(21) But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets
M –Paul has been making the point through the book so far, that Jews and Gentiles both have the problem that they don’t meet the requirements of God. But now, Paul points out, a way of righteousness (getting right standing with God) is revealed apart from the law. There is a way to be right with God, even though we’ve failed to keep the law. This right-standing with God was hinted at and foretold in the law and prophets (The Old Testament.)
A –Christians don’t get right with God by keeping the rules, it is a righteousness that comes apart from the law.
(22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.
M –This right standing with God, is from God himself. We get it through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith, is not just intellectual agreement or a mystical emotion. To have faith in something, means to put your trust and confidence fully in that thing. So, putting our trust and confidence in Jesus is how we get this right-standing with God.
A –Paul will go on through the letter to explain in more detail what it means to put our trust and confidence in Jesus. But here we see, this is the way (and the only way) that men and women can be made right with God.
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
M –The previous verse ended by saying ‘there is no difference’. Everyone has sinned and failed God’s law, so everyone who wants to be right with God, will have to take this righteousness from Him by faith.
A –There is not a sinless person on the planet…including every pastor, priest, monk, mother Theresa, the Pope…everyone is a sinner and everyone will have to come to God the same way.
(24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
M –To be justified means to be given the status of an innocent person. This is what Christ Jesus did for us freely...He openly made it available to all who would accept His grace. He gave us the gift of his good standing (since He had no sin) and took our guilty position on the cross to redeem us. To redeem something tells us that a payment has been made to get something back. Jesus paid the cost of our sins to bring us back to God out of the condemnation of sin.
A – It’s important for the Christian to remember they are not perfect because they became Christians, but they are justified. There is no more condemnation for them. They don’t stand as guilty people before God anymore.
(25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
M –God sent Jesus as a propitiation. A propitiation is an action taken to appease God…meaning Jesus’ sacrifice quenched God’s wrath and anger against our sin. He did this by His blood…by His death. And we receive it through faith.
God sent Jesus to do this, to demonstrate that He’s serious about sin (righteous). Guilt must be paid for. God does not look past sin. He is a good and right judge who punishes for wrong.
God was patient in dealing with the sins of the past (previously committed) knowing that Christ would pay the debt for them in future for all who would believe.
(26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
M –God apparently wanted to do two things: First, He wanted to maintain his justice by punishing for wrong. Second, He wanted people to be able to be made right with Him again. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, both of these things were made available…justice was served on Jesus, and grace was able to be offered to the sinner.
A –God doesn’t compromise any part of His nature. If He says He will punish for sin, He means it, and finds a way to do it. If He wants to save sinners, He finds a way without compromising anything He’s said. It shows us how serious God is about what He says. When He promises something, He will do it. When He warns of something, He will do it.
(27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
M –Trusting in God eliminates the right to boast. We admit that we aren’t good inside and are fully dependent on God’s grace to save us.
A –When we catch ourselves boasting about anything we need to look at our heart to see if we’re living to see ourselves praised or God praised. The Christian realizes they aren’t good inside, and that they can’t get to heaven or change their lives unless God gives them these things.
(28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
M –The only we can be made right with God (justified) is by faith, all the things we do, even if they do line up with the law…will never cover over all of our unrighteousness.
(29) Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.
M –God is the God of both the Jews and the Gentiles and offers salvation to both of them through faith.
A –God did the Jews special privileges of revelation…but that would not save them. The whole world belongs to God.
(30) Since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
M –The circumcised refers to the Jews and the uncircumcised to the rest of the world. Again, the only way either will be justified is through faith.
(31) Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
M –So since we’re justified by faith and not the law, is the law that God gave the Jews useless? No. People will end up being led to Christ by the law (realizing they can’t do it on their own) and then end up fulfilling the law as God’s Spirit changes them (Romans 13:10)
A –It’s important to know that we can’t be made right with God by following the law, but also, to know that the law has a purpose (the rest of the book will show us more) and Christians end up fulfilling it as they become more like Jesus.
Monday, October 26, 2009
3:9-20
(9) What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
M –Paul has just pointed out that the Jews really did have a special privilege in that they did have the words of God. So Paul says, are we (Jews) better than they (the gentiles)? Not at all. Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners.
