Well, if you haven't been able to tell from the first two chapters of Romans, I've been looking forward to spending some quality time in chapter 3. It has been a real blessing over the past week to see Paul conclude a major part of his thoughts on the first half of the Gospel: humans are sinful to the core and stand condemned before a righteous God. In addition, chapter 3 gives man the only means of justification which comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
As I try to consider the magnitude of this letter that God wrote through Paul, I can't help but wonder what Paul may have felt as he was drafting this letter. I imagine that I myself would be shaking with excitement and conviction and yet probably burdened as well knowing full well that most would not accept what is being written. Well, without further ado, let's dig in!
Paul has just finished speaking of true obedience coming from the heart. He now turns to answer questions that skeptics had (and still have!) regarding Paul's argument. The first eight verses are a sort of Q & A session in which Paul silences the critics.
God's Righteousness Upheld (v.1-8)
1. What advantage has the Jew (if circumcision is not merely outward)?
Clearly Jews have been given a great privilege of possessing the Word of God and being God's chosen people. I find it interesting that Paul says "to begin with" but yet never elaborates further. I'm sure he figured that being entrusted with the oracles of God would be sufficient enough to answer the doubters.
2. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
By God's very nature, He is faithful! As one commentary I read put it, if every single man who ever lived cried out against God, God would still be faithful. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His faithfulness endures apart from creation's grumblings. To elaborate further, Paul quotes Psalm 51 "that you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." God will always prevail because He alone is sovereign.
3. But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?
Paul clarifies that he is using a human argument just in case anyone is questioning his reasoning for presenting these questions. These questions to me seem to be getting more far-fetched. Imagine being asked, "So if when I do bad things, it makes you look better, doesn't that mean I can keep doing bad things?" "Why are you mad that I stole your car? It makes you look good because you don't steal!" How foolish. And how much more foolish it is to think that God is wrong to judge those who have sinned against His holy name.
Paul retorts, if God were unjust then how could He judge the world? 2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that the Lord is our righteous judge. Only the righteous can judge the world.
4. But if through my lie God's truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?
The first question here sounds like whining, doesn't it? It's not fair! Why am I getting in trouble when I prove God to be God?! The second is one that Paul has had to confront because of liars slandering the gospel that Paul is speaking. He makes it known that they are slanderers, and he proceeds to clarify his entire position in the remainder of the chapter. While Paul doesn't answer this last question immediately, he devotes an entire chapter to the idea later (chapter 6). He simply ends by saying "their condemnation is just."
No One is Righteous (v. 9-20)
This section is hard-hitting. Paul cements his argument with Old Testament Scripture and makes it impossible for anyone to debate man's sinfulness further.
Verse 9 starts with Paul reiterating that all men are on equal footing. We are all under sin whether Jew or Greek, black or white, tall or short. It doesn't matter. We are sinners. Galatians 3:22 offers another angle by saying "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin..."
Verses 10-18 are the quoted Scriptures that Paul uses to prove his point. Verses 10-12 show that no one is righteous. Verses 13-17 show the bitterness of man's words and the evil of his actions. Verse 18 explains why the previous 7 verses are true.
As it is written...
None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.
I can imagine that crickets would be the only sound after being reminded of these verses. God must have known that man would argue this so He put almost the same verses in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. The two Psalms also go on to say that man becomes convinced that there is no God. I know a few people who live under that ridiculous notion. We need to be sure not to exalt ourselves though since we were definitely included in the "no one" category before the call of Jesus Christ. Let this reality soak in. It is critical to growing in Christ. As we mature as believers, we should see an increasing need for salvation rather than a decreasing need. For apart from God, we can do nothing.
Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7
The truth hurts. It hurts so bad that most people will never except it because of their prideful hearts. Most could never imagine being labeled with such harsh accusations. But if God calls the Christian's righteous deeds filthy rags, what hope does the one seeking righteousness through the law have of fairing better?
Their feet are quick to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.
