Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Romans 3:19-31

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. 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. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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, 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. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Preamble
Before we start let us quickly review some of the things the Apostle Paul has already spoken of. First there is a universal revelation of God which all of humanity understands and has seen. Second there is a universal judgment from God on all those who reject or harden themselves towards that revelation, a judgment which is first manifested in this life by God giving those who do so over to a debased mind (1:18-32). Third though we (whether Jews or Gentiles) observe this judgment unfolding in peoples lives, (or even the world around us), we are not too judge them, as if we ourselves are better then they. Indeed the sins we see and condemn in others are often our own, though they maybe manifested differently, or are being held in ones heart. It makes no difference, we like everyone else are also in need of repentance is the point. Fourth whether or not one has the Law, or has ever even known the Law, also makes no difference. God's universal revelation of Himself and His moral Will is implanted in the consciences of all of mankind. And thus those who live contrary to it will find themselves under the judgment of God (Rom 2:1-16). Fifth therefore for the Jews whose hope is in the Law, simply having received the Law of God neither justifies them nor does it give them an exemption from the judgment of God. Same with their "circumcision." Simply because one is circumcised in the flesh does not justify them in the sight of God, especially if they are living contrary to the Law of God (Rom 2:17-29). All which brings us back too chapter three and the fact that through the Law WE ARE ALL (Whether Jew or Gentile) PLACED UNDER SIN, AND THUS ALL OF US NEED THE GOSPEL (Rom 3:23). For the Law justifies no-one other than God who gave it. And so that is the principal upon which the Gospel must be preached and we ourselves must receive it, as people whose only hope for salvation from our sins and eternal damnation does not (and cannot) come through our own obedience to the Law, but only through the Cross of Jesus Christ, that is the Crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by which God justifies all who believe (i.e. put their faith) in Him (John 3:16). And so here the Apostle Paul expounds neither the Law, nor mans righteousness through it, but rather God's Righteousness which comes to us all through the Person and Work of His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Commentary
Vs. 19 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.

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the Law", is not simply a reference to the Jews. Rather it is a reference to everyone who is not In Christ, that is who has not yet been born-again by the Spirit of God through a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus is not yet in a New Covenant relationship with God, which by default places them under the Law (antithesis Rom 6:14). And so the Apostle Paul does not pull any punches about the Laws expressed purpose, which is not too justify anyone who seeks to be justified by it, but rather bring forth true knowledge of sin, of our sin and condemnation before God because of it. Thus through the Law every mouth becomes stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God. Having nothing to say that could either defend them, or justify them before God. That is what happens to every person who looks into the Law and seeks to find themselves justified through it. Just as that will be everyone's person at God's Finial Judgment who does not receive the Lord Jesus Christ in this life while they can. Thus the Laws ministry (outside of declaring to us what is sin, and thus revealing to us our own sin) is not to bring about the justification of anyone, either of the Jews or the Gentiles who seek to be justified by it, but only a conviction of our sin, by which all people have only one hope and option, Christ.

Vs. 20 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. 

Thus for the Jew, or the Gentile, whose hope is fixated upon "keeping the Law" as a means to being justified (i.e. declared right) by God, and thus earning salvation for themselves through their own deeds, they are only being self-deceived. For "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Therefore God cannot justify them or anyone else by their own deeds (i.e. works) through the Law. For through the Law there is only the knowledge of sin; that is of ones sin before Him. Thus of ones own guilt and condemnation before Him. Mankind's works no matter how diligent and persistent can never erase that fact. Thus the Law (here expressly including the Ten Commandments) does not justify us, it only condemns us, which is why it is called the "ministry of death" and "the ministry of condemnation" (see 2 Cor 3:7-9). And so the salvation of humanity from sin and death had to come another way, and it has, via the Gospel. The theology of which the Apostle Paul is expounding in the following verses.

Vs. 21-23 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Here we have expressively declared to us that the remedy for our sins and transgressions does not come through the Law, but rather through the Righteousness of God apart from the Law (vs. 21), being brought to us all, and imputed to us all, who believe in Jesus Christ through the Gospel (vs. 22).  And so it is by God's Righteousness which expressly comes to us apart from the Law, though it is witnessed too us all by the Law and the Prophets, by which we have peace and reconciliation with God. For it is because of Jesus Christ's first willingly suffering crucifixion death, by which God has made the everlasting atonement (or payment) for all of our sins and transgressions, that God can now justify us all who believe in Him through what He Himself has done, through the work and Person of His Son (John 3:16). That is what is being declared to us in verses nineteen to twenty-eight. The Righteousness of God that saves every believing sinner who puts their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:13-14). For again all of us have sinned, and have fallen short of the glory of God (vs. 23). Thus whether one is a Jew or a Gentile is irrelevant. Same with whether or not one has kept the law or not. All of us have sinned (1 John 1:8) and thus all of us are in need of the Gospel.

Vs. 24-26 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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, 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.

