Lessons From Romans – Lesson 5
Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
When my kids got saved from a bus route, I decided that I had better go check this church out. After all what exactly are they teaching my kids. I can still remember sitting there listening to Pastor Orrino preaching and thinking to myself. But what about this or what about that. He would be making a point and I would be thinking up objections to his point. I would be thinking that might sound good but.
And then time after time he would answer my objection as fast as I would come up with them. It just blew me away. How could he know exactly what I was thinking? And no Pastor Orrino was not a mind reader. He just knew people and how to preach. Later after I got saved I heard him explain how he would write his sermons. He would ask himself if I say this, what possible objections would people have, and then he would put the answer to the objection in the message. He would build a very solid case for his points. You do not see too much preaching like this today. It takes a lot more work. Pastor Orrino did not invent this way of preaching.
Paul was doing the same thing in the book of Romans. And if you think about it this was very smart and practical because if Paul did not address the objections in this letter it could be a very long time that their objections go unanswered. Much better to deal with it immediately in the same letter.
In the end of chapter two, Paul had made several points and he anticipated the reaction of what he said and now he is going to answer those objections. Before they even have time to think but, and what about, here comes the answer.
Chapter 3: 1-2 is an answer to an objection that would be raised to chapter 2:28-29.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
Paul is teaching that Jews and Gentiles are on equal ground. He has only just started that point and will continue building that case. In the end of chapter two Paul is making a point that the outward signs is not what God looks at. God looks on the inside. God looks at the heart.
Paul is writing to saved Jews in Rome. When people get saved it takes a while and is sometimes a process to unlearn some things. Especially when it comes to the pride of culture and history and in their case being Jewish.
When Paul taught that a Jew and all of his outward Jewishness does not matter the question that would naturally enter the minds of the readers of this letter would be then what advantage was there to being a Jew? If there is no advantage to being a Jew and no advantage to the outward signs then why circumcision?
Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
He tells them that there is an advantage to being a Jew. He says much every way. God had greatly privileged the Jews. He had done many miracles on their behalf. He had parted the Red Sea, and fed them with Manna in the wilderness.
However the privileges that God gave them were not a guarantee of salvation. And then Paul gives the chief advantage. The chief advantage was that they were given the oracles of God. That is a term that is used to describe God’s Holy Word.
They had the chief advantage of having the word of God in their own language. The Bible tells us in Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God and they had the word of God. They had the means of knowing how to be saved. The entire Old Testament pointed to the coming Messiah. In the Old Testament times they were saved by faith in a Messiah that would come, and we are saved by faith in a Messiah that did come.
Everyone is saved the same way by faith in Christ. If anyone should have been able to recognize Jesus as the messiah they should have because they had the advantage of having the Word of God and all of the prophecies about Jesus.
They had the advantage of having and hearing the word of God. That gave them the means for salvation, which gave them an advantage, but that did not give them a monopoly on salvation.
Paul answered the objection that would be raised, that if the Jews and Gentiles are on equal ground then what advantage was there in being a Jew. And the answer was that they had the advantage of having the word of God. They had increased light. The chief advantage was in having and hearing the word of God
Paul told them that being a Jew outwardly did not matter. Paul told them that it is an inward matter of the heart. Being a part of a group was not going to save them. He knew that they would object to this clear teaching with an argument of then why did God make us a special people. There must be an advantage of it. So Paul anticipates the question, states it, and then answers it with yes there is an advantage, and the chief advantage is having been given the Word of God
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
An objection could be raised that what were the advantages of having the oracles of God, when so many of them did not believe.
Does not the fact that so many Jews do not believe make the faith of God without effect. Should not having the Word of God make people believe? The Jews were committed the very words of God and they were called to be His special people. Should that not mean that they should be kept from going to hell? Would not the fact that some of the Jews did not believe mean that God had failed in his promises.
Does not their unbelief show that something must be wrong with God’s plan?
Our text says God forbid. The promise made to Abraham and the other patriarchs was not an unconditional and absolute promise that all the Jews should be saved. God did give Abraham some unconditional promises and God will keep every one of them.
But nowhere in those promises was that being of Jewish heritage guaranteed salvation. Abraham was not saved because he was a Jew, or because of anything that he did.
Jews could not count on salvation from simply being a Jew. Their religion, their rites, ceremonies, and circumcision would not save them. God looks on the heart and not on the outward signs.
He has anticipated the objection of, Is there not an advantage of being a Jew? And answered it.
Then he anticipated the objection of Does not their unbelief show that something must be wrong with God’s plan. And he answered that.
Now in these verses he anticipates yet another objection.
Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) Rom 3:6 God forbid
Is God unrighteous to judge sin. After stating this question Paul says (I speak as a man). This is an objection that comes from man’s prideful sinful heart. From a vain foolish proud creature.
Then he states the answer. First he says God forbid: This is a way of rebuking the question in the strongest way possible.
Then he asks a question
Rom 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Now it was an admitted fact which no one among the Jews would call into question that God would judge the world.
With this question they are being shown the inconsistency of their objection.
If it was unjust for God to inflict punishment on sin then how would it be right or consistent for God to judge the world? If it was not right for God to condemn, then judgment would be a farce.
God will get glory not only by forgiving sin, but by fulfilling all of His promises and all of His predictions. God gets glory by being true to what He has said. And this would include fulfilling his judgment on the guilty.
Rom 3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
Rom 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
This book is written to people who knew the Old Testament. They were not going to miss the unique significance of Romans 3:10-18. Each and every verse is a quote or paraphrase from the Old Testament. This would put an end to any objection in the mind of his readers of, Paul that is just your opinion about none being righteous. Paul what is it with you and this “new” doctrine? By using this many quotes he is showing them what they should have already realized because it is in the Old Testament over and over.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Psa 14:1, 53:1 Ecc 7:20
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Psa 14:2, 53:2
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psa 14:3, 53:3
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Psa 5:9, 140:3
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Psa 10:7
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: Isa 59:7 Prov 1:16
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: Isa 59:7
17 And the way of peace have they not known: Isa 59:8
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. Isa 59:8
The book of romans has a lot of Old Testament quotations. 70 in total. And here in these 9 verses we have 15. He is pounding it home not only that there is none righteous, but also that this is not a new teaching.
No change has occurred. There are none righteous now and there has not been any righteous since Adam fell.
Anyone who has had a child will know that they do not have to be taught how to throw a fit. Cry just for attention, or if something does not go their way.
All are born with sin. Everyone is a sinner. Everyone is guilty of breaking God’s Laws.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
How does the law stop every man’s mouth?
The law is quite large. It consists of more than just the Ten Commandments. The law also had hundreds of moral, civil, and ceremonial laws. However, we will only have to look at just the Ten Commandments for every mouth to be stopped.
Commandment number One
Deu 5:7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Well this one takes out the Muslims, and the Hindus, and the like. But this one also takes out many who profess to be Christian. For example this commandment takes out the Mormons. They worship a different God than the God of the Bible. Joseph Smith said that “First God Himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heaven, is a man like unto one of yourselves.” He also said “God himself, the father of us all dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did, .. You have to go to learn how to be gods yourselves.” According to the Mormon Church, the god of earth is an exalted man of flesh and bone. Through eternal progression this once man, was somehow found worthy in the Celestial heaven, was made a god and given the earth to rule. Ask a Mormon who came first God or man? If they answer the question man came first, then man created God. This is what the Mormon’s believe. If they answer the question God, then they are not answering according to Mormon doctrine. How could the god of Mormonism be born into the universe that pre-existed him?
The God of the Bible created everything. The God of the Bible is eternal. He will always exist and He has always existed. The god of Mormonism is not the God of the Bible. They have broken the first commandment.
Many other professing Christian religions have also broken this first commandment because what they teach about God is contrary to the Bible. Their god is not the same as the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is a God that will allow only one way into heaven, and that is thru Jesus. So a religion whose god lets you go thru the Pope, or Mary, or by money (buying your way out of an imaginary purgatory), or good works, via a cookie, or baptism, ect… is a different god than the God of the Bible. Catholics have broken the first commandment.
Then there are the people who make money their god, or evolution, or you fill in the blank.
We have almost taken care of everyone and this is still only the first commandment.
Commandment number Two
Deu 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee [any] graven image, [or] any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the waters beneath the earth:
Deu 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them:
This is the commandment not to bow to an image. Well the Buddhist are out. This commandment is talking about having idols that replace God. Verse 9 says that they are not to serve them.
Now you might not have an statue in your house that you are serving instead of God. As a replacement for God. But how many of let football replace your service to God. Or anything else for that matter. It may be something that in itself is not even bad. It might be something that is actually good in itself. But it is a sin if you let it replace God.
Commandment number Three
Deu 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
There is hardly a day that goes by in our society that I do not hear someone say God’s name in vain. You hear it in the work place, you hear it in the grocery store, you hear God’s name taken in vain on the T.V. Even on the news. And sadly to say I even hear God’s name taken in vain in the Church parking lot and by Christians no less.
This one commandment takes almost everyone out just by itself. But you say I have not said the Lord’s name in vain for years. Well you still broke the law. All it takes is once. Well you say I only said it that one time that I hit my finger with a hammer. It does not matter. God’s Holy law does not say, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain except. There are no exceptions.
