Romans 3:19-31
Q.1. Was any hope given to those under the Law? What is the point of the Law? What message did God intend to send by giving Israel the Law? – (Rom.3:19-21 c.f. Gal.3:23-24)
Those who pride themselves in keeping the Law will be utterly silenced when they stand in the blazing light of a Holy God – 19 … every mouth will be closed, and all the world become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight … (Rom.3:19-20). Paul asserted that the Law was given as a tutor, to lead as to Christ. Here he stated that – through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20 c.f. Gal.3:23-24). In other words, to a convicted sinner, the Law reveals our need for the Saviour. He wrote – but now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested … (Rom.3:21). Neither Israel nor the other nations can obtain righteousness, either by keeping to the standards by which they judge others, or by keeping the Law. Everyone is utterly lost without the Saviour, for – there is no distinction (Rom.3:22).
Q.2. How is God’s standard of righteousness achieved? For whom is it provided? On what basis are sinners justified before a holy God? – (Rom.3:21-26)
As Paul explained the Gospel that bestows righteousness, his focus was entirely on Christ. This is made clearer in the Living Bible paraphrase rendering – 21 But now God has shown us the way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are or what we have done. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life for them, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time through the blood of the cross. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus (Rom.3:21-26). Since everyone – past, present, and future has sinned and been alienated from God, this right standing with God was made available for all through the Gospel (Rom.3:25). According to God’s brilliant plan, God sent His One and Only Son as both the righteous sin-bearer and substitute for all sinners, and the One Who justifies penitent sinners before a holy God (Rom.3:26). How can a holy God show forbearance and pass over our sins? God made His Son the propitiation through His shed blood. This wards off the wrath we rightly deserve, and enables God to look upon sinners with acceptance and favour (Rom.3:25)
Q.3. Why does the Gospel leave no room for boasting? How does God impart righteousness? For whom is it this Gospel? Does faith make the Law irrelevant? – (Rom.3:27-31 c.f. Heb.8:10-11)
As we have seen, a right standing with God is based entirely on FAITH in the merits of Christ. Our good works contribute nothing to salvation at all. Righteousness is imparted as a gift through FAITH (Rom.3:27-28 c.f. Eph.2:8-9). Therefore, it is equally granted to the Gentiles, as to the Jews … to those that have submitted to religious works such as circumcision … and the uncircumcised (Rom.3:29-30). What place does the Law then have? – Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law (Rom.3:31). Hebrews explains that under the New Covenant, the external Law will be replaced by God’s Laws that flow out of the heart – 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,’ for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them (Heb.8:10-11 c.f. Jn.7:37-39). The Law will add nothing to my right standing with God. However, those who have been justified by faith and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will reflect the Law, by godly living.