4:23-6:4

(23) Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,

M- What was written? That ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6). The fact that God gave Abraham right standing on the basis that He trusted God wasn’t just written for Him. When something is imputed to someone, it is credited to someone, or assigned to them. Because Abraham trusted God, He was given (imputed) a right (righteous) standing with God.

A –Many people say that things in the bible don’t apply to us, but Paul says here that what was written way before was for the benefit of the people He’s writing the letter to. In the same way, the bible is effective for teaching us today even though it was written so long ago. All scripture is from God and beneficial (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

(24) but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe, who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

M –The same way God gave Abraham righteousness because of his belief, God will also give righteousness to those of us who believe. And what we believe is in the true God who brought Jesus back to life after his death.

(25) who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

M –Jesus was handed over (delivered) to death because of our offenses against God (sin.) When Jesus came back to life from the dead, it showed that He defeated death. Through the resurrection Jesus proved He really was the son of God and was able to keep his promises about coming back from the dead and giving His followers life after death.

A –Praise the Lord! We offended God, but Jesus died for us and has shown us He can make us right with God and give us life after death. Isn’t it good to know, that you can have a relationship with the only one who knows how to get out of death!

CHAPTER 5

(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

M –Paul has been talking about the example of how Abraham was made right with God because He trusted God. The same is true for all who have come to trust in the promises of God. Christians are justified (made right with God) through faith. Christians also have peace with God which implies that those who haven’t trusted in Christ are still enemies with God.

A –Once we’ve come to Christ, we have been justified in the past-tense -meaning that we already have a good standing with God. We also NOW have peace with God.

(2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

M –Jesus said ‘I am the way’ (John 14:6), and He is the only way we can have these blessings from God. It is THROUGH Him that we have access to the grace in which we stand. We rejoice in the fact that we know we will actually see God in His glory someday and have His glory change us someday. This remains in the realm of hope since we can’t see it yet.

A –If we have come into a trusting relationship with Jesus, we can be confident that we have free access to God as our Father. We can come to Him freely as His children in prayer and relationship.

(3) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance,

M –Christians also rejoice even when we are suffering tribulation (different pressures). There is a reason for this. When we suffer, it causes to learn perseverance.

A –The New Testament teaches that suffering and dealing with different preassures is a normal part of the Christian’s life. But we can rejoice in them, because God will use them to change us to be more like His Son.

(4) and perseverance character; and character, hope.

M –Dealing with suffering causes us to learn how to persevere (stay on course even when it’s hard and there’s no end in sight.) Once we’ve learned to persevere we’re growing character, it’s becoming obvious that our faith is real and lasts even through suffering. This gives us hope that God will continue to strengthen our faith, and that we really do have faith, and will receive the promises of God.

A –It has been said ‘a faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.’ We should rejoice when suffering comes, knowing that it’s an opportunity to exercise our faith and see God’s help come through for us.

(5) Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

M –If you hope for something that never ends up happening, it is a disappointment. But when we’re hoping in God, we won’t be disappointed. If we have already come to Christ, His Spirit has drawn on our heart and has showed us the love of God especially in the death of Jesus for us. If we know His Spirit is in us and already showing us God’s love, we can be sure that our hope in Him won’t let us down.

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

M-These details are about us; ‘When we were.’ This is the state of each one of us before God saves us. We were without strength. We had no ability to help ourselves out of our problems. We were ungodly. It’s one thing to be weak, but we were weak and also ungodly, guilty of sin. This is the time when Christ died for us.

A –God doesn’t need someone to ‘Get their life together’ before they become a Christian. First of all they are too weak to get their life together, and second of all ,they are guilty and only coming to Christ can give them forgiveness.

(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

M-Paul points out how rare it is to hear of someone choosing to die for another person, and that’s even dying for generally good people! But every now and then it happens, someone is willing to give their life to save the life of someone who seems ‘worth saving.’

(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,

M- God’s love is something far past even the greatest human love. He gave up his life to save ours, AND WE’RE SINNERS! Amazing. Jesus didn’t die for us after we turned to Him, but while we were still in the middle of our sinning against Him.

A- It has been said that you can only know love by the actions that it causes. What actions to we see that prove God’s love? He put His love into action and died for us even when we were opposed to Him.

(9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

M –When Jesus died on the cross, his blood paid our fines with God and gave us (who believe) a good standing (justification) with God. If He’s already gone through the trouble of paying for our sins, what makes us think He’s not going to spare us from wrath and hell?

