As a Quick Aside: Always answer with Scripture when asked and there is one applicable
(Romans 3:1)What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
- Is there an advantage to being a Jew? How about a Messianic (completed) Jew?
- "Circumcision" here is another way of saying "being the circumcision", or being Jewish, as Paul is not talking about the actual physical act
- The context of the previous verses (chapter) and the following show this to be the case
- The covenant of circumcision was to the Jew, not the Gentile
- But, in the Church, then, Jew and Gentile are one, and so the circumcision is not for spiritual purposes (as it is not of the heart, but rather a physical distinction only, outwardly in the flesh.
- This distinction, however, is unmistakable in both the flesh and the spirit (or at least is supposed to be)
- An example of our "Gentilic"/Church circumcision being used today is "Are you baptized?", "Are you a member of my Church?", "Are you tithing?", and then coupling salvation and spirituality with rites, works of the flesh.
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(Romans 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.
(Romans 3:2)
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
- Thank a Jew for your Scriptures
- Those Scriptures are THE advantage passed down to us to live by, to get the Gospel from
- Jews have many advantages, including a guaranteed home land they are in now, their own Scriptures, their own physical blessings on earth
- These are unconditional promises
- They have the Messiah who is a Jew, a King on the Throne of David, the apostles, etc.
- This advantage they had created for themselves a specific responsibility to follow God, as it was through them that God spoke to mankind in the Old Testament
- No other nation or group of people ever had such promises as a Kingdom on earth, physical blessings and the Scriptures, God speaking directly to them exclusively
- Israel was the foundation, as a nation, of the Church itself
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
(Isaiah 9:7)
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The SCRIBES and the SCRIPTURES
The following meticulous procedures and methods were used for making copies of God's law (Torah). Those who performed the copying were permitted to use ONLY animal skins that were clean for writing. Additionally, the ink they used had to be prepared using a very special formula. The color of the ink had to be black. Before each time they wrote the name of God they were to completely wash both their writing instruments and themselves. Each word had to be read aloud before it was written down.Additionally, every column written by one of the scribes had to have a minimum of 48 lines of text. They were not allowed to write columns that had 61 lines of text or more. Their work was generally reviewed within thirty days. If 3 or more pages required any corrections, the entire manuscript had to be rewritten. They had to count the number of letters, words, and so on of each manuscript they wrote. If just 2 letters touched each other the document they were working on was deemed invalid. Once completed the manuscripts could only be put in sacred places.
(Romans 3:3)
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
- This is a good thing to say to any unbeliever when they say, "I do not believe in God" or "I do not believe in Jesus", or "I do not believe in Heaven or hell"
- You remind them that these things and all truth are not determined by whether we accept them or not, God is faithful with His Word and faithful to save
- He is the I AM, not the "I AM who you want me to be" or "I AM if you believe in me"
- God was faithful to them and us through Jesus Christ despite their rebellion, rejection and unbelief
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.
- This includes all men, even those who would like to tell you they speak the truth, always, and a "good people"-they are liars!
- This is a quote from Psalms 51:4
- The converse is true, that no man is or ever will be justified in God's sight, except by the righteousness Jesus Christ
- man likes to call God a liar, imagine that!
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
(Job 40:8)
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
(Psalms 116:11)
I said in my haste, All men are liars.
(Romans 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)
- "If God made man, and man is wicked, then God must be also wicked, so how can He judge anyone?"
- J. Vernon Mcgee said: "If God uses sin to get glory to Himself, He should not punish the sinner!" (an excuse for sinning)n
- "Is God unjust for judging the unrighteous?"
- "Mankind can't help himself to not sin!"
- Also, the staunch unbeliever arrogantly and ignorantly likes to point to "the Old Testament ogre who killed innocent babies" and sit in judgment on God
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
- Again it is a denial that God is unjust, because regardless of the sin, that sin is from man, and God is Holy, Just, Righteous
For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
- Paul is asking why it is that sinners can preach the Word, being liars, and be judged as sinners
- We are judged as sinners when we reject Christ; we are not judged as sinners that we are when we accept Him
- There is no one who is not a liar; there is no one who is not a sinner
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.
- This is the absurdity that unbelievers said Paul was teaching, that "our sin is to God's Glory, so let's sin more!"
- The word "affirm" here simply means to state, not to verify
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;
- This is the end of the matter-no matter who you are, if you are a descendant of Adam, you are a sinner, no exceptions!
