Understanding Romans
Just Justice
Category: Understanding Romans
May it never happen! But let God be true and every man a liar, just as it has been written, "Just as You may be proved in Your words and You will conquer in Your judging." But if our wrong-doing introduces the justice of God, then what will we say? The God who brings wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking according to men). May it never happen! Because how will God judge the world? But if the truth of God abounds for His glory by my lie, then why am I still also being condemned as a sinner? And not, as we are spoken evil of and as some affirm us to say, "Let us do evil in order that the good may come"? Whose condemnation is right. (Romans 3:4-8)
In v3, Paul asks (rhetorically) whether the faithlessness of the Jews would nullify God's faithfulness. The expected answer is, "Absolutely not!" Paul gives the Greek equivalent expression. It is impossible that the Jews' disobedience would cancel God's promises to judge sinful Israel. Men may lie and pretend, but God will be true to His word every time.
The author quotes the remorseful David who had been confronted with his own unfaithfulness, and who acknowledged that God was right in condemning the wicked.
It would appear that Paul is interacting with a protestor who thought that God would be wrong if He punished the Jews, especially since the sin of the Jews provided the opportunity for God to display His justice. (This is the way humans think.) So, is God's justice unjust? Absolutely not! If it were unjust for God to punish Israel’s disobedience, then it would also be unjust of God to punish other sinners of the world. Of course, no Jew would think it wrong for God to judge evil Gentiles. Paul says (in effect), "You cannot have it both ways. If God is going to judge the world, then He must also judge the Jews."
A Jew from the back pew stands up and shouts, "I got it! When I tell a lie, God gets to punish me and prove that He is true to His word. It brings Him glory to be true to His word. Therefore, I am bringing glory to God when I lie. So, if I am bringing glory to God, then why am I being condemned? And furthermore, we should all sin more to the glory of God!" The apostle affirms that anyone who thinks this way deserves what he gets from God (and it won't be praise).
Summary and Paraphrase
Category: Understanding Romans
(Romans 3:1-8, Summary)
The Jews believed that simply having circumcision and the Law placed them in a position of blessing. They were well acquainted with the content of the Old Covenant; however, they did not keep its terms. By failing to obey the Law, the Jews had no more hope of blessing than did the Gentiles because the true Jew in God’s sight was one who fulfilled the Law with pure motives. God is pleased with the person who has a circumcised heart by the Holy Spirit.
The Jews had an advantage over the Gentiles in that they knew what God required of men, but they were not faithful in keeping His statutes. God proved faithful in keeping His promise to recompense Israel for her wickedness. God’s judgment upon Israel revealed His glory, but that does not make her sin good. Sin is always evil, and anyone who uses God’s glory as an excuse for sin will be condemned.
(Romans 2:17-3:8, Extended Paraphrase)
But if you are called a Jew, and you put your trust in the Law, and you boast in having a relationship with God, and you are convinced that you know His will, and you are able to test whether actions differ from God's requirements, and you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to those who are blind and able to enlighten the path of those who dwell in darkness and an instructor of those who are foolish and a teacher of those who are like children, because you have the Law—the embodiment of knowledge and truth. You who teach another, do you forget to teach yourself? You who preach that no one should steal, do you steal? You who say that no one should commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who think that idols are detestable, do you rob temples? Actually, you dishonor God by breaking the Law, you, the one who boasts in the Law. Even the Scriptures affirm this by stating, "The name of God is treated impiously among the Gentiles because of you." You boast in being a Jew and having the sign of circumcision, but you do not seem to realize that circumcision only benefits you if you keep the Law. But if you disobey the Law you are no better than a Gentile, and you may as well be uncircumcised. Furthermore, if an uncircumcised Gentile keeps the Law, he will be regarded as though he is circumcised. And the Gentile who keeps the Law will add to your shame because you have the writings and the sign of the covenant and yet you disobey God. You need to understand that true Jewish-ness in God's sight is not gained by having a surgical procedure performed on your body. Rather, true Jewish-ness is a matter of spiritual heart surgery, and the physician is the Holy Spirit, not the Law, and it brings praise from God, not men.