Proverbs 1:16, 3:15-17; Isaiah 59:7,8
In addition to what Paul quotes, Proverbs goes on to say that the greed of man takes away his life. Isaiah professes that the thoughts of man are thoughts of iniquity. This message is not new. This message existed in the Old Testament. Even Cain was warned by God that sin was crouching at the door. Sadly, Cain didn't listen just as all of us at one time didn't listen.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalm 36:1
Here is the root of the problem. In the folly of man, he has declared himself to be wise. God's Word, however, says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight (Proverbs 9:10). Man has foolishly denied this truth and catastrophic evil has been the only result.
The above verses bring about an array of emotions. I am saddened when I consider the hearts of men, especially those who are close to me. I am humbled by the reality that I did nothing of my own to change the reality of condemnation. And I am on the edge of my seat awaiting the glorious pronouncement of justification that Paul has masterfully worked towards and is now so close to being shared.
But first, imagine being presented with this reality for the first time. Imagine that up until Paul came along, you felt pretty good about yourself. Imagine what it would be like to realize that you are in fact not a good person at all. Really, quite the opposite is true. What would that hopelessness feel like? I guess this isn't so hard for a Christian to imagine since we all arrived at this hopelessness in order to accept what God offers us. Can you remember that day? That hour? That moment? Praise God for the realization that we are sinful! The hope of Christ overwhelms the hopeless feeling and remains until His return!
Verses 19 and 20 close out this section of chapter 3. The first half of Psalm 36:1 that Paul didn't quote provides the perfect segue into verses 19 and 20. It says "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart." Man knows that he is not good. We know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose wrong.
Verse 19 says that the law speaks to those who are under it. Let's not forget verse 15 in chapter 2 that says that the Gentiles show the law of God is written on their hearts. So all are under this law whether it be the Jew who has the Bible or the Gentile who has the law on his heart. For this reason, each and every person will stand before the Righteous Judge and have nothing to say in response to God's judgment. There will be silence. Since we are all under sin, God is just to hold the entire world accountable, and He will.
In verse 20, Paul summarizes his argument and uses it to springboard into the solution delivered by God in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
There is little else that needs to be said. This is the reality that Paul has so expertly presented in chapters 1-3. This verse represents half of the Gospel. It shows the depravity of man and the hopelessness of redemption through the law of good works. Finally, Paul presents the solution to our sin condition.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith (v. 21-31)
Paul begins this section by saying that the righteousness of God is available apart from the law. In order to preserve the integrity of Scripture, Paul makes it clear that even though righteousness is not found through them, both the Prophets and the Law testified to this righteousness.
There are three New Testament passages from the Gospels that I'll add to confirm this.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John--Matthew 11:13
Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him. John 12:41
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. John 5:45, 46
I'm also reminded of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Fifteen verses that speak of the righteous Christ taking on our sins and removing them from us. Clearly the Old Testament law and prophets are crucial in the understanding of God's righteousness.
Verse 22 gives us the answer. It is the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. I love this verse because it speaks of the inclusive nature of salvation. All who believe will be saved. What a refreshing thought, isn't it? What does God ask of us after all of His effort in redeeming us? Just believe in my Son and let me take care of everything. Of course, believing in Christ requires us to continually grow in fellowship and obedience, but God gives us everything we need when we believe in Christ.
Verse 23 is a quick return to the reality that all fall short of the glory of God. Paul is very deliberate in continuing to bring this to the readers' attention. Verses 22 and 23 really offer a summary of the Gospel. Man is sinful and needs redemption; God provides the solution.
In the verses that follow, Paul will expand on the glorious offer to mankind. There are a couple of "big" words that need to be understood in verses 24 and 25. Let's break them down a bit.
In verse 24, Paul speaks of being justified. The word justification occurs a lot in Romans and is important to understand for both Scriptural understanding and sharing the Gospel. Justification is the first of three parts of salvation (the other two being sanctification and glorification). Justification is a moment in time. In fact, it is the most significant moment in time of all believers' lives. It is the moment that one receives Christ. Instantly, he/she is made a new creation and becomes one of God's children. The moment of justification is the moment a person is made righteous.