(10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

M- The logic goes like this: We used to be enemies of God before we came to Christ. If it was while we were still His enemies that Jesus died for us, how much more will God save us all the way now that we have a friendly relationship (reconciliation) with God?

A –God was so serious about sin that He made sure it was paid for and it cost Him His own Son. If it cost Him so much to give us the gift of grace, what would ever make us fear that we won’t be saved by Him?

(11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

M- We should be so happy and rejoice in who God is. A God who was willing to love us (His enemies) and let us come into a friendly relationship with Him. This of course, is only through Jesus Christ, because if He didn’t die for us, than our debts wouldn’t have been paid and we could not have relationship with God.

A –The famous song ‘Amazing Grace’ says it well.’Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.’ It’s amazing that God loves us the way He does and that we have been forgiven and will be saved from His wrath. We should be excited about this, thank God and tell others that Jesus offers a way for people to have a good standing with God as His children and people.

(12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

M –Paul is going to be speaking in this section about how Adam, being the first human is the head of the human race, but Christ is the head of a new group of people. It was through just one man at first that sin entered into the world. And because sin entered, death also came because it’s a consequence of sin. We know that death has spread to all men because all of us die. All of us are also worthy of this death because we’ve all sinned too.

A –We all know we are facing death in the future, this isn’t because it’s ‘just the way things are’. Things are this way because death is a consequence for sin. The head of the human race sinned, and we have all followed in it.

(13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

M –Adam lived a long time before Moses, but it wasn’t until Moses came that God gave the Law defining what was right and wrong. It’s not that people weren’t doing wicked things before they got defined as wicked in the law, but it was hard to clearly define things as sin or not.

A –We all have wicked hearts, and our conscience knows we do wrong, but when look at God’s law, it becomes clear how much we really do.

(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

M –Even though the law came later, people have still been experiencing the consequence of sin (death) even before the law. These people didn’t have a command from the Lord like Adam did, but we see that sin and death were at work from Adam on. Adam is a type (or a picture) of what Jesus is. Adam was the head of the human race, and his sin set into motion consequences for the whole human race.

(15) But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the brace of the one Man, Jesus Christ abounded to many.

M –Paul contrasts the offense (Adam rebelling against God) and a gift (Jesus obeing God and bringing us grace). The one man’s offense is Adam’s offence and many obviously died and are still dying because of it. But the gift of grace which came through one man, Jesus Christ, also affects many people. This group of people are obviously those who follow Christ.

(16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

M –The one sin of Adam brought God’s judgment and condemnation on the whole human race. But, the gift of Jesus dying for all the offenses of mankind results in us being able to have a good standing with God again.

(17) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

M –Even though Adam’s sin affected us all, we’re getting something amazing (abundant) in the gift of grace. Not only is the effect of sin broken (death, because we will be resurrected) but we are given special relationship with God as his children and are restored to an even better position than Adam was in.

A –God apparently condemned the human race since we’re attached to Adam, but also offers life and restoration to people through the head of the new race, Jesus Christ. Though our sin causes horrible effects, surrendering to Jesus and accepting His gifts can give us more than we’ve ever lost.

(18-21) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul is still contrasting what we get from being related to Adam and what from being related to Christ.

Being human (from Adam) means we have a sinful nature which results in condemnation. But, if we accept Jesus free gift of grace it results in justification (a good standing with God.)

Adam disobeyed and so sin flooded into the human race, Jesus obeyed and so a way of righteousness came in.

You don’t know how bad you need a doctor until you know how sick you are. God brought the law to show us how sinful we really are. But, even though our sin seemed greater when the law came, grace is big enough to deal with it. God will still forgive us because of what Jesus did, and can still change us even though we’re that bad!

If we follow sin it leads us to death. But if we follow God’s grace and righteousness, it will lead us to eternal life in Jesus.

A –Disobedience always brings a chain-reaction of death and condemnation and obedience always brings about righteousness with God. We should know choosing obedience or disobedience to God has huge effects.

-Since the law makes our sin become more apparent, we need to be around it so we realize what God still wants to change in us, even after we’re Christians. A non-Christian benefits from hearing the law because it shows them their need for forgiveness.

CHAPTER 6

(1-4) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life.

M –Paul has just talked about how even though the law showed us how sinful we really were, God’s grace was still bigger than all of our sin. So now, He seems to anticipate a question people would bring up…Should we continue sinning so the power of grace can be seen even more?

Paul is going to use what baptism symbolizes to make a point. When we get baptized, we are doing an outward action that shows what the Holy Spirit already did at the moment we chose to give our lives to Christ. We were united with Him, and so everything that happened to Him also applies to us. He was dead, buried, and came back to life. In the same way, we became dead to this world and sin and have been given a new life having relationship with God.