If this is true, then it must mean that being a physical Jew has no significance and circumcision is worthless, right? Actually, being a physical Jew has tremendous significance. First, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. However, some of the Jews did not believe the oracles and they did not keep the covenant. But their unfaithfulness will not keep God from being faithful to His promise to punish those who broke the covenant, will it? Absolutely not! Every man may be a liar, but God will always be true, as the Scripture declares, "That You may be justified in your words, and conquer when you are judged." But if our sin brings about God's justice, what will we say to that? God is not unjust for pouring out wrath, is He? (This is the way humans think.) Absolutely not! If that were true, then how could God judge the world? But if my lie brings glory to God and manifests His truthfulness, then why am I still being judged as a sinner? Isn't it good to do things which bring glory to God? And why not say (as people falsely accuse us of teaching), "Let's all sin so that God can be glorified."? Those who think that way will get what they deserve—condemnation.
Back to the Main Point
Category: Understanding Romans
Therefore what? Are we superior? Not at all! For earlier we accused the Jews and also the Greeks all to be under sin, as it has been written, "There is none righteous, not even one. There is not an understanding man, there is not a man who seeks out God. Everybody turned away, they became worthless together. There is not a man who does kindness; there is not one for a time. (Romans 3:9-12)
Therefore what? Are we superior?… The question—Are the Jews superior to the Gentiles? The answer—Not at all. And here the apostle reminds his readers of the original point, namely, that everyone who has sinned will be condemned: sinning Jews will be judged by the Law, sinning Gentiles will perish without the Law. How many people are sinners? All Jews and Gentiles. Since everybody is either a Jew or a Gentile, this leaves no one outside of the sinner group.
Convincing Jews that Gentiles were sinners was like convincing children that monsters are scary. However, persuading the Jews that Jews were sinners was an arduous task; therefore, Paul quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his thesis.
As it has been written, "There is none righteous… God inquires as to how many men on earth are devoted to His truth and His ways; He finds that there is not even one (Jews included). This is a deplorable comment on mankind.
There is not an understanding man… "Understanding" and "seeks" are parallel in the Psalm(s) and convey the same basic thought. What God finds lacking in men is a careful consideration of His character and His desires. The Hebrew word translated seeks means "to seek with care." This kind of seeking includes a search into the details of a matter trying to obtain a thorough comprehension. There may be multitudes of men and women who seek after a god or some kind of divine spirituality. Yet no one is ardently striving to know the true, living God. No one!
Other Than That Man Is Basically Good
Everybody turned away, they became worthless together. There is not a man who does kindness; there is not one for a time. Their larynx is a tomb which has been opened. With their tongues, they dealt treacherously; the poison of asps is beneath their lips, whose mouth is full of curse and bitterness. Their feet are quick to pour out blood, ruin and wretchedness are in their tracks, and the track of peace they did not know. The fear of God is not before their eyes.” (Romans 3:12-18)
Everybody turned away… One of the common metaphors for sin in the Old Testament is "turning to the left or to the right," figuring a person who leaves the straight path and goes astray. God sees that all men have abandoned the highway and have, instead, taken one of the "off-limits" side roads.
They became worthless together… This is similar to the statement earlier that men have become futile in their speculations. Because men are not interested in careful examination of God, they have become depraved in their thinking.
There is not a man who does kindness… Most English translations render this phrase something like, “There is none who does good.” The Hebrew word for good is a broad term which can communicate a variety of aspects, similar to the English word good (good hamburger, good dog, good girl, good God, and good grief.) The Greek word translated good is used more narrowly to mean "honesty" or "kindness". Paul employs it two other times in Romans, each connoting the gracious or merciful kindness of God. It would seem then that God's charge is that men do not act with kindness and mercy toward one another. "He has told you, O Man, what is good…to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God". How many men do this? Not even one.
Their larynx is a tomb which has been opened… The throats of men are ready to swallow other people whole, and death resides there. They intentionally mislead and seek to inject their verbal venom into others.
