Romans 3 — Grace and Redemption
Introduction: The Jews were blessed by God to have received his commands and prophecies to be recorded as scripture. Yet all Jews, as well as all Gentiles, are in the grasp of sin. But grace and redemption are made possible to all by faith in Christ Jesus. Paul used the law and the prophets to show the Jews that they cannot be justified before God by keeping the law. This chapter of Romans is in my own paraphrase, to some extent in an amplified style, prepared by examining several translations, and with some use of a Greek lexicon.
NOTE: Verses in the comments are from the 1769 King James Bible.
A — The Oracles of God Were Committed to the Jews
Romans 3 “1 What advantage is there to being a Jew? or what does it profit to have circumcision? 2 Much in every way: chiefly, because the oracles, commands and prophecies, of God were committed and entrusted to them. 3 What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make faith in God to be without effect? 4 God forbid: indeed, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might be justified in the things you say, and might overcome when you are judged… 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?”
Comments: Though Paul described in the previous chapter many ways in which the Jews had failed to display and profit from their blessings from God, all of those failures could not nullify what God had done through them. They had been given God’s commands for living in the manner pleasing to him, and recorded as scripture the truths and prophecies that reveal the way of salvation for the soul. Even if every person was judged to be a liar by rejecting God’s truth, God would still be true in both his mercy to salvation and in his judgment to condemnation, because truth is an unchangeable part of his nature. Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” 1 John 5:10 “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
B — All Jews and Gentiles Are Sinful
Romans 3 “9 What then? are we Jews better than the Gentiles? No, not in any way: for we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There are none righteous, no, not one: 11 There are none that understand, there are none who seek after God. 12 They have all turned away, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one who does good, no, not one… 18 There is no fear or respect of God in the way they see things.”
Comments: Though the Jews were separated by God for special purposes, Paul declared that the Jews were not better than the Gentiles. He then quoted a combination of passages from Psalms and Isaiah to show that his points aligned with the Jewish scriptures. Psalm 14:1–3 declares that all have gone aside and there is none that doeth good. Isaiah 59:7–8 describes feet that run to evil, and those who know not the way of peace. Psalm 36:1 adds that there is no fear of God before the eyes of the wicked. Those who do whatever they please see no reason to fear or respect God.
C — Grace and Redemption Are in Christ Jesus
Romans 3 “19 Now we know that whatsoever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every mouth may be kept from objecting, and all the world thus becomes guilty before God. 20 Therefore by doing the deeds of the law no person shall be justified in God’s sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all of those who believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation… through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission and forgiveness of sins that are past, through the forbearance… of God.”
Comments: Paul said the Jews believed the law was given to distinguish them from all other people, but none of them could possibly keep the whole law. Therefore all people throughout the world, Jew and Gentile, are guilty before God. The law provides the knowledge of sin, but attempting to keep the whole law to become justified before God is futility. Paul said the law and the prophets prove that righteousness comes only through faith in Christ Jesus — available to all who will believe, with no difference, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The justification of sinners is by free grace through the redemption, the rescue from sin, found only in Christ Jesus. God has set forth Christ to be the only acceptable offering for reconciliation to bring those who believe into peace with God.
D — Justification by Faith Establishes the Law
Romans 3 “27 Where is boasting then? Is it excluded by a law of sufficient works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only, or is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing there is one God, who shall justify circumcised Jews by faith, and uncircumcised Gentiles through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: indeed, we establish the law!”
Comments: The gift of grace by faith eliminates any basis for boasting about personal achievement in good deeds. There is only one God who can justify both Jew and Gentile, and he justifies through faith. Deuteronomy 6:4–5 “The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Mark 12:29–31 records Jesus affirming this same first commandment and adding the second, to love your neighbor as yourself. Paul said the law of God is not at all made void by faith, but rather firmly established because the righteousness by faith is from God, just as the law is from God. Matthew 5:16–17 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Galatians 3:24 “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I thank you for what you have revealed to me through this portion of Paul’s letter as he told the Jews of your very special blessing to them because they had been entrusted with the oracles of God. But that did not make them superior to the Gentiles in the matter of grace. The unbelief of some Jews kept them in condemnation of sin along with all other people who refuse your grace by faith in Christ. Lord, I thank you that Paul declared it to be utter foolishness to believe that those who continue in sin somehow are giving praise to you because your mercy and grace will abound all the more even though they have no desire for repentance. It was a joy to review the Old Testament passages that clearly show that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous in themselves, whether Jew or Gentile. Since keeping the law cannot possibly save our soul, we must seek peace with God by faith. How I thank you, Lord, that Christ Jesus is the acceptable offering for my sins so I am declared righteous by my faith in Christ and in his shed blood. Lord, I ask that you enable me by your Spirit to live in a way that demonstrates your law in my life to bring glory to your name. Amen, and amen!
Published 27 February 2016