Paul's letter to the Romans
A letter of reminders, righteousness, concerning circumcision, justification, propitiation.
Romans 3 - ASV
1. What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
Question yourselves?
Examine yourselves? Are you with God? Do you know? Are you certain?
2. Much every way: first of all, that they were instrusted with the oracles of God.
A lot indeed.
Let us examine them.
They are of God, who is good. They are for us. They are with us.
3. For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?
Think of others. Consider their welfare.
4. God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
God does not allow everything.
We are to find God true. We have to act righteously. We are to be united with God.
We have been swayful.
5. But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
We may view things in different perspectives for comparison and elucidation, and edification.
We do not live in a world far from the ungodly. We even reason with them, with their logic/reasoning.
6. God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
What the world accepts, God forbids.
Bring God into the picture.
God has no obligation to accept all there is. He is in control regarding acceptance and rejection. He is the righteous judge.
He is not a god of confusion. Darkness cannot comprehend His richness. He alone is wise.
7. But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
All for His glory.
God is holy, and does not miss with sin.
8. and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.
Not all reports are trustworthy. Christians are to judge whatever comes their way. Test the spirit. Hold fast to the truth with endurance and perseverence.
Confirmation by more than a few does not necessarily mean sufficient witness. The truth is the reference when judging/deciding on principles.
Black is black. Black and white do not interchange.
9. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;
Think again. Think deeper.
All mankind are told to be under sin, whether they have the written/given law or not.
10. as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;
No one is righteous by the standard shown through the law.
No one could remain pure.
11. There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;
No one understand sufficiently to be with God, to please God.
No one even seek to be with God; Chase after signs so that they may be near God.
All selfishly walk their own way/direction; made their own plans.
12. They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:
Repentance is not just turning. For all have turned, but towards wrong ways. No one was able to turn to God unaided. Repentance is turning away from sin and disobedience, back to God who is love and righteousness.
Not even babies are doing the good required by God to be justified, to be with Him, to escape death.
13. Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
No one continuously speak of righteousness. No one spoke without sinning. No one was pure and holy.
They are used to lying. They are under the father lies, under the bondage of sin/lies/disobedience.
They give out poison from sin. They bear the fruits of sin; hurtful and destructive.
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Controlled by sin. Everyone proved to be wicked.
Sinners speak against God, cursing Him and His creatures/creation.
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood;
People do not just hurt with their mouth, but with all their faculties. Very creative in sin and destruction. producing weapons and tools to help them achieve greater mischieves/destruction. Death increases. Pain and sorrow increases/abounds.
Evil is actively evil. Life is taken away. There is no peace. Only destruction.
Goodness ought to be actively good. Brethren should work hard for the kingdom of God.
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways;
With destruction comes misery. Pain is created and prolonged. There is no ease.
The ungodly have many ways. They are far from remaining simple and idle.
Christians should bring healing and joy, relying on the Lord, and not on the world.
17. And the way of peace have they not known:
In wickedness they do not know peace, and the way.
They have their own ways.
Christians ought to introduce to the world the way of peace. Christians ought to demonstrate this only way.
18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
The fear of God is beginning of Wisdom. These people professing to be wise, are indeed fools.
They are blind. Blinded by the evil one and the powers of the world.
They fear not. Therefore, they repent not.
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
The law is for restraining what ought not be done.
The law is a beacon for the judgment of God. It is as sure as the law.
Nothing escapes the judgment of God. Nothing escapes God. He comprehends everything.
20. because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.
Faith with works alone does not justify anybody before God. A person is justified by attitude, belief/faith; and not works with wrong attitude, or belief.
The end does not justify the means. Works does not justify ungodly desire.
Knowing that there is law, people know sin as the subject law is relating to. The law confronts sin.
21. But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
This righteousness of God is justified by the law and the prophets. It is testified.
It is not sin.
22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;
There is no other way given, by which any man must be saved.
23. for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
No exception, in general; on the whole.
Christ is the glory of God. And the glory of God can not fall short of Himself/the glory of God.
Christ is born in the likeness of flesh, not as exact sinful human. In Him there is no sin.
He resembles human enough to substitute mankind. He was a man in Galilee. He was a man with earthly parents; born and grew up. He was a man in baptism. He was a man in His daily life. He was a man in His crying and suffering. He was a man on the cross.
24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
No degrees of works. Works are contrary to grace.
Grace is given by choice. Works are for gain.
Christ redeems sinners. The redeemed did not earn freedom by themselves though they may earn favor.
25. whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
Not an atoning sacrifice, which is passive; needing to be offered up by a priest that is still alive. But as a propitiation. A priestly position, able to interceed for the people before God. He is the appeaser and mediator.
(See also 1John 2 v2)
We are on our spiritual pilgrimage, passing over old sins. We have to follow Christ.
26. for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.
Christ is both the just, just, and the justifier for repented sinners/christians.
He is more than just a sacrifice for atonement.
27. Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.
No man can glory by his own works.
Babies cannot glory themselves as not yet sinned, and not able to sin. No law or works to justify them. Only to be glorified in Christ.
Only by faith, according to the law of faith are anyone saved. Not according to any law of works. The threshold of salvation is crossed by faith, through the redemption of Christ/God.
28. We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
In terms of justification, it is by faith.
In terms of christian/spiritual growth (as expounded by James) it is by the fruits/works of faith in Christ as well.
It is the desire of the Father that christians should bear much fruits.
29. Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:
God is God of those with correct attitude.
The Jews were the nation to have correct attitude towards God first.
30. if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
There is only one justification only, and it is by/through faith in God.
Away from God there is no justification. He is righteousness. He is just.
Satan is the father of lies. Evil is committed in darkness.
31. Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
Works directed by faith.
Works with evil intention do not justify.
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