We wanted to be saved out of our old sinful way of living and wanted relationship with God, so why would we then want to go back into the sinful life we saw we needed to be saved from?

When someone dies, we no longer have relationship or influence over them since they’ve moved out of the physical realm. It’s like we’ve died to sin and gone into the realm of relationship with God. We don’t belong with sin and have been given a new life with God. So we don’t have to be controlled by sin any more, it’s power has been broken so now we have the choice to walk in our freedom.

A –If you belong to Christ and think there’s no way out your sinful lifestyle or a specific sin that you feel is controlling you…that is a lie from hell! If you are Christ’s, you will still be tempted to sin, but now you have a second option you never had before….you can obey Christ because you are one with Him.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man, and God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

4:1-22

(1) What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

M- Paul has been talking about being made right with God through grace by faith. Probably many of the people He’s writing to grew up with the Jewish roots. Paul here, seems to imagine them asking, ‘if this concept is valid, how did that work out with Abraham?’ (Abraham is referred to as their father because it was his family that received the promises of God and that the Jewish nation grew out of.)

(2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

M-The Jewish people knew from Genesis 25:5 that God said about him that He obeyed his voice and kept His charge, His commandments, His statutes and His laws. The Jews obviously then thought that Abraham earned his righteousness…and could boast about it. But Paul says He will not be able to boast before God, and the next verse will show why.

(3) For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’

M-The verse quoted is Genesis 15:6. It points out that Abraham believed God, and God gave him right standing not because of what He had done, but because of His truest.

A-Faith is not an emotion, or a mysterious feeling we should wait for. Faith, is putting our trust and confidence in God. Meaning, if He says something we believe it. If He promises something, we trust Him. We trust in who He is, what He does, and what He says.

(4) Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

M-When you give something to someone who has worked for it, that’s not grace, that’s just giving someone what they earned. Grace is giving someone something they didn’t earn.

(5) But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness

M-The person who doesn’t try to earn right-standing with God, but just believes God gets right standing with God because of His faith. He is ungodly, but God justifies the ungodly who choose to trust Him.

(6) just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

M-This principle of getting right-standing with God apart from works wasn’t just something that Abraham experienced. David also describes a similar thing.

(7) “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

M-We all do have lawless deeds (meaning we’ve broken God’s laws), we all have sins. The blessed person (the person in the best place to be) is the one who’s had their sins forgiven.

(8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin”

M-These verses from David are quoted from Psalms 32:1-2. A similar statement is made here. The person who is blessed is the one who’s sin the Lord will never count against Him. This is like saying ‘Blessed is the guilty criminal who gets His fines paid and declared innocent.

A-God forgiving us doesn’t mean that our sin doesn’t matter, but because Jesus paid the cost of it, God will no longer hold our sin against us. He held them against Jesus.

(9) Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

M-Paul has been talking about how we can get right with God through faith like Abraham and David. Now, he asks a question probably because He knows it’s a question that will likely wonder about.

A-As we’re teaching people about God or the bible, it’s probably good to imitate the way that Paul thinks about what questions his listeners have and brings them up so they can fully understand.

(10) How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

M –Circumcision was the sign for the Jew that they belonged to God. But, this started with Abraham. After Him, every male Jew was to be circumcised on the eight day of their life. Paul points out that God gave Abraham righteousness because of his faith, and that was before He was ever circumcised.

(11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that He might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.

M –It was after Abraham believed that God had him get circumcised. It was a sign that He had been made right with God. In a way, He is the father of all of us who choose to trust and believe in God and receive righteousness from Him.

A –Circumcision didn’t make anyone right with God, it was a sign that they were. In the same way, things like Baptism and Communion don’t make us right with God, they are just a sign that we have been brought into relationship with Him. Like Abraham the only way we can be made right with God is by believing His promises and trusting Him.

(12) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

M –The Jews loved to think of their ancestry (their relation to Abraham), but He is the father of the people who actually walk by faith, not who just get a symbol of walking by faith.

A –We are like Abraham if we walk in trust with God, just believing and doing what He says. We shouldn’t think that we’re Christians just because we go to church, have been baptized, take communion, or have a bible. We are Christians if we walk by faith.

(13) For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

M –Abraham was promised by God that his descendants would be numerous and all nations of the world would be blessed through them. But this was before the law was given by Moses several hundred years later. So, while the Jewish people prided themselves on having the law, Paul once again points out that Abraham was before Moses and the law and was made right with God by His trust.

