Romans - Chapter 3

2. PHRASES TO REMEMBER
“Justified/justification”
A law-court term, wherein the judge (God) declares
someone to be “innocent” (a part of His covenant family)
in the present in - light of our faith in Jesus-
and carries us through to the end by the power
of His Spirit so that we can be declared
righteous at the final judgment
WHAT PAUL MEANS WHEN
HE SAYS WHAT HE SAYS

3. Then what advantage has the Jew?
Or what is the value of circumcision?
Much, in every way. For in the first place the
Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness
nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means!
Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true,
as it is written, “So that You may be found
right in what You say, and be victorious
when You come to court.” (Psalm 51:4)
Romans 3:1-4

4. But if our injustice serves to confirm the
justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust
to inflict anger on people? (I’m speaking in a human way!)
By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness
abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned
as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander
us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that
good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!
Romans 3:5-8

5. What then? Are we any better off? No,
not at all; for we have already charged
that all, both Jews and Greeks, are
under the power of sin, as it is written:
“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
there is no one who has understanding, there is
no one who seeks God. All have turned aside, together
they have become worthless; there is no one who shows
kindness, there is not even one.” (Psalm 14:1-3;53:1-3)
Romans 3:9-12

6. “Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.” (Psalm 5:9)
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.” (Psalm 140:3)
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (Psalm 10:7)
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way
of peace they have not known.” (Isaiah 59:7-8)
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Psalm 36:1)
Romans 3:13-18

7. Now we know that whatever the law says,
it says to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced and
the whole world held accountable to God.
Therefore no one will be declared righteous
in God’s sight by the works of the law;
rather, through the law we
become conscious of our sin.
Romans 3:19-20

8. But now apart from the law the covenant justice
of God has been made known, to which the
Law and the Prophets testify. This covenant justice is
given through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for the
benefit of all who believe. There is no difference
between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, and all are
declared righteous freely by His grace through the
redemption that came by The Messiah, Jesus.
Romans 3:21-24

9. God presented The Messiah as the place of mercy
through the faithful shedding of His own blood.
He did this to demonstrate His covenant faithfulness,
because in His forbearance He had left the
sins committed beforehand unpunished—
He did it to demonstrate His covenant faithfulness at
the present time, so as to be just and the One who
declares righteous those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26

10. GRANTED UNIVERSAL SIN
How can God be be in the right,
be faithful to His covenant, and still
be just in dealing with evil/sin, while
rescuing those who call to Him in distress?
(NOTE: The overriding question was NOT,
“How do individual believers get to heaven?”
Paul is thinking in broader categories...)
AND GOD’S PROMISE TO ISRAEL…

11. GRANTED UNIVERSAL SIN
How can God be be in the right,
be faithful to His covenant, and still
be just in dealing with evil/sin, while
rescuing those who call to Him in distress?
1 – Language of the law-court (justification)
2 – Language of the slave market (redemption)
3 – Language of the temple (place of mercy)
AND GOD’S PROMISE TO ISRAEL…

12. IN THE DEPTH OF JESUS
(1) In the right, by dealing properly and impartially
with sin; (2) to be faithful to His covenant with
Israel; (3) to be committed to saving those who
call out in helpless faith.
God accomplishes ALL of this THROUGH
the blood of Jesus shed on the cross
GOD SHOWS HIMSELF TO BE…

13. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law?
The law that requires works? No, because of the law that
requires faith. For we maintain that a person is declared to be in
the right by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God
the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too?
Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God,
who will declare the circumcised to be in the right by faith and
the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify
the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:27-30

14. SOUL TRAINING
EXERCISE
Spend time thanking God for:
- Declaring you righteous/innocent
- Buying you back from slavery to sin
- Showing you mercy