Introduction
“What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” Romans 3:1-4
God’s Faithfulness
1. Was there no advantage in being a Jew? Romans 3:1 / Romans 2:11.
Certainly! ‘The very words of God’ or ‘The Oracles of God,’ Romans 3:2. The word ‘oracle’ is the Greek word ‘togion’ which means ‘utterance’.
It means that the Jews had enjoyed the advantage of being spoken to by God! This refers to the Law. Exodus 20:1, tells us that ‘God spoke all these words’.
And what follows is the giving of the Law at Sinai, Exodus 19:1-20:21. No other nation was privileged in this way. He did not present His Law to anyone else, Romans 9:3-5.
Trapp, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This was their prime privilege, that they were God’s library-keepers, that this heavenly treasure was concredited to them.’
Paul anticipates the Jew arguing that if his words are right, meaning the Jews are lost, it would cast a reflection on God. God gave the law to make the Jews believe, if they didn’t believe, He didn’t accomplish what He intended.
They would argue that God sent the law to make us a better people, but if we are not good people like Paul is saying, that casts a reflection on God.
If we, the Jews, are unfaithful and lost, God failed in His covenant with us, Romans 3:3. If we are lost, God failed to keep His promises to the nation. The ways and truth of God does not depend upon the beliefs and actions of men.
2. What purpose did the Law serve?
One of its purposes was to make clear what sin is, Romans 5:7 / Romans 5:20 / Romans 7:5.
Look especially at that last statement in Romans 7:7, because Paul tells us that he would not have known that he was a sinner had it not been for the Law. He even says that when he became aware of what God’s law said, he died! By which he means that he stood condemned. Example, “Home by 10 p.m.’ Example; ‘No Trespassing’.
By exposing sin and making the Jew aware of the fact that he was a sinner, the Law also made the Jew aware of his need for forgiveness and told him that such forgiveness would come through the Messiah. Remember the ‘Schoolmaster’ illustration used by Paul when he wrote his letter to the Galatians, Galatians 3:24.
After the question of having an advantage as a Jew, comes the answer, ‘not at all’, Romans 3:4. We might say, ‘absolutely not.’ God is always true, man is not, Romans 3:4.
It is absolutely wrong to think that the unbelief of men could prevent God from keeping His promises. He who disagrees with God is a liar. We should never try to prove a thing by what men say.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Should any man say that the promise of God had failed toward him, let him examine his heart and his ways, and he will find that he has departed out of that way in which alone God could, consistent with his holiness and truth, fulfil the promise.’
In Romans 3:4, Paul quotes Psalm 51:4, which David showed that he was repenting that God might be justified in His sayings. In other words, God says that we sin, and our sins show Him to be right. David confessed his sin and acknowledged that God was right in condemning it.
Like a jeweller who displays a diamond on black velvet to make the stone appear even more beautiful, so our sins all the more prove God to be just. Some of God’s promises were conditional, others unconditional.
God always kept His unconditional promises, and the conditional ones were not effective until the conditions were met. Since the Jews had broken the covenant, that is, they had sinned, they themselves, not God, had nullified the conditional promises, Romans 3:4.
“But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!” Romans 3:5-8
If we build up and display the righteousness of God by our unrighteousness, is God wrong to take vengeance on us for our unrighteousness? Certainly not is the answer, Romans 3:5-6. How could He justly punish the world, i.e., others besides the Jews?
If God could not condemn the Jews for their disobedience, how could he punish the Gentiles who were also guilty of the same disobedience? Romans 3:6.
It appears that Paul is still putting himself in the Jew’s position and repeats Romans 3:5 in different words. The Jew would argue, ‘if the truth of God has abounded through my lie, Paul had already referred to men as liars, why am I still judged as a sinner? Although one’s sins prove God to be just and thus bring glory to Him, he is not excused for his sins.