- "proved" means shown, not really proven (although it is proven)
- Man's nature is to be a sinner, and therefore sins
- There is no such thing as "better" people, better Christians, etc. because we are all simply sinners in the flesh
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
- This is said throughout the Old Testament
- Because it is written, that is also the end of the matter, as it is God's Word
- That ends man's opinion on the matter
- This righteousness is before God, not men (holiness)
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
- The natural man cannot understand God, or His character, His plan, His will without revelation via God the Holy Ghost
- The knowledge that any man has of who God is, their Creator revealed (Romans 1:20) , they do not act on without the Holy Ghost
- All religions claim to search for God; nothing can be further from the truth. He cannot know God without revelation from God
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
- "They all"...there are no exceptions
- "Together"......in the same boat
- "Unprofitable".....useless to God for His Glory and purposes
- "None that doeth good", including the religions do gooders who help the poor, give to charity, pray and fast without Jesus Christ in their hearts
- Their works are for themselves and mankind, not for God, and will burn with them
- Faith without works is dead (James 2); so too work without faith is dead
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(Romans 3:13)
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
- Sepulchres contain dead bodies, bones, rotten flesh
- The deceit is the lies mankind tells all day long
- The poison is the forked tongue and the biting teeth, the venom that kills (James 3)
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
- Foul language, sailor talk, trash talk, bad mouthing others
- The mouth is full; it doesn't just contain it or hold it, it overflows
- Bitterness has a root; it is not just a symptom. it is the only sin listed this way
- Roots are hidden, unseen, but nourish the plant (tongue, mouth)
- Kill the root, kill the problem
- If not, bitterness kills the host (us)
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
(Romans 3:15)
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
- Mankind is always wanting to fight, be at war, to shed blood in hatred, to settle scores, with chips on his shoulder, exact revenge
- It says they run fast to do it, not just waiting and lurking in the shadows, but are in a hurry
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
- They are like a tornado, whirlwind, hurricane. Wherever they go, trouble comes with them from all around
And the way of peace have they not known:
- They do not know the Prince of Peace, so they have no inner peace
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Romans 3:18)
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
- This also means they lack wisdom from God, as the fear of God leads to wisdom from God
- This may even mean they have worldly wisdom, which is not the same
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
(Proverbs 9:10)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Romans 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.
- The law was not written for the believer to follow God; it was written for the unbeliever to find God
- This is because it does not say, "You need to follow me (the law)", but rather, "You are not righteous, my Law is because I AM (God)"
- This is judgment day, when it is not a trial, but a sentencing only
- They will be guilty of their crimes simply because they will be guilty of the ultimate crime-Rejecting the LORD Jesus Christ and His Death, Burial and Resurrection to pay for their sins
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.
- This, as was said earlier, is the purpose of the Law
- No is none at all, no person who is unsaved, in their mortal bodies, standing before God without Jesus Christ as the propitiation for their sins, having the Holy Spirit
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
(Romans 3:21)
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
- By grace through faith in Jesus's death, it is seen by us, as well as was foretold by the prophets and all believers in the times of the Old Testament
- It is manifested to us now in the Scriptures by them
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:
- The Jew, the Gentile, all are in the Church, all saved the same way as the Old Testament saints, only they looked forward to the Cross-we look back at it
- Then it was Jew/Gentile believers only through the nation of Israel; now it is Christians in the Church
The Old and the New
- Old Testament, law was for obedience and to point them to the future Messiah, as only belief in the future saved them
- New Testament, no law, just a conscience (law written on our hearts)
- Old Testament, Grace through Faith
- New Testament, Grace through Faith
- Old Testament, through Israel, congregation was Jewish, Gentiles were never Jews physically
- New Testament, through Christ, congregation is body of Christ Jew/Gentile/Church, now they are one
- Old Testament, looking forward to the Suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22)
- New Testament, looking back at the Suffering Messiah
- Old Testament, land covenant with Israel
- New Testament, no land covenant, our citizenship is in Heaven
- Old Testament, the LORD Jesus Christ is concealed
- New Testament, the LORD Jesus Christ is revealed
- Old Testament, the Law
- New Testament, the Law abolished in Christ
- Old Testament, the Focus is on Israel
- New Testament, the Focus is on the Church, grafted into Israel as one body
- Old Testament, the Holy Ghost moves people
- New Testament, the Holy Ghost indwells people