Whose mouth is full of curse and bitterness… Turn on the television and count how many times you hear a form of the word damn or any profanity or hate-filled term. If what comes out of the mouth defiles the man, then truly we are a defiled race.
Their feet are quick to pour out blood… Killing is not a last resort, it is something pursued with eagerness and haste. Calamity and ruin are part of the journey for men; peace is unusual and short-lived, if at all. Again, a quick glance at the newspaper or tuning in to the evening news will offer proof of this claim.
The fear of God is not before their eyes… This is the underlying cause of the previous conditions—men do not respect God, nor are they afraid of Him.
The Law's Real Purpose
Now we know that as much as the Law says it speaks to those in the Law, so that each mouth will be stopped and all the cosmos will become liable to trial by God. For this reason, from works of the Law no one of all flesh will be declared righteous in the sight of Him, for by means of the Law is full knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19, 20)
Now we know that as much as the Law says...Paul brings his argument to a close with a statement directed to the Jews, followed by a universal pronouncement of accountability, followed by another statement to the Jews.
Those who were "in the Law," were the Jews, and the Law shouted to them that they were sinners (even if some refused to listen).
So that each mouth will be stopped...Every man, whether Jew or Gentile, will appear before the tribunal of God, and when it comes time to present his defense to the Judge there will be a deafening silence, for he will have nothing worth saying. He will simply bow his head and walk around behind the woodshed.
For this reason, from works of the Law...Since everybody has sinned and every Jew has broken the Law, it should be obvious that no one will be declared righteous for his Law-keeping.
For by means of the Law...Now the apostle introduces a theme that he will develop in various ways later: the purpose of the Law was to amplify sin. From the bird’s-eye view of redemptive-history, God did not give the Law to the children of Israel in order to show them the way of blessing, rather He gave it to show them their wickedness, and thereby, their need of a Redeemer.
(Summary of Romans 3:9-20)
In terms of their righteous standing before God, the Jews are no better off than the Gentiles; and both groups are in deep trouble because of sin. Jews and Gentiles are alike in being unrighteous, deficient in kindness, straying from the truth, quick to speak and act wickedly, in a word—they do not respect God and His commands. Furthermore, all Jews and Gentiles will be judged by God, and they will have no excuses to offer for their disobedience. Contrary to Jewish thinking, the Law was not intended to be a means of blessing, but rather it was to be a means of conviction.
(Extended Paraphrase)
So, in the final analysis, are we Jews in a superior position to the Gentiles? Not at all! Because, we made the accusation earlier that all Jews and all Gentiles are sinners. The Scriptures teach this saying, "There is not a single righteous man. There are no men or women who understand or who carefully enquire about the character and ways of God. Everybody has turned away from the straight way, together they have become morally worthless; there is not a man or woman who acts with kindness, not even for a time. Their throat is ready to swallow men whole, their tongues are continually betraying others, the venom of asps lies behind their lips. Their mouths are filled with curses and bitterness. They run toward an opportunity to kill. Their paths are ruin and wretchedness, and they do not know the way to peace. They do not fear God." Now we know that when the Law has something to say, it speaks to those who are subject to the Law, that is, the Jews. The goal is to render every Jew and every Gentile liable to trial and without excuse at the tribunal of God. For this reason, out of all the people of the world, not one of them will be declared righteous before God by keeping the Law, because the Law's purpose was to bring to light that the Jews were sinners.
A Sad Commentary
Category: Understanding Romans
Therefore what? Are we superior? Not at all! For earlier we accused the Jews and also the Greeks all to be under sin, as it has been written, "There is none righteous, not even one. There is not an understanding man, there is not a man who seeks out God. Everybody turned away, they became worthless together. There is not a man who does kindness; there is not one for a time. Their larynx is a tomb which has been opened. With their tongues, they dealt treacherously; the poison of asps is beneath their lips, whose mouth is full of curse and bitterness. Their feet are quick to pour out blood, ruin and wretchedness are in their tracks, and the track of peace they did not know. The fear of God is not before their eyes.” Now we know that as much as the Law says it speaks to those in the Law, so that each mouth will be stopped and all the cosmos will become liable to trial by God. For this reason, from works of the Law no one of all flesh will be declared righteous in the sight of Him, for by means of the Law is full knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:9-20)
Therefore what? Are we superior?… The question—Are the Jews superior to the Gentiles? The answer—Not at all. And here the apostle reminds his readers of the original point, namely, that everyone who has sinned will be condemned: sinning Jews will be judged by the Law, sinning Gentiles will perish without the Law. How many people are sinners? All Jews and Gentiles. Since everybody is either a Jew or a Gentile, this leaves no one outside of the sinner group.