Paul says that we are justified by His grace as a gift. That moment of being made righteous is a gift from God. It is without cost. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever know. It is by the grace of God that we are offered this gift, and it is by God's grace that we receive this gift. Amazing, isn't it?
We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ. As I come to understand the Gospel more and more, I see more clearly why it is only through Jesus Christ that any person stands a chance. If Jesus Christ walked this earth, (which He most certainly did!) then it would be outrageous to think that being hung on a Cross and bearing the weight of the world's sins would allow for other religions' beliefs to make one righteous. The reality of it is this: either we are saved by grace as the Gospel says or we have to work our way to Heaven. I've been alive long enough to know that often times I am not a very good person. I can convince a lot of people by behaving well, but internally there is hate, lust, greed, envy...you name it. These things exist in the heart of all men. That is why works just don't get it done. Even good works are motivated by evil, selfish desires. It's only through Jesus Christ.
As I thought more about this verse, the question "To what are we being redeemed?" rang in my mind. The answer is fellowship with God. Jesus has torn down the curtain that prevented man from experiencing and knowing God. Isn't that glorious?! Take a look at the following verses:
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3-5
Wow. Why would anyone want anything but the truth? It is beyond my imagination to think about what awaits! Man is God's prized creation and He wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. That's why Jesus joyfully endured the Cross. That's why He is the way, the truth, and the life. That's why He alone saves.
In verse 25, it says that Jesus is who God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. Propitiation is a big word that simply means "a cover" or "reconciliation." It is important that Paul clarifies "by His blood" since the Old Testament law was clear that the shedding of blood was the only way to cover sins. The great parallel is that Jesus Christ becomes the final sacrifice. Former animal sacrifices only provided temporary help and ultimately were used to foreshadow Christ's death and its permanent covering of sins.
Verse 25 is the second time of three that "faith" is used in verses 21-26. Each time, faith is associated with Christ. In a similar fashion, righteousness is used 4 times and each time it refers to God's righteousness.
Paul goes on to say in v. 25 that God has graciously passed over former sins. This is alluding to the sins of those who died before Christ, which probably served to keep the question regarding their salvation from being asked. When I think of forbearance, I think of my student loans. The loan company has been nice enough in the past to postpone payment of my loans while I am in school or when I went off to boot camp. In much the same way, God, knowing the future work of Christ on the Cross, postponed the payment of the debt that the Old Testament saints owed. In chapter 4, Paul will get into how exactly they were saved as well.
Verse 26 again refers to God's righteousness. I like the thought "that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Not only is God alone the one who justifies man, but God is just in His judgments. I've heard people say a lot that it isn't fair. How come God doesn't save everybody? Sadly, I feel this is a poor understanding. I agree that it isn't fair, but from the opposite perspective. It's not fair that I have found favor with God. It's not fair that I'm going to Heaven because I don't deserve it! Fair would be me spending eternity apart from God in Hell. I rejoice in the truth that God is not fair because if He was, I'd have no hope!
We're almost done! I promise. :)
In v. 27, Paul makes it clear that we have no room to boast in anything. It has been thrown out because of the law of faith. It has nothing to do with our works. The more I understand this, the more significant Christ becomes to me.
Verse 28 is a big verse that is really a reiteration of chapter 1:16, 17. Paul writes this: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. It's by faith. It's by faith. It's by faith.
Verses 29 and 30 split the Jew and the Gentile and then rejoin them. The Jew is saved by faith and so is the Gentile. I rejoice in God's impartiality!
Paul concludes in v. 31 by keeping his audience in check. If salvation is through faith, why keep the law? Let's go out and get crazy! Paul reminds his readers (and will continue to remind them) that the law is good and needs to be upheld because of faith.