Why not do as we have been slanderously reported? Romans 3:8. Do evil that good may come. To be consistent, it was the Jew here who had been slanderously reported, Paul also since he was a Jew, as teaching that people can do evil that good may come, Romans 3:8. Their condemnation is just; that is when they condemn one for teaching.
‘Let us do evil that good may result,’ Romans 3:8. Some may think they don’t have to worry about sin because of the following.
1. It’s God’s job to forgive.
2. God is so loving that he won’t judge us.
3. Sin isn’t so bad, it teaches us valuable lessons.
4. We need to stay in touch with the culture around us.
It is far too easy to take God’s grace for granted. But God cannot and will not overlook sin. Sinners, no matter how many excuses they make, will answer to God for their sins.
Paul puts himself in the Jew’s position, the Jews would argue in Romans 3:1-8.
1. No advantage of being a Jew. Romans 3:1.
2. Were entrusted with oracles of God. Romans 3:2.
3. Unbelief would make the faith of God without effect. Romans 3:3.
4. God is always just, man is not. Romans 3:4.
5. God would be unrighteous to inflict wrath. Romans 3:5.
6. How would God judge the world? Romans 3:6.
7. The truth of God through my lie has increased His glory. Romans 3:7a.
8. Why am I judged as a sinner? Romans 3:7b.
9. Why not do as we have been slanderously reported? Romans 3:8.
Paul had demonstrated that the Jew was no better than the Gentile, and in Romans 3:1-8, he answered some objections the Jews might raise.
No One Is Righteous
“What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:9-18
Who are the ‘we’ and who are the ‘they’ in these verses? The ‘we’ are the Jews, including Paul himself, Philippians 3:4-6, and the ‘they’ are the Gentiles. And so, the ‘we’ in Romans 7:7, as well as Romans 3:1-6, is referring to the Jews. The Jews would naturally think themselves better. None lived a perfect life.
‘All under the power of sin’, Romans 3:9, means all are lost because of sin and stand equally in need of salvation offered only in the Gospel. Paul now shows from the Jew’s own Scriptures, a miscellaneous selection from Psalms, Isaiah and Ecclesiastes, that they were guilty before God and needed a Saviour as much as the Gentiles. The Jews might try to deny Paul’s charges, but not their own Scriptures.
‘There is no one righteous, not even one’, Romans 3:10, is probably a quote from Ecclesiastes 7:20. There were none righteous in the perfect sense. Man is universally evil. Righteousness or justification is a relationship that none possess, then or now, without the benefits of the death of Christ.
‘There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God’, Romans 3:11, is a quote from Psalm 14:2 and Psalm 53:2. Man’s ignorance does not result from a lack of opportunity.
Man’s natural tendency is to seek his own interest. His only hope, though, is to seek after God. Today, not many seek after God to know and do His will. If some seek God at all, it is only to obtain some selfish blessing.
Spurgeon, in his commentary, says the following.
‘You have gone through this form of worship, but you have not sought after God. I am sick of this empty religiousness. We see it everywhere; it is not communion with God, it is not getting to God; indeed, God is not in it at all.’
‘All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one’, Romans 3:12, is a quote from Ecclesiastes 7:20 / Psalm 14:3 / Psalm 53:3.
‘Turning away’ is a word which means basically, ‘to turn out of the way, to go in the wrong direction.’ They have all ‘gone in the wrong direction’ so far as faith and obedience are concerned.
‘Become worthless’, Romans 3:12, means they had a transition from a state of value to a useless, worthless state. ‘There is no one who is good’, Romans 3:12, means there were none who followed God’s law perfectly, who never sinned.
‘Open graves’, Romans 3:13, is a quote from Psalm 5:9, and it means they give offensive words as odours from an open tomb.
‘Tongues practice deceit,’ Romans 3:13, means in back of a deceptive tongue is a deceptive heart. They lead others astray with deceptive words.
‘Poison of vipers’, Romans 3:13, is a quote from Psalm 140:3. This is a small, but a very poisonous snake. Their speech is likewise very poisonous and ruinous in its effect, James 3:8.
‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness’, Romans 3:14, is a quote from Psalm 10:7, and this is still true for many people today.
Romans 3:15-17 are from Isaiah 59:7-8. ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood’, means violence and murder were eagerly committed. ‘Ruin and misery mark their ways’ is the result of their evil conduct.
Evil people damage and destroy, leaving a trail of pain and suffering in their wake. They destroy the reputations, health, property, and lives of others. They, in turn, receive the same treatment they have been given.
‘The way of peace they do not know’, means they have not known peace because they have not wanted to know it. God desires that we live a quiet and peaceful life, 1 Timothy 2:2. The highest expression of peace is reserved only for those who love God and do His will. Philippians 4:7.
‘There is no fear of God before their eyes’, Romans 3:18, is a quote from Psalm 36:1. This is the heart of the problem. They had no respect for God, therefore, the preceding sins resulted. If people have no reverence for God, they will have no regard for His law or their fellow men.
1. A fear of God causes one to depart from, and hate, evil, Proverbs 16:6 / Proverbs 8:13.
2. It is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, Psalm 111:10 / Proverbs 1:7 / Proverbs 9:10 / Proverbs 15:33.
3. It prolongs life, Proverbs 10:27.
4. It brings satisfaction, Proverbs 19:23.
5. It produces wealth, honour, and life, Proverbs 22:4.
Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘well, I’m not too bad, I’m a pretty good person’? Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you. Have you ever lied? Have you been bitter toward anyone, etc?
In thought, word, and deed, we, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God. We must turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our only hope.
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 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.” Romans 3:19-20
In Romans 3:19-31, Paul shows that justification is not by a system of law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Every one of the Jews were condemned by the very law they were under.
The article, ‘the’ is before ‘law’ in Romans 3:19, and so, he is definitely speaking of the Old Testament law. The principle would apply with equal force to any law. All laws are directed only to those who are under them.
All are under law of some sort and have sinned, either by commission or by omission. ‘Every mouth may be silenced’, Romans 3:19, means what it says, their mouths are silenced. None are able to answer back or make a defence.
The ‘whole world’, Romans 3:19, means the law declaring evil deeds to be sins condemned the Jews and in effect condemned the Gentiles because they committed the same sins.
The words, ‘accountable to God’, Romans 3:19, makes it evident that all are guilty before God. All were under the sentence of condemnation because of sin. We all stand guilty and accountable before Almighty God.
There is no denial, argumentation, and defence we can make before Him. Once we admit our guilt, the following verses are truly good news for us.
Notice, there is no article ‘the’ before ‘law’ in either place in Romans 3:20. Law by itself will not justify anyone. Under law, any law, without the benefits of the death of Christ, lost man is utterly hopeless. Law justifies only if one keeps it perfectly, James 2:10.
‘Through the law, we become conscious of our sin’, Romans 3:20, means the purpose of law is to reveal what sin is and to convict one of sin. The Old Testament law was excellent in accomplishing this.
Let me share with you a quick summary of Romans 1:18-3:20.
Everyone needs to Gospel.
1. The Gentiles were without excuse; they refused to have God in their knowledge. Romans 1:18-23.
2. Their moral depravity. Romans 1:24-32.
3. The Jews were no better. Romans 2:1-29.
4. He meets the Jews’ objections. Romans 3:1-8.
5. His conclusion. Romans 3:9.
6. In Romans 3:10-18, Paul strings together one Old Testament reference after another in a complete demonstration of universal human guilt.
7. Then in Romans 3:19-20, he reaches the conclusion toward which he has been driving ever since the announcement of his theme in Romans 1:16-17.
Righteousness Through Faith
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
We all are guilty! Job 9:2. How shall we be justified? What makes us ‘not guilty’ in God’s sight? After all the revelation about our sinfulness and God’s condemnation, Paul gives the wonderful news. He reveals the way to be declared ‘not guilty,’ or ‘justified’ before God.