Convincing Jews that Gentiles were sinners was like convincing children that monsters are scary. However, persuading the Jews that Jews were sinners was an arduous task, therefore, Paul quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his thesis.
As it has been written, "There is none righteous… God inquires as to how many men on earth are devoted to His truth and His ways; He finds that there is not even one (Jews included). This is a deplorable comment on mankind.
There is not an understanding man… "Understanding" and "seeks" are parallel in the Psalm(s) and convey the same basic thought. What God finds lacking in men is a careful consideration of His character and His desires. The Hebrew word translated 'seeks' means "to seek with care." This kind of seeking includes a search into the details of a matter trying to obtain a thorough comprehension. There may be multitudes of men and women who seek after a god or some kind of divine spirituality. Yet no one is ardently striving to know the true, living God. No one!
Everybody turned away… One of the common metaphors for sin in the Old Testament is "turning to the left or to the right," figuring a person who leaves the straight path and goes astray. God sees that all men have abandoned the highway and have, instead, taken one of the off-limits side roads.
They became worthless together… This is similar to the statement earlier that men have become futile in their speculations. Because men are not interested in careful examination of God, they have become depraved in their thinking.
There is not a man who does kindness… Most English translations render this phrase something like, “There is none who does good.” The Hebrew word for good is a broad term which can communicate a variety of aspects, similar to the English word 'good' (good hamburger, good dog, good girl, good God, and good grief.) The Greek word translated 'good' is used more narrowly to mean "honesty" or "kindness". Paul employs it two other times in Romans, each connoting the gracious or merciful kindness of God. It would seem then that God's charge is that men do not act with kindness and mercy toward one another. "He has told you, O Man, what is good…to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." How many men do this? Not even one.
Their larynx is a tomb which has been opened… The throats of men are ready to swallow other people whole, and death resides there. They intentionally mislead and seek to inject their verbal venom into others.
Whose mouth is full of curse and bitterness… Turn on the television and count how many times you hear a form of the word 'damn' or any profanity or hate-filled term. If what comes out of the mouth defiles the man, then truly we are a defiled race.
Their feet are quick to pour out blood…Killing is not a last resort, it is something pursued with eagerness and haste. Calamity and ruin are part of the journey for men; peace is unusual and short-lived, if at all. Again, a quick glance at the newspaper or tuning in to the evening news will offer proof of this claim.
The fear of God is not before their eyes… This is the underlying cause of the previous conditions—men do not respect God, nor are they afraid of Him.
Now we know that as much as the Law says… Paul brings his argument to a close with a statement directed to the Jews, followed by a universal pronouncement of accountability, followed by another statement to the Jews. Those who were "in the Law," were the Jews, and the Law shouted to them that they were sinners (even if some refused to listen).
So that each mouth will be stopped… Every man, whether Jew or Gentile, will appear before the tribunal of God, and when it comes time to present his defense to the Judge there will be a deafening silence, for he will have nothing worth saying. He will simply bow his head and walk around behind the woodshed.
For this reason, from works of the Law… Since everybody has sinned and every Jew has broken the Law, it should be obvious that no one will be declared righteous for his Law-keeping.
For by means of the Law… Now the apostle introduces a theme that he will develop in various ways later: the purpose of the Law was to amplify sin. From the bird’s-eye view of redemptive-history, God did not give the Law to the children of Israel in order to show them the way of blessing, rather He gave it to show them their wickedness, and thereby, their need of a Redeemer.