(14) For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

M- If you could become an heir (the ones to receive the inheritance) by just following the law, then the promise that we can be made right by trust is pointless. Abraham was blessed by God because of His trust, not because He had followed a law.

(15) because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

M –You would blessed if you could keep the law. But no one has, so we’re all condemned and cursed by it. Where there is no law, there are no lawbreakers, but since there is a law and we haven’t kept it, it shows us that we’re under God’s wrath and in need of His grace.

A –The ten commandments sum up a lot of the Old Testament law, and it’s true, as we go through the 10 commandments (Exodus 20), it becomes clear that we’re lawbreakers and under God’s wrath on our own.

(16) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

M –In Genesis 17:5 God said that Abraham would be the father of many nations. But the ‘nations’ who would be his offspring weren’t just the physical family line (seed), they were going to be spiritual children. Abraham is a type of spiritual father to everyone who chooses to believe God like He did. ‘Those who are of the law’ here would refer to the Jews…who would be the physical descendants.

A –This verse points to the fact that salvation was intended not just for the Jews (even though God used them in a special way). Salvation is for every one anywhere who puts their trust in God.

(17) (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as thought they did.

M –Abraham is in God’s eyes our Father since we’ve followed the same path of faith. Verse 19 will say that Abraham’s body was already dead since he was about 100 years old. Even though as far as making children, Abraham’s body was dead, God’s promise was bigger and would give life in the midst of death. God talked about his descendants who would exist even though they didn’t yet.

A –The bible says a lot about how a Christian is now righteous in God’s sight, how we’ll made perfect, and how we’re saints now. Those things are hard to believe since we know we’re not fully that yet. But God’s promise will come through just like it did for Abraham.

(18) who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that He became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “so shall your descendants be.”

M –In the Human sense, there was no hope the promise could happen, but Abraham had hope because of who had made the promise (God.)

A –If we are shown a promise of God, we should not look at the circumstances to see if it’s hopeful, we should look to God who is bigger than our circumstances and controls them. This is faith, not a mysterious emotion, but believing what God says whether we can see how it will work out or not.

(19) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about 100 years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

M –All the facts suggested that what God promised wasn’t going to happen. But Abraham was not weak in His faith (trust). We know from Genesis 17:17 that Abraham laughed when He first heard the promise. And we know that at one point He decided to have a baby through one of His servants instead of His wife. While Abraham faltered in His faith sometimes, He still did have a trust in God.

(20) He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God

M –He could have failed to believe, but He didn’t and He was strengthened in faith and praised God for what He didn’t have yet.

A –When we step in faith, God strengthens our faith. Choosing to trust God helps us to trust Him more. We should thank God for what He’s going to do according to His promises even before they are fulfilled.

(21) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

M –This is part of faith, being confident that if God has said something, He is able to do it.

(22) And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

M –Because Abraham walked in a trusting relationship with God, the Lord gave Him a righteous standing with Him (based on the sacrifice Jesus would make.)

A –It’s the people who trust God who are given forgiveness. Going to church or saying prayers or calling ourselves Christians doesn’t make us right with God. The people who choose to walk in trust with God are given grace.

3:21-31

(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.

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.

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.

2:17-29

We're trying to find a solution so Kajsa can keep translating to Swedish as we're having some computer issues. Until then, I guess we'll keep posting in English:

(17-20) Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

M –These verses describe the high privilege the Jew had. They did have God’s law, a type of relationship with God, and even approved of what it said. They saw themselves as guides, a light, instructors, teachers…and they truly should have been that. They did have knowledge and truth in the law (the Old Testament.)

A –It is a privilege to be entrusted with the words of God. Having a bible is a great honor.

(21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?

M –Paul questions the mindset some of the Jews had. They were entrusted with the truth to teach others, but were they applying the truth to their own lives?

A –Any privileged person having the truth of God and teaching it (including bible teachers) should ask themselves a similar question. Do we obey what we teach or are we hypocrites?

(21) You who preach that man should not steal, do you steal?

M –Paul’s first example is that of stealing. These people preached it was wrong, but did they obey it? The tone of writing suggests clearly no.

(22) You who say “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery?

M –Paul gives another example. Even if someone might answer ‘No’, based on the sermon of the mountain, Jesus said that when a man looks with lust on a woman he commits adultery in the heart.

(22) You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

M –Those who say they are against worshiping things other than God, do they worship greed by robbing temples? Paul said in Colossians 3:5 that greed is idolatry. They dishonor God to get money.