(10-18) As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit’; The poison of asps is under their lips’; ‘Who’s mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’
M –Paul quotes several OT passages to show how often scripture speaks of the universal sinfulness of man. This would have been a powerful proof to the Jew that they also were guilty since most of the scriptures referred to the Jewish people.
‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’ –Sinfulness is a universal problem that every human has and has had with the only exception being Jesus.
‘There is none who seeks after God.’ –John 6:65 says ‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.’ No one seeks God without Him first drawing on them.
‘They have together become unprofitable.’ When we walk in sin, we become useless to serve God’s purpose and to truly bless each other. We are no good for the purpose we were created when we sin. To sin means ‘to miss the mark.’
‘Their throat is an open tomb.’ –Seems to paint a picture of the sinful person being dead inside. Ephesians 2 talks about how the unsaved person is dead in their sins.
“With these references from the Psalms, Paul calls virtually every part of man’s body into guilt: throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes are all shown to be filled with sin and rebellion against God.” -David Guzik
‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ –Seems to be a summary of the sinfulness. People don’t fear God as they should and so they do what they want.
(19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
M –What the Jewish law says it said to those who were under it (the Jews). The law has a purpose –that every mouth would be stopped and it becomes clear that all the world is guilty before God. No one can brag about how good they are because the law proves that they can’t keep God’s standard.
A –When we see God’s standard in the law, it doesn’t make us better, but shows us how far off we are from God’s standard. The sermon on the Mount (matthew 5-7) makes it even more clear that we’ve failed to keep God’s standard because it shows that the thoughts are judged just as much as the actions by God.
(20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
M –No one is going to get on good terms with God by trying to keep the law because it is the law that makes people even more knowledgeable of their sin.
M –Paul has just pointed out that the Jews really did have a special privilege in that they did have the words of God. So Paul says, are we (Jews) better than they (the gentiles)? Not at all. Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners.
(10-18) As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit’; The poison of asps is under their lips’; ‘Who’s mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’
M –Paul quotes several OT passages to show how often scripture speaks of the universal sinfulness of man. This would have been a powerful proof to the Jew that they also were guilty since most of the scriptures referred to the Jewish people.
‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’ –Sinfulness is a universal problem that every human has and has had with the only exception being Jesus.
‘There is none who seeks after God.’ –John 6:65 says ‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.’ No one seeks God without Him first drawing on them.
‘They have together become unprofitable.’ When we walk in sin, we become useless to serve God’s purpose and to truly bless each other. We are no good for the purpose we were created when we sin. To sin means ‘to miss the mark.’
‘Their throat is an open tomb.’ –Seems to paint a picture of the sinful person being dead inside. Ephesians 2 talks about how the unsaved person is dead in their sins.
“With these references from the Psalms, Paul calls virtually every part of man’s body into guilt: throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes are all shown to be filled with sin and rebellion against God.” -David Guzik
‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ –Seems to be a summary of the sinfulness. People don’t fear God as they should and so they do what they want.
(19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
M –What the Jewish law says it said to those who were under it (the Jews). The law has a purpose –that every mouth would be stopped and it becomes clear that all the world is guilty before God. No one can brag about how good they are because the law proves that they can’t keep God’s standard.
A –When we see God’s standard in the law, it doesn’t make us better, but shows us how far off we are from God’s standard. The sermon on the Mount (matthew 5-7) makes it even more clear that we’ve failed to keep God’s standard because it shows that the thoughts are judged just as much as the actions by God.
(20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
M –No one is going to get on good terms with God by trying to keep the law because it is the law that makes people even more knowledgeable of their sin.
3:1-8
(1) What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
M- Through the previous sections, Paul has pointed out that while the Jews are privileged people, they will be judged just like everyone else (if not even more because they knew more.) Paul presents a question that may have been going through the minds of the Jewish readers. Is there any advantage to the Jewish people.
(2) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God
M –Paul says the big thing that the Jews were blessed with, is that they really did receive the words of God through Moses, the Prophets, and the other OT writers. But, as Paul explained earlier, this privilege didn’t mean they wouldn’t be judged on their actions like everyone else.
A –It is an advantage to have the words of God. Many people own bibles and don’t realize the advantage they have. But the true advantage is for the people who actually read God’s words and obey them.
(3) For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
M- Some might point out, that while the Jews did have the words of God (oracles), most of them did not believe them. Will that spoil all the promises in the words that were given to them?