And Now, the Good News
Category: Understanding Romans
(Literal Translation)
But now the righteousness of God has been made known without the Law (which is testified to by the Law and the Prophets) even the righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ for all of those who believe. Because there is no difference, because all sinned and come short of the glory of God, those who are declared righteous as a gift by His grace by means of the redemption which is by Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly, a propitiation in His blood, by means of faith, for an exhibition of His righteousness, because of the letting go of the former sins in the forbearance of God, toward the exhibition of His righteousness now, at the proper time, for Himself to be just and the justifier of the one from faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)
(Introduction)
In the introduction to 1:18-3:20, I affirmed the goal of that section to be—to demonstrate that every person is unrighteous and deserves a harsh sentence from the tribunal of God. The apostle has accomplished that goal, and, for the attentive listener, has created a desperate thirst for some good news. The message of 3:21ff is the best news that anyone has ever heard. Drink deeply!
It would be difficult to make too much of the richness of these verses in terms of their theological significance and their contribution to our understanding of how the gospel works, yet the flow of thought can become frustrating as one strives to pursue the path of the prepositional phrases. The following diagram attempts to chart the course of this ponderous pericope.
(Commentary)
21-23 But now… At last! A break in the clouds. The stentorian blasts of thunder are but a murmur fading in the distance. The threatening streaks of lighting have been replaced by warm rays of sunlight. The quaking earth has stilled. The angry torrent has become a gentle breeze. A serene voice hums hopefully…
Man's plight is obvious—every Gentile has sinned against his Creator; every Jew has disobeyed the Law of his King. All men are unrighteous and await the certain, terrifying condemnation of the Lord…
"But!" A happier word was never spoken. Look up the word but in a grammar textbook and you will find that it is a conjunction with adversative force. Oh, what an adversative! “I was stricken with cancer, but now I am healed.” “I was torn apart with despair, but now I am filled with hope.” “I was going to the electric chair, but now I have received a pardon.” But is the biggest little word in the English language.
The righteousness of God has been made known… This phrase harkens back to the theme verses (1:16, 17) where we learned that the gospel brings salvation because "in it the righteousness of God is revealed." There we considered two meanings of righteousness of God: 1) God's justice and 2) God's gift of uprightness. The emphasis here is the latter.
Something has been manifested now (that is, in Paul’s day) which was virtually unknown before; that something is righteousness. Throughout the previous section, Paul examined the righteousness of man and found that it shines like tar. But now the righteousness of God is apparent, not His righteous indignation against the unrighteousness of men, but His gracious bestowal of righteousness upon sinners.
Without the Law… This prepositional phrase had particular import for the Jew because he had just been reminded that no one will be justified by works of the Law. To be told that a possibility of righteousness exists by some means other than the Law would have been good news indeed.
Which is testified to by the Law and the Prophets… The Old Testament bore witness to this alternative means of justification, albeit inconspicuously. Now, however, the fog has lifted, and the gospel may be seen in all of its glory.
The righteousness of God by means of faith… There is a way for sinners to receive God's gift of righteousness. How? By believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. An unrighteous person will be declared righteous by God if he or she believes who Jesus is and what He has done.
Consider the stark contrast between being required to obey myriads of commands and being required to believe the message of Christ. It is no wonder that Jesus Himself said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Trusting that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of the living God, who obeyed the commands of God completely, who died on the cross, who was buried, who rose from the grave alive, and who appeared to many men before ascending into heaven, is undeniably an easier means of justification than perfect obedience to the requirements of God. In Christ, an evildoer finds rest and peace for his guilt-ridden soul, because his sins are forgiven and his Master’s mandate is facile.
For all those who believe… Every person who believes the gospel receives the righteousness of God. And, by way of reminder, Paul adds that no difference exists between Jews and Gentiles in terms of their (dis)obedience.
Because all sinned and come short of the glory of God… The imagery is vivid. The word rendered sin often means "to miss the mark," as an arrow might go wide of its target, or (as in this case) hit the ground before reaching the intended goal. The target for all people is the glory of God, and like shooting for a star, one would have to measure our failure in light years.