(23) You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

M –All of the previous questions here had an implied negative response…this last question carried an implied ‘Yes’ response. But the yes is confessing that while they boast in the law, they dishonor God because they break it.

A –There seems to be a parallel lesson here for those in the church. We may be excited about the truths of the bible and God, but do we actually do what God says? We will see as we go on that no one has done close to enough good to earn salvation.

(24) For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

M –There are several Old Testament passages this could be quoting (Ezek. 16:27 / 2 Sam. 12:14 / Is. 52:5) The idea is that while the nation of Israel should have been a light to the nations because they were given God’s law and followed it, they ended up giving the nations an excuse to mock God because they did receive His law, but weren’t willing to follow it.

A –Again, there seems to be a lesson for the church here. We are supposed to be the light of the world, but does the world dishonor God, because we, who actually have His commands aren’t even doing them?

(25) For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

M –Circumcision was something the Jews did, as a sign that they belonged to God and walked in purity. If they kept the law, the sign had value, but if they were breakers of the law (and all of us are) then they really weren’t clean, like the circumcision was supposed to represent.

(26) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

M-If a man didn’t have the physical sign of circumcision, but did what those with the circumcision were supposed to be doing, wouldn’t he be in reality more clean then them?

A-When I (Isaac) was a boy, we had a sign on our dishwasher indicating whether the dishes were clean or dirty. Obviously, if the sign said the dishes were clean, but they were dirty, the sign had no value. This is the Paul’s trying to make with the Jews. Also, it could be said that someone carries the label of a Christian, but inside are really not a Christian…the label is no good then.

(27) And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?

M –Paul points out to the Jews, that if an uncircumcised (non-Jewish) person actually fulfilled the law (which non of them could do perfectly either), they would prove the Jews wrong.

(28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;

M –Paul says a powerful statement. That being called a Jew outwardly was not what made someone valid…real circumcision wasn’t just in the physical.

(29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

M –Having an outward sign, might have gotten praise from men, but the person God would praise is the one who would actually have a clean heart. Paul mentions a clean heart is from the Spirit, not the letter (the law.)

A –In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus will tell his followers not to pray publicly for men’s praise, but in solitude with God. He will also say they shouldn’t give money to people for the praise of men or fast for the praise of men. People may think we’re a great person, but God knows the heart.

I & K

2:12-16

(12) For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

M -Those without the law refers to the Gentiles and those with the law would refer to the Jews. The idea unfolded in this verse and the following ones seems to be that God will judge people based on what they know. The Gentiles don’t have the law, but will be judged by what they do know, and the Jews, knowing the law will be judged by that.

A –God judges us based on what we know. Chapter 1:20 told us that all men know God is there and powerful from creation, so none of us will have an excuse. Many people would claim more ignorance than they have, but God knows our hearts.

(13) (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

M –Paul speaks as a quick side-note to illustrate his point that having God’s law isn’t enough. The Jews were privileged to have God’s law, but if they didn’t obey it, they are just as guilty before God as anyone.

A –While the Jew’s were God’s chosen people with some great privileges (such as having God’s law), they wouldn’t be judged less justly. Sometimes we assume that because we are around the good things of God (church, bible studies) we’re earning ‘brownie points’ with God, but that doesn’t get us anywhere. He is a righteous judge and pronounces sentence on all of us in justice.

(14) for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

M –The side note continues. Paul says that although Gentiles don’t have the law, they show they still have a law operating in them that shows them right from wrong even if it hasn’t been spelled out to them.

(15) who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.

M –The thought goes on. The non-Jews show that God’s law is written in their hearts…they know right and wrong by their conscience. The word conscience is made up of two words: CON –‘with’ and SCIENCE ‘knowledge.’ They do what they do with knowledge and this is why their conscience bears witness like in a court of law. It knows the truth and so it accuses them by it’s witness, or excuses them.

A –The conscience is a big evidence of the existence of God…why would we have a sense of right and wrong inside of us if there was no one to answer to? This is why we will all be without excuse for our sin when we face God…we can’t claim we didn’t know what was right because He’s written it on our hearts. The courtroom of God will be the only courtroom where not just actions are judged, but the thoughts are also known and judged.

(16) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

M –There is a day coming when the secrets of men’s hearts will be judged. Jesus Christ will be the judge in the courtroom, we will be the accused and our conscience will be a witness that we knew what was right and wrong. The gospel (good news) Paul preached included the warnings of the coming judgment.

A –It’s a good thing to know the judge who will judge you and to be honest about the secret darkness of your heart. If it will be brought into light then, you may as well bring it into the light now.