Fascinating stuff! I pray that for those who have read this whole thing that it has been a blessing to you. I have been blessed a great deal in the time I've spent in chapter 3. Next time we'll look at the father of our faith, Abraham.
As I try to consider the magnitude of this letter that God wrote through Paul, I can't help but wonder what Paul may have felt as he was drafting this letter. I imagine that I myself would be shaking with excitement and conviction and yet probably burdened as well knowing full well that most would not accept what is being written. Well, without further ado, let's dig in!
Paul has just finished speaking of true obedience coming from the heart. He now turns to answer questions that skeptics had (and still have!) regarding Paul's argument. The first eight verses are a sort of Q & A session in which Paul silences the critics.
God's Righteousness Upheld (v.1-8)
1. What advantage has the Jew (if circumcision is not merely outward)?
Clearly Jews have been given a great privilege of possessing the Word of God and being God's chosen people. I find it interesting that Paul says "to begin with" but yet never elaborates further. I'm sure he figured that being entrusted with the oracles of God would be sufficient enough to answer the doubters.
2. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
By God's very nature, He is faithful! As one commentary I read put it, if every single man who ever lived cried out against God, God would still be faithful. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His faithfulness endures apart from creation's grumblings. To elaborate further, Paul quotes Psalm 51 "that you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." God will always prevail because He alone is sovereign.
3. But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?
Paul clarifies that he is using a human argument just in case anyone is questioning his reasoning for presenting these questions. These questions to me seem to be getting more far-fetched. Imagine being asked, "So if when I do bad things, it makes you look better, doesn't that mean I can keep doing bad things?" "Why are you mad that I stole your car? It makes you look good because you don't steal!" How foolish. And how much more foolish it is to think that God is wrong to judge those who have sinned against His holy name.
Paul retorts, if God were unjust then how could He judge the world? 2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that the Lord is our righteous judge. Only the righteous can judge the world.
4. But if through my lie God's truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?
The first question here sounds like whining, doesn't it? It's not fair! Why am I getting in trouble when I prove God to be God?! The second is one that Paul has had to confront because of liars slandering the gospel that Paul is speaking. He makes it known that they are slanderers, and he proceeds to clarify his entire position in the remainder of the chapter. While Paul doesn't answer this last question immediately, he devotes an entire chapter to the idea later (chapter 6). He simply ends by saying "their condemnation is just."
No One is Righteous (v. 9-20)
This section is hard-hitting. Paul cements his argument with Old Testament Scripture and makes it impossible for anyone to debate man's sinfulness further.
Verse 9 starts with Paul reiterating that all men are on equal footing. We are all under sin whether Jew or Greek, black or white, tall or short. It doesn't matter. We are sinners. Galatians 3:22 offers another angle by saying "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin..."
Verses 10-18 are the quoted Scriptures that Paul uses to prove his point. Verses 10-12 show that no one is righteous. Verses 13-17 show the bitterness of man's words and the evil of his actions. Verse 18 explains why the previous 7 verses are true.
As it is written...
None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.
I can imagine that crickets would be the only sound after being reminded of these verses. God must have known that man would argue this so He put almost the same verses in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. The two Psalms also go on to say that man becomes convinced that there is no God. I know a few people who live under that ridiculous notion. We need to be sure not to exalt ourselves though since we were definitely included in the "no one" category before the call of Jesus Christ. Let this reality soak in. It is critical to growing in Christ. As we mature as believers, we should see an increasing need for salvation rather than a decreasing need. For apart from God, we can do nothing.
Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7
The truth hurts. It hurts so bad that most people will never except it because of their prideful hearts. Most could never imagine being labeled with such harsh accusations. But if God calls the Christian's righteous deeds filthy rags, what hope does the one seeking righteousness through the law have of fairing better?
Their feet are quick to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.
