From guilt to Grace: (chap.3)
Chap.3 deals about sin and Salvation. Paul says the whole world including Jews and Gentiles are condemned because of their sins (3:1-20), but Jesus Christ brought justification to all sinners by faith (3:21-31). Incidentally (chap. 4-5) deals with the theme of Justification. The entire chapter gives outline for the whole book of Romans:
- Justification:(3:21) – dealt in (chap.4-5)
- Living in sin:(3:8) – dealt in (chap. 6-8)
- Israel’s unbelief:(3:1-4) – dealt in (chap.9-11).
- Obeying the law: (3:31) – dealt in (chap.12-16). (thought taken from Wiersbe’s expository outlines (NT)
Israel’s unbelief and condemnation: (3:1-4):
Paul’s style of asking questions and answering is very much seen in Romans. Here he comes right into the heart of the problem: Paul puts forth 2-questions for people asking why God is condemning sinners:
- What advantage is there in being a Jew?
- What value is there in being circumcised?
Of course this question was already answered in (2:17-24). The second question is: What advantage is there in circumcision, this was also answered in (2:25-29). But in this chapter he gives some more points. The Jews have been given or entrusted with the very words of God. They have the scripture. This can mean the Old Testament, but here it precisely refers the God’s promises and commands. But this has a disadvantage also.
Paul’s goal was to explain that Jews are special people, but they needed to be saved through Jesus Christ like every human being. They haven’t kept the law that they boasted about. Even if some Jews are unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not cause God to back out the promises. God is a righteous God. He cannot say lies. He cannot stop doing what He promised. He won’t let our actions turn Him into a liar. “Let God be true and every human being a liar” (3:4). God created humans for a reason, and even if we all fall short of what He wants, His plan will succeed. God chose the Jews as His people, and they fell short, but God has a way to solve the problem. The good news is that the rescue plan applies not only to Jews, but to everyone who falls short. God is more than faithful.
Paul quotes from the scripture: “As it is written: ‘So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge’” (3:4) taken from (Ps.51:4) when God punishes David, it is because God is right. When God judges us guilty, it is because we are guilty. His covenant with Israel said that there would be serious consequences for failure, and indeed, there had been many such times in Israel’s cyclic history. God had done what He said.
God’s faithfulness: (3:5-8)
Here again Paul puts forth 2-questions for people asking why God is condemning sinners:
- Whether my unrighteousness brings God’s righteousness more clearly?
- Whether my falsehood increases God’s glory
Paul puts this question in human terms, whether our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness, then God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)” the argument is: If we sin, we give God an opportunity to show that He is right. We are doing God a favour, so He shouldn’t punish us. It’s a silly argument, but Paul deals with it very clearly. Is God unjust? “Certainly not!” If that were so, how could God judge the world righteously?
The second question, Paul puts in a simple way (3:7): “Someone might argue, If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” If my sin shows how good God is, why should He punish me? Paul gives another version of the argument (3:8) “Why not say — as some slanderously claim that we say — Let us do evil that good may result”? Paul stops dealing with the argument and repeats his conclusion by saying, “Their condemnation is just!” They deserve it. These arguments are wrong. When God judges us as sinners, He is right. The gospel does not give any permission to commit sin. This question he discussed also in (6:1). People who question God in this way are blaspheming the very nature of God, so they are condemned in the first instant.