The Glory of the Gospel
Category: Understanding Romans
But now the righteousness of God has been made known without the Law (which is testified to by the Law and the Prophets) even the righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ for all of those who believe. Because there is no difference, because all sinned and come short of the glory of God, those who are declared righteous as a gift by His grace by means of the redemption which is by Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly, a propitiation in His blood, by means of faith, for an exhibition of His righteousness, because of the letting go of the former sins in the forbearance of God, toward the exhibition of His righteousness now, at the proper time, for Himself to be just and the justifier of the one from faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)
24 Those who are declared righteous as a gift by His grace… Paul is using redundancy to stress that when God pronounces believers righteous, He does so gratuitously. Nothing compels Him; no demands require it of Him. The justification of sinners is utterly undeserved, and it flows out of His generous goodwill.
Modern Americans can easily lose touch with what grace really is. For example, one of the little things in life that drives me crazy is when a restaurant includes a gratuity in the bill. By definition, gratuity is not required. If it is required, then it is no longer gratuity, it is a charge or fee. Similarly, we often feel an obligation to give Christmas gifts to those who give gifts to us. Yet, giving out of obligation is like paying $10 for a free pizza. God does not justify out of obligation, He does it out of unwarranted love.
By means of the redemption… Justification is free, but not without cost. Redemption involves buying back from slavery. Sinful men who had become enemies of God, and who were biding their time until the day of execution, are liberated by the Rescuer who purchased them. What was the purchase price? The death of the Rescuer. Jesus’ life was the ransom paid for the emancipation of believers.
Which is by Christ Jesus… God's grace comes by means of Jesus alone. When Christians maintain that Christianity is the only way to be pleasing to God, anti-Christian apologists charge us with arrogance and intolerance. However, believers do not make this claim out of “hometown pride,” but because there simply is no other way of redemption because no one else has paid the price. If only Christ has accomplished redemption, and if God has determined that only those who believe in Christ benefit from His redemption, then, obviously, only believers will be redeemed and receive the gift of justification.
To whom was the ransom paid? One might be inclined to answer in terms of Satan, or hell, or sin. Certainly, the Scripture does speak of our being enslaved to sin (for example); in fact, later in this epistle Paul describes sin’s mastery over men. Nevertheless, man's greatest enemy is the holiness and justice of God. Christ did not die to satisfy Satan's demands, or to pay the price which hell requires. Rather, Christ paid God the debt which sinners owe, His life for ours.
25-26 Whom God displayed publicly… Who put Jesus on the cross? The Romans hammered the nails. The Jews brought false charges against Him, relentlessly clamoring for His death, and even accusing the governor of treason should he release Jesus, all of which eventually swayed the Roman chief to condemn Him. But, the ultimate cause of the crucifixion of Jesus was His Father. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…." God put Him there for all to see; it was a public execution.
A propitiation in His blood… Propitiation is a term which, unfortunately, eludes the vocabulary of many Christians (even some of the translations avoid it). However, it connotes an important aspect of the gospel, namely, that God's wrath was appeased by the blood of Christ.
To be propitious means "to be favorable toward." Because of sin, men are enemies of God, and, as we have seen, His wrath is revealed against all unrighteousness of men. God is not neutral toward men, He is hostile against them. His favor does not rest on them. Sinners are in dire need of reconciliation with their Creator, and calling a summit meeting for peace talks will be of no avail because God cannot simply set aside His anger. His rage must be assuaged. Or to put it another way, God must punish sin. It would violate His just character to wink at mankind's disobedience.
One way for God to satisfy His wrath against sinners is to punish them. In this case, each sinner suffers the consequences for his or her sins by his or her own blood (which, as we learn elsewhere, is not limited to physical death). But thanks be to God, there is another way to placate His ire—faith in Christ. Those who believe the gospel of Jesus find themselves reconciled to God. He is propitious or favorable toward them, and Christ is the means of that propitiation for believers. Below, we will learn more about why the death of Christ achieves propitiation.
