIENCE

Gal 3:10 “. . . cursed is every one who does not abide by all things
which are written in the . . . law . . .”

Gal 5:3 “ . . . every man who receives circumcision . . . is
obligated to keep the whole law.”

Jam 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in
one point, he has become guilty of all.”
JEL–ROM 3-9
Romans 3:20
MAN DOES NOT KEEP
THE LAW FLAWLESSLY
Rom 3:9 “ . . . Both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.”
Rom 3:10 “. . .There is none righteous, not even one.”
Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
JEL–ROM 3-10
Romans 3:20
THE REAL PURPOSE OF LAW
1. TO IDENTIFY SIN AND TO MAKE US KNOW THAT WE ARE SINNERS

Rom 3:20 “ . . . through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Rom 7:7 “. . . I would not have come to know sin except through the
law; for I would not have known about coveting, if the law had not
said, ‘You shalt not covet.’”

Rom 7:13 “. . . it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by
effecting my death through that which is good [i.e. the law], that
through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.”

Rom 5:20 “And the law came in that the transgression might
increase.”
JEL–ROM 3-11
Romans 3:20
THE REAL PURPOSE OF LAW
Continued
2. TO INDUCE US TO TURN TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION
“ But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise
by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe . . .
Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that
we may be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:22, 24)
3. NOT TO RELIEVE MAN OF GUILT OR THE PENALTY FOR SIN
“ . . . by the works of law no flesh will be justified in His sight;
for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:20)
JEL–ROM 3-12
Romans 3:19-31
GOD PROVIDES A BETTER WAY
WE CAN NEVER BE JUSTIFIED THROUGH WORKS OF LAW
• We're not good enough
• Law was never intended for this purpose
BUT
GOD HAS PROVIDED ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO BE JUSTIFIED
• Does not depend on our keeping the law flawlessly
• Justification is given as a free gift to those who believe in
Jesus Christ
JEL–ROM 3-13
Romans 3:21-25
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
1. Has now been revealed (3:21)
2. Is “apart from the law” (3:21)
3. Was “witnessed by the law and the prophets” (3:21)
4. Is “of God” (3:22)
5. Is “through faith in Christ Jesus” (3:22)
6.
7.
8.
9.
Is for “all those who believe” (3:22)
Is a free gift (3:24)
Is by God's grace (3:24)
Is “through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (3:24)
10. Is made possible through the propitiatory sacrifice of
Christ; the shedding of His blood (3:25)
JEL–ROM 3-14
Romans 3:24-26
GOD IS JUST
AND THE JUSTIFIER . . .
How can God be true to His own nature of fairness and justice
if He allows those who are guilty of sin to escape punishment?
GOD IS JUST
(He cannot ignore sin
but must exact the full penalty
for violations of law)
GOD IS MERCIFUL
(He justifies sinners; that is, He
acquits men of their sins and regards
them as innocent)
God sent Christ to pay the
penalty for us who could
not pay the price
ourselves. Christ
appeased the demands of
the law for punishment by
giving His own life on the
cross. He bought us back
from the sentence of
death with His blood. In
this way, the mercy of God
was demonstrated along
with His justice.
JEL–ROM 3-15
THE SYSTEM OF FAITH VS.
THE SYSTEM OF WORKS
SYSTEM OF LAW
SYSTEM OF FAITH
• Perfect law-keeping required
(2:13; Gal 3:10)
• Active faith required
• Salvation by meritorious
works (4:1-5)
• Salvation by grace through
Christ
• Allows for boasting (4:2-4)
• Boasting excluded (3:27)
• No forgiveness
• Forgiveness for imperfections
• No one can be saved (3:20)
• Both Jews and Gentiles can be
saved
JEL–ROM 3-16
SUMMARY
Romans Chapters 1 through 3
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All men are under law
But they do not live consistent with that law
It is not possible for them to be justified by law
So they stand inexcusable and condemned before God
But God has revealed a plan for justifying man, not on the
basis of law-keeping, but on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ
This justification is available to all who will believe on Jesus
It is possible because Christ paid the penalty for us and
redeemed us with His blood
This arrangement allows God to be both just and merciful
JEL–ROM 3-17