Notice the words the, ‘righteousness of God’, Romans 3:21. This righteousness is treated as something belonging to God. It is the essence of His character. It is His righteousness. It is He who makes one righteous on His terms.
Righteousness is something that is revealed by God. It goes forth from God. It is made available to man by God. Salvation, righteousness, justification, redemption, and remissions of sins are all equivalent. When you have the one, you have the others, Psalm 98:1-3 / 1 Corinthians 1:30 / Romans 4:6-8.
‘Apart from the law,’ Romans 3:21. Again, the article ‘the’ is not before ‘law’, but is before ‘witnessed by the Law and the prophets,’ Romans 3:21. This means God’s approval apart from law is revealed. Any law, standing alone, will not justify. Law, by itself, only pronounces guilt upon the sinner.
‘The law and the prophets,’ Romans 3:21, is speaking about the writings of the Old Testament. The Old Testament pointed to redemption in Christ.
It was foretold by the promises, Genesis 3:15 / Genesis 12:1-3 / Genesis 22:18 / Isaiah 53 / Hebrews 9:8-9 / Hebrews 10:1.
Paul plainly reveals that the only way for one to have a right standing relationship with God is through faith in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:22. He also adds that it is to all and on all who believe, Jew and Gentile. We would understand that he is referring to a living faith, a faith that will work and not a dead faith, Hebrews 5:8-9.
Morris, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Through faith points to the fact that faith is not a merit, earning salvation. It is no more than the means through which the gift is given.’
‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’, Romans 3:23, means there are no exceptions, and no exemptions, Ecclesiastes 7:20 / Romans 3:9 / Romans 5:12 / Romans 11:32.
All men come short of the righteousness that God has and the righteousness that God wants man to have, Romans 3:23. The scheme of redemption makes its appeal to those who are convicted of their guilt, Mark 2:17 / John 9:40-41 / Luke 18:13-14 / 1 John 1:8-10.
Remember the law had limitations. It could make a man aware of the fact that he was a sinner, it could convict him of sin, but it could not provide the way out, once it had been broken. I.e. it exposed the sin and defined sin, but could not tell the sinner how to mend the broken Law, Hebrews 7:18-19 / Hebrews 8:7-8.
The consequence was that Jew and Gentile alike were found guilty of sin and Jew and Gentile alike needed salvation. Having established this truth, Paul is ready to show how God has acted to deal with this universal need.
The word, ‘justified’, Romans 3:24, means ‘just as if I’ve never sinned’, to be declared ‘not guilty.’ When a judge in a court of law declares the defendant ‘not guilty,’ all the charges are removed from his record. Legally, it is as if the person had never been accused.
When God forgives our sins, our record is wiped clean, Psalm 103:12 / Micah 7:19. From His perspective, it is as though we had never sinned, Hebrews 8:12 / Hebrews 10:17.
Justification comes ‘freely by His grace’, Romans 3:24, but it is given as a gift upon conditions. It is not an earned justification in the sense of its original offer. It was not through our goodness or works that caused God to offer justification to man.
The word, ‘redemption’, Romans 3:24, means deliverance by means of payment of ransom, 1 Corinthians 6:20. Redemption was secured by His life’s blood and by being redeemed from the bondage of sin, we are justified from sin’s guilt.
In Romans 3:25-26, the justice of God is revealed. The words, ‘God presented,’ Romans 3:25, suggests determination by God. God presented Jesus. Why? Because of atonement, the word, ‘atonement’, means appeased or made favourable to God, Leviticus 16.
‘By His blood, through faith’, Romans 3:25. The order of the phrases in the original Greek is, ‘through faith in his blood’. The thought is, ‘believing that Christ’s shed blood is God’s means of taking away sin.’ And so, believing in what the shed blood can do. Why?