In the forbearance of God… The sins committed formerly are, manifestly, the sins of men, since Jesus did not have any sins. As tempting as it may be to think that Paul is speaking of sins committed by believers prior to their conversion to Christ, it is more likely that he has something else in view. This section began with the words “but now” which introduced a change in the flow of thought from justification by works to justification by faith in Christ. However, 'now' is a time reference. Something is different now than it was before. The difference is the person and work of Jesus. Prior to the advent of Christ, Gentiles were without God in the world, and Jews were condemned under the Law. The Jewish religion did include sacrifices for sins, but we learn elsewhere in the New Testament that these sacrifices were unable to provide true atonement or propitiation because they were animal sacrifices. The life of a goat is not a worthy substitute for the life of a man or woman who was created in the image of God. When a Jew brought his sacrifice to the altar under the Old Covenant, he was acting in faith because God had promised forgiveness, but the basis for that forgiveness was not a four-footed beast, rather the true Lamb of God was Jesus Christ. Until the arrival of Christ, God left unpunished the sins of those who believed the promise of God. But now, at the proper time, God demonstrates His justice by punishing a man—Jesus—in the place of, and, for the sins of, those who sinned before the crucifixion. The sins of believers who live after the crucifixion are also atoned for on the cross, but the primary significance here is that a new era has begun, the era of fulfillment, the era of Christ.
For Himself to be just and the justifier… Here the two aspects of the righteousness of God come together. God's righteousness is shown when He punishes the sins of unbelievers by pouring out His wrath on Christ (just); and because their sins have been taken from them and punished in Christ, He may now declare them “righteous” (justifier).
Christians often speak of forgiveness in terms of pardon, and indeed, from our perspective this is true. The Judge has granted us a stay of execution, and therefore, we will not experience the retribution we deserve. Nevertheless, when we receive this reprieve, our sins do not go unpunished. Again, the just character of God demands that He penalize disobedience. Sometimes when I am tired, lazy, or simply feeling happy, I do not discipline my children for their mischief. At other times, instead of bringing the rod (a.k.a. the spoon), I extend grace. Yet there are (at least) two prodigious differences between me and God. First, God never experiences fatigue, sloth, or caprice; therefore, He will never shrug His shoulders at our naughtiness. Second, God is the Righteous Judge of all mankind; therefore, He must always act fairly, and allowing evildoers to go free is not fair. The theological term is substitutionary atonement. Christ became the substitute for believers, and He atoned for their sins on the cross. The sins of believers were placed on Christ and God punished those sins by punishing Him. Furthermore, because believers’ sins have been taken away, God can declare believers righteous. This is the glory of the gospel.
3:21-26, Paraphrase & Summary
Category: Understanding Romans
The Old Testament contained the Law which condemned the Jews, but it also adumbrated a time when God would disclose another means of justification besides the Law. That time, says the apostle, is now. Now, with the coming of Christ Jesus, justification by faith is revealed. This is good news for Gentiles, too, because all men are in need of a means of justification apart from their obedience. While Jesus was on the cross, He suffered the wrath of God on behalf of every believer, both B.C. and A.D. With sins taken care of, God is propitious toward those who have faith, and He graciously pronounces them "just."
But now the righteousness of God has been made known without the Law (although the Law and the Prophets alluded to it), specifically, the righteousness of God which comes by means of faith in Jesus Christ for everyone who believes. There is no difference, every Jew and every Gentile has missed the mark and comes short of the glory of God. This justification is a gift motivated only by God's grace, and it comes, not from keeping the Law, but through the ransom which was paid by Christ Jesus. God had Jesus crucified publicly, and His blood satisfies the wrath of God and places men and women into a favorable relationship with God. How does one enter into this conciliatory relationship? Through believing the gospel. By punishing Jesus, God demonstrates His justice, because He overlooked sins committed by believers who lived prior to the death of Christ, He withheld His anger toward them, until now, the proper time, when He exhibited His righteous indignation. In the gospel, God shows Himself to be just and the justifier of the one who trusts in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26, extended paraphrase)
Saved by Faith Alone, Period.
