Romans - Chapter 3
3:1-2 Privilege without understanding.
Here Paul makes a very penetrating statement. He says that from almost every viewpoint the Jews had advantages but these were mainly because “... to them were committed the oracles of God.” Whatever their failings, the Jews were God's special people, the law he gave to them was His unique Word, the covenants he gave to them were His chosen signs, and these all had deep significance. These were in place regardless of the fact that the Jews had misread them and disobeyed them.
3:3-8 Objections without clarity.
In his long ministry, Paul made repeated outreach efforts to his own people, with mixed results. Sometimes some had come to faith in the Lord's Messiah but more often they reacted unfavorably toward Paul and his message, even at times to the point of violence. When deeply held views are challenged, reactions are generally strong.
The question was clear. How could it be that this people, chosen of God, could be so disobedient and still remain His chosen people? If they are as bad as Paul states, they should not possibly remain as a part of God's covenant, and if they have been removed, is it possible that God has broken His promise and become unfaithful?
Paul said that yes, the Jews had indeed become far removed from a clear understanding of the law given to them. They had perverted the law. Peter had said in Acts 15:10 that the law had become a yoke around the neck of the Jews. The answer was that both Jews and pagan Gentiles needed to come to Christ in repentance seeking His redemption.
3:9-18 All under sin.
Having shown clearly that there were differences between the Jews and the Gentiles in previous verses, Paul now asks a much deeper question. Is there truly any material difference between the two? His answer to himself and to all those in the Roman church was NO. Overriding all differences in class, creed, and culture is the harsh fact that all are under sin. He presents this statement as a charge against them, a charge from God against His created beings.
Paul calls now on several OT passages to denounce both groups in verses 10-18. Here he brings the strongest possible charge that none are righteous, not even one. The result of this status is that “... they have all gone out of the way.” He is proclaiming the human race as bent toward evil and surely leaning toward disobedience.
He says basically that human beings who do not respect God as their creator can never truly understand the mystery of their own existence. Here is a direct challenge. Those who do not know the Lord as Savior can never be motivated to love as those whose hearts have been overwhelmed by the love of God, shown in His Christ.
3:19 All are under law.
Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, but the Jews are also under the law. While the law was generated to show the sin of man, and was given only to the Jews, all mankind is guilty of violating the law, whether they had received it or not.
3:20 All are under pressure.
Because of verse 19, Paul now makes the strongest point so far, which is that all have failed to obey the law, and therefore they should now know that through that law, none may be justified. Efforts to please God through works of self are bound to fail and therefore put mankind under intense pressure to discover the means by which man may be reconciled to God.
3:21-26 A divine dilemma.
Having shown clearly the bad news for many verses, Paul now begins his explanation as to the good news he has been appointed to bring.
There is no question about human sin and guilt and no doubt concerning divine judgment and condemnation of it but there is also amazing evidence of the Father's love for sinners and His clear resolve to redeem them. God has arranged a way that while sin is to be overcome He will also arrange the way for sinful man to be able to stand before him cleansed and made just. This amazing method is the truest basis of His gospel, and it is revealed in the gift of Jesus Christ.
The solution is universal to all who will accept and in faith be granted grace.
We should remember that before Christ, the Jews were taught that obedience to the law, and constant sacrifice of animals atoned for sin. Paul himself was among the most educated Pharisees to preach and teach this fact before his own conversion. But now as it has been made clear that none are righteous and none (save Jesus) were able to fully obey the law, how will God accept those who can never earn justification? David taught this lesson in Psalm 51 concerning God being unwilling to accept further sacrifice but only willing to receive the sinful David if he came with a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart.
Until now, Paul has presented God as the God of wrath and judgment. Now he begins to introduce God as the God of grace. God has “elected” to grant a pardon and He does it freely in a gift of His grace. God is tempering justice with mercy, mixing holy wrath with restraint, and blending condemnation with forgiveness. The price of this human redemption is nothing less that the voluntary surrender of Jesus of His own life on the cross. His death met the demands of God as he was sinless and had fulfilled the law by his perfect life so that mercy can flood over sinners.
This acceptance of the once and forever sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God was sufficient for all, but effective only for some, the “whosoevers” that believe and come to faith. Because there is no “time” as we know it in heaven, this act allowed the full redemption for sinners then, sinners since, and sinners before Jesus came, believers who were saved “on credit” awaiting Jesus to arrive.
The cross of Christ is an eternal reality, not bound by time.
Only those who will, by faith, accept justification from the hand of a just God who made it all possible will enjoy its eternal benefits. Receiving something you could never earn and do not deserve is grounds for humility, not arrogance. It should be always bringing gratitude to our hearts, never boasting, for there is no work of man that can bring it.