How many people do we have left. I would dare say that not too many have gotten past the first three commandments.
Commandment number Four
Deu 5:12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.
Have you kept the 7th day of the week as a Holy day to the Lord. Have you ever worked it? Even once?
Commandment number Five
Deu 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
I think that this one has disqualified everyone. Now you might say but I love my parents and I do honor them. Yes that may be, but you need to remember that God’s Holy Law requires 100% compliance. Did you ever once back talk your parents? Even once. Even when you were 3 years old. But you say I never disobeyed them. Did you always do everything that they told you to do with an attitude that was honoring to them? Did you ever take out the garbage grumbling under your breath? Remember God looks on the heart and excuses will not cut it with Him.
Commandment number Six
Deu 5:17 Thou shalt not kill.
Well you say I got this one. Finally there is one that I will not be guilty of. Oh really.
1Jo 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
God considers you a murder for just hating your brother. God knows that given the right circumstances you would in actuality do what is in your wicked heart.
Commandment number Seven
Deu 5:18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
You do not even have to touch her to be guilty before God. All you have to do is look upon her with lust. All you have to do is look at her and think how good it would be to have her, and you have committed adultery. Oh and by the way, this goes for women too. You are not off the hook here. You lust after a man and you are guilty.
Commandment number Eight
Deu 5:19 Neither shalt thou steal.
Here is another one that gets most people. I stole some candy when I was a little kid. That would be enough to be found guilty. Add to that all the stealing of office pens, paper, paper clips. Well I only used one you say. That would be enough.
Commandment number Nine
Deu 5:20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Have you ever told a lie about someone? Have you ever gossiped? Even once?
Even though no one has gotten thru the first nine commandments, I am going to go thru number ten anyway.
Commandment number Ten
Deu 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour’s.
To covet is simply to desire something that is not yours. It could be anything because verse 21 says “any thing that is thy neighbour’s. Did you ever look at your neighbors new truck, or his house, or his clothes, his new fishing pole, I mean anything that is his no matter how little and wished that you could have the things that he has. Then you have broken commandment number ten.
The law has stopped everyone’s mouth. And remember we only looked at 10 of the hundreds of God’s rules in the law.
This is why
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:
If all we had was the law, then it would be hopeless. But the Bible says that you can be justified, and the Bible tells you how.
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
No man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. Some might then ask “If the law (the rules) cannot save you, then why was the law given?”
These verses tell us.
: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
And for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
The law was given to give us the knowledge of what sin is. The law was given so that every mouth may be stopped. No one will be able to open their mouth and argue for innocence at the judgment. The law will stop their bragging. The law stops the excuses. The law was given that every mouth may be stopped.
The Righteousness of God is through Faith
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The good news is that everyone can be justified. We are all in the same boat. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Oh some might be able to go a tiny bit further, but none will make it.
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The price of justification to you is free! We are justified freely by his grace. Grace is unmerited favor. You did not earn it, you do not deserve it, and you cannot work for it. It is grace. It is totally underserved and free.
But you say how can a Holy Righteous Just God overlook sin. How can he just let it go without payment? Without justice. Must not a price be paid for sin?
Yes a just God cannot just overlook sin. Sin demands Justice. That is why there was a price paid for your sin. A terrible price.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
God makes it so clear how to be justified. A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. All you have to do to be justified is realize that you can’t do it on your own and have faith in Jesus without the deeds of the law.
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
So far Paul has proved that everyone is a sinner, and that all men no matter who they are can only be justified by faith.
We have seen that the law was given to show us what sin is. The law proves that men are guilty before God and that they cannot keep God’s law. The law shows man his need for a savior. The law cannot save; the law points the way to Jesus.
We are saved thru faith and not in obedience to the law.
The question then arises.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith?
Do we make void the law?
Barnes wrote “Yea, we establish the law, is the obvious answer. Jesus has died to satisfy its claims, and lives to honour its precepts. Thus he hath brought in righteousness, which, being imputed to them that believe, forms such a ground of pardon and acceptance, as the law cannot challenge.”
God’s laws are right and holy. And God’s law is established in many ways. One way is that the breaking of the law could not be dismissed. Breaking the law could not be swept under the rug or ignored.
God demanding justice for breaking the law establishes the law. The fact that Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for the lawbreakers establishes the law as true and just and that the law demands justice.
Faith does not make void the law because it is faith in Jesus who paid the penalty that the law demanded. Faith does not void the law. Faith in Jesus actually says we believe the law was just and we believe that the law demands justice and we believe that Jesus paid the penalty the law demanded for us.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.