Having declared the sin of us all in verse twenty-three, the Apostle Paul now declares to us all the grace of God which is extended freely to us all who believe in Christ Jesus, which comes to us through the Righteousness of God which atones for us all through His own Son Jesus Christ's shed blood on the Cross. And so we who believe in Jesus Christ have God's Righteous work imputed to us and thus we are being justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (vs. 24). For it was God in His Righteousness who set forth His own Son Jesus Christ as the propitiation for all of our sins and transgressions. Whose blood didn't just provide "a covering" for all our sins, as the Old Testament sacrifices did, but the complete expiation of them all from the sight of God. And so Jesus Christ has become for us the propitiation from God where all our sins and transgressions find expiation in the sight of God. That is where once the Old Testament high priest met with God once a year on the mercy seat with the sprinkling of sacrificial animal blood on it, on the Day of Atonement, to bring about a covering for the sins committed by the people. And year after year he would have to repeat that process. Jesus Christ through His own sacrificial crucifixion death and shed blood on the cross has once and for all time brought forth, not just a temporary covering for our sins, but the complete expiation of them all, which is imputed to us all who believe in Him, the moment we believe in Him. And so God in His forbearance set forth His Son Jesus Christ for this expressed purpose to redeem all who believe in Him, for again God in His forbearance had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 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. (Vs. 25-26).

Vs. 27-28 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

And so the Apostle Paul asks us all where is the boosting? It is excluded, from both the Jew who thinks they have a leg up on the Gentiles because the Law came through them, as well as the Gentile who thinks that by their own works or righteousness they will somehow attain to salvation for themselves, which they can not. For salvation is neither by Law, nor by works, but rather the Law of faith, that justifies everyone and anyone no matter what they have done, who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so where is the boosting? Since the whole Message of the Gospel is about God's Righteousness in redeeming sinful mankind from eternal damnation, something we could never do for ourselves. And so we also conclude like the Apostle Paul that a man or women or child (whether Jewish or a Gentile) is justified by faith In Christ apart from the deeds of the law.

Vs. 29-31 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

The first question asked and then answered here by the Apostle Paul is that of partiality, that is God is not just the God of the Jews (as the Jews often thought) but equally of the Gentiles. And so the Jew who is circumcised has no advantage over the Gentile who is not, since justification comes mutually to us all by faith (vs. 29-30). The next question the Apostle Paul asks then answers in verse thirty one, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." Is not saying that we are "under the Law" (see Rom 6:14). For faith does not nullify the Law, neither its purpose, or its effect, rather it establishes it. And so it is through faith In Jesus Christ that the Law finds it's fulfillment for the salvation of every person who believes in Him (Gal 3:19-25). As well the Law will also be the measure by which God will judge everyone rejects the salvation of God and carries on in their sins (1 Tim. 1:8-11). And so faith does not make void the Law, on the contrary it establishes it. Establishes it here as the means by which God keeps all people under tutelage until they come to salvation through faith In Jesus Christ and thus are reconciled to God.

Which begs the question have you been reconciled back to God? For all us have sinned (that is what the Law reveals about us all) and thus all of us find ourselves both separated from the life of God, and under the judgment of God, until we come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. Who became sin for us so that God could save us who believe through Him, that is Jesus bore our sins on Calvary's tree (i.e. the cross) which is the place and the means by which God both punished our sins, as well as made the everlasting atonement for them all. So that when anyone in faith looks to the Lord Jesus Christ crucified in their place they will have remission of all their sins and new and everlasting life with Him. And that is what God commands everyone to do, (not to try to "change" themselves or to try to earn His salvation) but rather to look too, I.e. believe in His Son Jesus Christ and trust Him and Him alone and what He has done by His crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead as the sole means by which God not only saves us from our sins, but He also changes us here and now by His Spirit dwelling inside us and thus makes He alone makes us fit for and citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore if you have not yet done so then by all means seize this opportunity and receive the Lord Jesus Christ's Person into your heart and life by faith. For by a simple prayer of faith you can call on the Name of the Lord Jesus, and in so doing you will have remission of all your sins and new and everlasting life with Christ the moment you believe in Him (Rom 10:9-10, 13; Eph. 1:13-14).
Therefore here and now make a bold and firm decision for the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to come into your heart and life, to be your Lord and Savior. For when you do He will both save you as well as change you. And so to do this simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that You were willingly crucified in my place so that You could take the wrath of God in my place, and by Your doing so save me from an eternity in hell. I also believe that You rose again from the dead the third day so that Your could vanquish death forever and thus bring new and everlasting life to me and to everyone who believes in You. Therefore I now invite You into My heart and life to be my Lord and Savior, in Jesus' Name, amen.
Now if you have just made that decision for the Lord Jesus Christ then know that this is your new beginning, this is the first day of a whole new eternity for you! Though this is not the end but the beginning of a new life with new Godly purposes and desires which God will lead you too do. Therefore to facilitate this (as well as your own spiritual growth) get into God's Word and start discovering all of the Lord's wonderful truths and desires for you there. For that is where the Christians new life finds it roots, in the soil of God's Word, which is given us to sanctify the whole person in body, mind, and spirit. And so everything that you will ever need to know as this pertains to salvation and thus healthy and fruitful and abundant living is found there, so don't neglect it, instead grow strong in it and through it. And thus delight in God by it! For salvation is something not only to be passionately shared, but also passionately enjoyed! So as much as you can enjoy living richly and freely everyday in Christ. For when you do you will not only be a blessing to others, you yourself will be richly blessed by Him.
Your friend In Christ
Tom


Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982



Word Studies
Vs. 19 stopped, φράσσω, vb., Str. 5420; GK 5582; LN 20.30; 33,125; 68.45 (Rom 3:19; 2 Cor 11:10; Heb. 11:33) 3x

Vs. 24 propitiation, ἱλαστήριον, -ου, -τό, Str 2435; GK 2663; TDNT 3.318; TDNTA 362; LN 40.12; 40:13 (Rom 3:25; Heb. 9:5) 2x


 
 

 

 






 

 

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