(4) Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’
M –No, God’s word will be kept whether people believe them or not…the good ones and the bad ones. God is always true in what He says…it is men that are the liars. The quote is from psalm 51:4, this is the psalm where David is repenting from his sin with Bathsheba. He says it about God, and apparently means that He is agreeing with God’s judgment that He was in the wrong.
A –God is always right when He judges, and our lack of belief doesn’t change who He is.
(5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
M –Some might say, ‘If our unfaithfulness makes it apparent God is faithful, isn’t that a good thing? And should we be receive wrath for something that produced a good result?
(6) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
M- The answer is, NO. God is not unjust even if our unrighteous brought Him glory. God can bring himself glory out of our wicked actions, but that doesn’t our actions not evil. God will judge justice, even though He can use wicked men’s plans to still accomplish His purpose.
A- God will judge people based on the rightness or wrongness of their actions, not on the outcome. He can always make the outcome work for His plan because He’s God. The end doesn’t justify the means. You cannot rob a bank because you want to give to the poor.
(7) For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
M –The train of thought continues. If our falsehood makes God’s truth stand out more and therefore brings Him glory, should we be judged wrong in the matter? Again, of course we should, we will be judged on our actions, not on what God can make of them.
(8) And why not say “Let us do evil that good may come”? -as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
M –Apparently some had even accused some Christians falsely of encouraging evil that good may come. Paul says their condemnation is right.
A –Even though Christianity is based in grace, it doesn’t excuse or encourage wrongdoing, but points to forgiveness that can be found for it. Some Christians may look at sins in their past and see how God brought good out of them and might be tempted to call those things good since God used them. But we cannot do this. Yes, God has brought good out of it, but it still would have been better to obey…God will always accomplish His goal.
M- Through the previous sections, Paul has pointed out that while the Jews are privileged people, they will be judged just like everyone else (if not even more because they knew more.) Paul presents a question that may have been going through the minds of the Jewish readers. Is there any advantage to the Jewish people.
(2) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God
M –Paul says the big thing that the Jews were blessed with, is that they really did receive the words of God through Moses, the Prophets, and the other OT writers. But, as Paul explained earlier, this privilege didn’t mean they wouldn’t be judged on their actions like everyone else.
A –It is an advantage to have the words of God. Many people own bibles and don’t realize the advantage they have. But the true advantage is for the people who actually read God’s words and obey them.
(3) For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
M- Some might point out, that while the Jews did have the words of God (oracles), most of them did not believe them. Will that spoil all the promises in the words that were given to them?
(4) Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’
M –No, God’s word will be kept whether people believe them or not…the good ones and the bad ones. God is always true in what He says…it is men that are the liars. The quote is from psalm 51:4, this is the psalm where David is repenting from his sin with Bathsheba. He says it about God, and apparently means that He is agreeing with God’s judgment that He was in the wrong.
A –God is always right when He judges, and our lack of belief doesn’t change who He is.
(5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
M –Some might say, ‘If our unfaithfulness makes it apparent God is faithful, isn’t that a good thing? And should we be receive wrath for something that produced a good result?
(6) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
M- The answer is, NO. God is not unjust even if our unrighteous brought Him glory. God can bring himself glory out of our wicked actions, but that doesn’t our actions not evil. God will judge justice, even though He can use wicked men’s plans to still accomplish His purpose.
A- God will judge people based on the rightness or wrongness of their actions, not on the outcome. He can always make the outcome work for His plan because He’s God. The end doesn’t justify the means. You cannot rob a bank because you want to give to the poor.
(7) For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
M –The train of thought continues. If our falsehood makes God’s truth stand out more and therefore brings Him glory, should we be judged wrong in the matter? Again, of course we should, we will be judged on our actions, not on what God can make of them.
(8) And why not say “Let us do evil that good may come”? -as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
M –Apparently some had even accused some Christians falsely of encouraging evil that good may come. Paul says their condemnation is right.
A –Even though Christianity is based in grace, it doesn’t excuse or encourage wrongdoing, but points to forgiveness that can be found for it. Some Christians may look at sins in their past and see how God brought good out of them and might be tempted to call those things good since God used them. But we cannot do this. Yes, God has brought good out of it, but it still would have been better to obey…God will always accomplish His goal.
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