Proverbs 1:16, 3:15-17; Isaiah 59:7,8
In addition to what Paul quotes, Proverbs goes on to say that the greed of man takes away his life. Isaiah professes that the thoughts of man are thoughts of iniquity. This message is not new. This message existed in the Old Testament. Even Cain was warned by God that sin was crouching at the door. Sadly, Cain didn't listen just as all of us at one time didn't listen.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalm 36:1
Here is the root of the problem. In the folly of man, he has declared himself to be wise. God's Word, however, says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight (Proverbs 9:10). Man has foolishly denied this truth and catastrophic evil has been the only result.
The above verses bring about an array of emotions. I am saddened when I consider the hearts of men, especially those who are close to me. I am humbled by the reality that I did nothing of my own to change the reality of condemnation. And I am on the edge of my seat awaiting the glorious pronouncement of justification that Paul has masterfully worked towards and is now so close to being shared.
But first, imagine being presented with this reality for the first time. Imagine that up until Paul came along, you felt pretty good about yourself. Imagine what it would be like to realize that you are in fact not a good person at all. Really, quite the opposite is true. What would that hopelessness feel like? I guess this isn't so hard for a Christian to imagine since we all arrived at this hopelessness in order to accept what God offers us. Can you remember that day? That hour? That moment? Praise God for the realization that we are sinful! The hope of Christ overwhelms the hopeless feeling and remains until His return!
Verses 19 and 20 close out this section of chapter 3. The first half of Psalm 36:1 that Paul didn't quote provides the perfect segue into verses 19 and 20. It says "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart." Man knows that he is not good. We know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose wrong.
Verse 19 says that the law speaks to those who are under it. Let's not forget verse 15 in chapter 2 that says that the Gentiles show the law of God is written on their hearts. So all are under this law whether it be the Jew who has the Bible or the Gentile who has the law on his heart. For this reason, each and every person will stand before the Righteous Judge and have nothing to say in response to God's judgment. There will be silence. Since we are all under sin, God is just to hold the entire world accountable, and He will.
In verse 20, Paul summarizes his argument and uses it to springboard into the solution delivered by God in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
There is little else that needs to be said. This is the reality that Paul has so expertly presented in chapters 1-3. This verse represents half of the Gospel. It shows the depravity of man and the hopelessness of redemption through the law of good works. Finally, Paul presents the solution to our sin condition.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith (v. 21-31)
Paul begins this section by saying that the righteousness of God is available apart from the law. In order to preserve the integrity of Scripture, Paul makes it clear that even though righteousness is not found through them, both the Prophets and the Law testified to this righteousness.
There are three New Testament passages from the Gospels that I'll add to confirm this.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John--Matthew 11:13
Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him. John 12:41
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. John 5:45, 46
I'm also reminded of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Fifteen verses that speak of the righteous Christ taking on our sins and removing them from us. Clearly the Old Testament law and prophets are crucial in the understanding of God's righteousness.
Verse 22 gives us the answer. It is the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. I love this verse because it speaks of the inclusive nature of salvation. All who believe will be saved. What a refreshing thought, isn't it? What does God ask of us after all of His effort in redeeming us? Just believe in my Son and let me take care of everything. Of course, believing in Christ requires us to continually grow in fellowship and obedience, but God gives us everything we need when we believe in Christ.
Verse 23 is a quick return to the reality that all fall short of the glory of God. Paul is very deliberate in continuing to bring this to the readers' attention. Verses 22 and 23 really offer a summary of the Gospel. Man is sinful and needs redemption; God provides the solution.
In the verses that follow, Paul will expand on the glorious offer to mankind. There are a couple of "big" words that need to be understood in verses 24 and 25. Let's break them down a bit.
In verse 24, Paul speaks of being justified. The word justification occurs a lot in Romans and is important to understand for both Scriptural understanding and sharing the Gospel. Justification is the first of three parts of salvation (the other two being sanctification and glorification). Justification is a moment in time. In fact, it is the most significant moment in time of all believers' lives. It is the moment that one receives Christ. Instantly, he/she is made a new creation and becomes one of God's children. The moment of justification is the moment a person is made righteous.