- Old Testament, the Ten Commandments, Israel wiping out God's enemies to gain the Promised Land
- New Testament, a New Commandment, that we love one another, no Promised Land on earth
- Old Testament, Israel is God's Chosen people, citizenship on earth
- New Testament, the Church is God's Chosen people also, citizenship in Heaven
- Old Testament, the Focus is on Israel
- New Testament, the Focus is on the Church, grafted into Israel as one body
- Old Testament, the sacrifice was an innocent, spotless Passover lamb, pointing to Christ
- New Testament, the Sacrifice is of the Passover Lamb, who IS Christ
- Old Testament, the sacrifices covered their sins, for a time
- New Testament, our sins are completely removed forever
- Old Testament, the Priests/High Priest was the mediator for the people-imperfect, unholy, unrighteous, offered animal sacrifice for himself and for Israel
- New Testament, Jesus Christ is our High Priest-perfect, holy, righteous, offered sacrifice of Himself for us
- Old Testament, Law revealed, applied
- New Testament, Law abolished in Christ
- Old Testament, Gentiles not part of Old Covenant
- New Testament, Gentiles part of New Covenant
- Old Testament, something must die daily/weekly/monthly/yearly to enforce it (Hebrews 9:16-18)
- New Testament, Someone (Jesus Christ the Righteous Messiah) already died once for all and for all times
- Old Testament, Old Covenant flawed, imperfect, temporal
- New Testament, perfect, eternally enforced on earth
- Old Testament, Jews had a temple to Worship in
- New Testament, we are the temple of the Holy Ghost to worship freely in
- Old Testament, God to Jews, "IF you follow me and my commands"
- New Testament, "Follow me...."
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
- Belief is the only way to Heaven; works and the law do not save now, nor did it then
- Sin is universal in our nature and the actions of mankind
- Sin can never allow one to reach the Glory of God
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
- As sin is universal to mankind, so then is salvation the same for all of mankind, and equally available to all mankind
- Justification, free, grace, redemption, Christ Jesus-sums it all up
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;
- This is God the Father sending God the Son
- "in His Blood" is removed in many "modern" "versions"
- God's Righteousness is the remission of our sins by Himself to bring us to Himself
- God's Righteousness is the justification of us by Himself
- The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.
- In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners.
Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Rom 3. 1 John 2.
FORBEARANCE, n.
- The act of avoiding, shunning or omitting; either the cessation or intermission of an act commenced, or a withholding from beginning an act.
Liberty is the power of doing or forbearing an action, according as the doing or forbearance has a preference in the mind. The forbearance of sin is followed with satisfaction of mind. - Command of temper; restraint of passions.
- The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us; lenity; delay of resentment or punishment.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering? Rom 2.
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
- This a summary of everything Paul has been saying thus far.
- To justify the unjustified, one must be just/righteous
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
- Boasting is what people who imagine they are working their way to heaven by "being a good person" do
- Boasting is not what a believer should do, since God justified them through the Blood of Christ
- The reason? We have nothing to boast about!
- Our "Merit System" is fulfilled by the justification through Jesus Christ's Blood on that Cross
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- Concluded now, it is the final word from the Final Authority
- The deeds of the law do not save anyone, never did, never can, never will
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
- There you go. We are in the Church age, the New Testament times, not the Old Testament
- God was God the Creator, the Justifier from Adam on, before Israel existed, to all of mankind
- God will be that even after time ends, in eternity
Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
- The faith is the agent that saves, the Jew as well as the Gentile, in the same manner, always
- If there was justification by the Law for Jews and by faith for the Gentiles, we would have two Gods.......we do not.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
- That law is still there, convicting us and the lost, the Jew and the Gentile, today
- Abraham: 400 years before the Law was given
- David: Broke the law, God accepted him and called him a man after God's own heart.
- To set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permanently.
I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant. Gen 17. - To found permanently; to erect and fix or settle; as, to establish a colony or an empire.
- To enact or decree by authority and for permanence; to ordain; to appoint; as, to establish laws, regulations, institutions, rules, ordinances, etc.
- To settle or fix; to confirm; as, to establish a person, society or corporation, in possessions or privileges.
- To make firm; to confirm; to ratify what has been previously set or made. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law. Rom 3.
- To settle or fix what is wavering, doubtful or weak; to confirm.
So were the churches established in the faith. Acts 16. To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness. l Thess.3. - To confirm; to fulfill; to make good.
Establish thy word to thy servant. Psa 119 - To set up in the place of another and confirm.
Who go about to establish their own righteousness. Rom 10.
Romans Chapter 4