‘To demonstrate His righteousness’, Romans 3:25, in other words, the plan of salvation declares or demonstrates the justice or righteousness of God. Forbearance was exercised toward those who sinned until the fullness of time came, Hebrews 9:15 / Hebrews 10:1-7.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, can atone for sins or pay the debt for sins, but the blood of Christ. Those who trusted in God under the Old Testament had the promise of forgiveness. It was in promise rather than in fact. Forgiveness was therefore as sure as God’s promise.
‘At the present time’, Romans 3:26, means as distinguished from time past. He has now demonstrated His righteousness through the offering of Christ.
Divine justice requires the condemnation and punishment of all who sin. On what basis, therefore, can the Divine justice be maintained, and the sinner is justified? Only through the sacrifice of Christ and faith in Him, Romans 3:26.
The sinner through faith in Christ is freed from the penalty of his sins. Christ died in his stead. Hid death paid for our sin, but the sinner is not required to die. God remains just, in other words, the penalty is paid and the sinner is justified when he accepts Christ’s death as a substitute for his own.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays of both his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a lost world in any other way; and of his mercy, in providing THE sacrifice which his justice required.’
“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” Romans 3:27-31
Under the system of faith, the New Testament plan of redemption, every reason for human boasting is excluded or shut out, Romans 3:27.
‘The law and works,’ Romans 3:27, the Old Law was a law primarily of works that included faith. ‘But by the law of faith’ is the New Testament system. The article ‘the’ is not in the original.
Under the New Testament, men are justified by a system of faith that includes law. It is the ‘law of faith,’ because it is a system of faith that includes law, Romans 3:27.
The right to brag has been ruled out under the system of faith. We must glory in the Lord. Bear in mind that in context Paul is referring to the source or origin of the Gospel system, and not to the conditions contained in the Gospel.
In Romans 3:28, Martin Luther added the word ‘only’ to the word faith in his German translation. He is the first on record to teach ‘faith only,’ which obviously contradicts which James teaches, James 2:14-26.
‘Apart from the works of the law’, Romans 3:28, again, the article ‘the’ is not in the original, and so it should read, ‘apart from the works of law’. This does not exclude ‘the law of faith,’ Romans 3:27 or ‘obedience of faith,’ Romans 1:5 / Romans 16:26.
The system of faith is in contrast with a system of law. Law, any law standing alone, once violated knows nothing but the penalty. Once the law is violated, there is no way to lawfully escape the penalty. This is why the death of Christ is necessary. His death paid the penalty. Romans 3:31 says that faith establishes law.
Paul asks a rhetorical question that demands a negative reply, Romans 3:29. God is not just a national or tribal God. All peoples are His offspring. Since there is but one Maker of all, He will justify all alike.
I see no difference in the two expressions, ‘by faith…through faith,’ Romans 3:30. They are synonymous. There is one faith by which both are saved.
Again, in Romans 3:31, the article ‘the’ before law is not in the original in either place. Faith makes firm the importance and usefulness of law.
‘Uphold the law’, Romans 3:31, means faith produces an understanding of its importance and produces the need for obedience to it.
Without faith, man would never meet the conditions which God requires for justification. To comply with the conditions is not justification by works, but justification by faith at work. Faith empowers us to obey, work and live as the Lord has taught us.
Summary
All people sin and fall short of the glory of God. None can be justified by law, meaning by law alone apart from Christ. Once law is violated, there is no way to lawfully escape its penalty. Thus, without the death of Christ, there is no hope for sinful man. Divine justice requires the condemnation and punishment of all who sin.
God devised a plan, the Gospel system, whereby His divine justice is maintained, His hate and condemnation of sin, and the sinner can be justified. It is the death of Christ.
Christ died in the sinner’s stead. Thus, God remains just, the penalty for sin is paid, and the sinner is justified, when he has faith in Jesus, Romans 3:26.
Paul concluded chapter three by asking, ‘do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law,’ Romans 3:31. Faith produces an understanding of the importance of law and produces the need and desire for obeying it. Without faith, man would never meet the conditions which God requires for justification.