Paul says that we are justified by His grace as a gift. That moment of being made righteous is a gift from God. It is without cost. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever know. It is by the grace of God that we are offered this gift, and it is by God's grace that we receive this gift. Amazing, isn't it?
We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ. As I come to understand the Gospel more and more, I see more clearly why it is only through Jesus Christ that any person stands a chance. If Jesus Christ walked this earth, (which He most certainly did!) then it would be outrageous to think that being hung on a Cross and bearing the weight of the world's sins would allow for other religions' beliefs to make one righteous. The reality of it is this: either we are saved by grace as the Gospel says or we have to work our way to Heaven. I've been alive long enough to know that often times I am not a very good person. I can convince a lot of people by behaving well, but internally there is hate, lust, greed, envy...you name it. These things exist in the heart of all men. That is why works just don't get it done. Even good works are motivated by evil, selfish desires. It's only through Jesus Christ.
As I thought more about this verse, the question "To what are we being redeemed?" rang in my mind. The answer is fellowship with God. Jesus has torn down the curtain that prevented man from experiencing and knowing God. Isn't that glorious?! Take a look at the following verses:
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3-5
Wow. Why would anyone want anything but the truth? It is beyond my imagination to think about what awaits! Man is God's prized creation and He wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. That's why Jesus joyfully endured the Cross. That's why He is the way, the truth, and the life. That's why He alone saves.
In verse 25, it says that Jesus is who God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. Propitiation is a big word that simply means "a cover" or "reconciliation." It is important that Paul clarifies "by His blood" since the Old Testament law was clear that the shedding of blood was the only way to cover sins. The great parallel is that Jesus Christ becomes the final sacrifice. Former animal sacrifices only provided temporary help and ultimately were used to foreshadow Christ's death and its permanent covering of sins.
Verse 25 is the second time of three that "faith" is used in verses 21-26. Each time, faith is associated with Christ. In a similar fashion, righteousness is used 4 times and each time it refers to God's righteousness.
Paul goes on to say in v. 25 that God has graciously passed over former sins. This is alluding to the sins of those who died before Christ, which probably served to keep the question regarding their salvation from being asked. When I think of forbearance, I think of my student loans. The loan company has been nice enough in the past to postpone payment of my loans while I am in school or when I went off to boot camp. In much the same way, God, knowing the future work of Christ on the Cross, postponed the payment of the debt that the Old Testament saints owed. In chapter 4, Paul will get into how exactly they were saved as well.
Verse 26 again refers to God's righteousness. I like the thought "that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Not only is God alone the one who justifies man, but God is just in His judgments. I've heard people say a lot that it isn't fair. How come God doesn't save everybody? Sadly, I feel this is a poor understanding. I agree that it isn't fair, but from the opposite perspective. It's not fair that I have found favor with God. It's not fair that I'm going to Heaven because I don't deserve it! Fair would be me spending eternity apart from God in Hell. I rejoice in the truth that God is not fair because if He was, I'd have no hope!
We're almost done! I promise. :)
In v. 27, Paul makes it clear that we have no room to boast in anything. It has been thrown out because of the law of faith. It has nothing to do with our works. The more I understand this, the more significant Christ becomes to me.
Verse 28 is a big verse that is really a reiteration of chapter 1:16, 17. Paul writes this: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. It's by faith. It's by faith. It's by faith.
Verses 29 and 30 split the Jew and the Gentile and then rejoin them. The Jew is saved by faith and so is the Gentile. I rejoice in God's impartiality!
Paul concludes in v. 31 by keeping his audience in check. If salvation is through faith, why keep the law? Let's go out and get crazy! Paul reminds his readers (and will continue to remind them) that the law is good and needs to be upheld because of faith.
Fascinating stuff! I pray that for those who have read this whole thing that it has been a blessing to you. I have been blessed a great deal in the time I've spent in chapter 3. Next time we'll look at the father of our faith, Abraham.
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