Category: Understanding Romans
Therefore, where is boasting? It was shut out. By means of what? Of Law? Of deeds? No! Rather by means of the Law of Faith. For we count a man to be declared "righteous" by faith without deeds of the Law. Or is God of Jews alone and not of Gentiles also? Absolutely He is of Gentiles also. If indeed God is one, then He will declare "righteous" the circumcision out of faith and the uncircumcision by means of faith. Therefore, do we render the Law useless by means of faith? May it never happen! Rather, we make the Law stand. (Romans 3:27-31)
(Introduction)
The hallmark of the 16th Century Protestant Reformation is summarized by the Latin phrase, Sola Fide!, which is shorthand for “justification by faith alone.” Martin Luther considered sola fide to be the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. That is a weighty affirmation. However, sola fide is a weighty dogma, a digest, in fact, of the gospel message. In this section, Paul unambiguously asserts that believers are pronounced “righteous” on the basis of faith and faith alone.
(Commentary)
27-28 Therefore, where is boasting? It was shut out… One man was born into abject poverty, but now, after years of hard work and wise decisions, is worth billions. Another man was born into a wealthy family. Which man has earned esteem? The self-made man, of course, for he merited his opulence through toil and persistence. He deserves what he has and has something to brag about. The other man’s fortune did not result from his own efforts, but from the work of someone else. If he is going to boast, he will have to boast in someone else, maybe his father or grandfather.
Christians have not merited their righteousness, they have inherited it. This is why, in another place, Paul says, “But by [God’s] doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Cor. 1:30-31)
The only thing any person has earned from God is condemnation. Justification is a gift, and it only comes by means of believing the gospel.
By means of what? Of Law? Of deeds?… Is it fitting for a Jew to sing his own Law-keeping praises? How about the Gentile? Should he launch a nationwide tour promoting his new book entitled, Why Can’t Everyone Be Perfect Like Me? Not if the apostle's previous words are true. If all have sinned, then boasting has been left out in the cold and the door slammed shut, and (to change the metaphor) the Christian has no horn to toot. The only boast for a righteous man is a boast about Jesus Christ.
No! Rather by means of the Law of Faith… The only law that brings righteousness is the law of faith. In other words, in order for an unrighteous person to be righteous before God, there is only one law to be obeyed—believing the gospel.
29 Or is God of Jews alone and not of Gentiles also?… The Jews thought they had a special claim on God, and for 1,500 years they did. However, God is also the Lord of those who were not part of the Old Covenant. If there is only one God, and if He is the ruler of Jews and Gentiles, then, the apostle affirms, justification for both groups will be by the same means—belief.
31 Therefore, do we render the Law useless… After all of this discussion regarding the inability of Jews to keep the Law and the disvaluing of circumcision for Jews who broke the commandments, one might conclude that the Law was altogether futile. If there was no hope for a Jew to be justified by it, then what good was it?
Paul responds by asserting the impossibility that the Law was purposeless. In fact, the gospel demonstrates that the Law accomplished its purpose to perfection. Back at 3:20, Paul taught that knowledge of sin comes through the Law. From the perspective of redemptive-history, the Law was delivered to the Israelites to reveal their wickedness; therefore, every time a Jew believed the gospel, he acknowledged the usefulness of the Law. As the apostle will explain later, if the Law had not prohibited coveting, he would not have been aware of his sinful desires (7:7). The Jew experienced his dire need of righteousness when he tried (and failed) to keep the Law. The Law pointed to the hope and need of the Messiah (10:4); therefore, the gospel proves the Law's success.
Given, Not Earned
Therefore, what will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to flesh, has found? For if Abraham was declared "righteous" out of deeds, then he has a boast. But rather, not toward God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness." Now to him who labors, wages are not counted as kindness, but rather as obligation. But to him who does not labor, but who believes in the One who declares "righteous" the ungodly, his belief is counted for righteousness. Just as David declares the blessing of the man to whom God counts righteousness without deeds "Blessed is he whose lawlessness was forgiven and whose sins were covered over." "Blessed is a man whose sin the Lord will not count." (Romans 4:1-8)
4:1-2 Therefore, what will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to flesh, has found?… Abraham was the patriarch for the Israelites. It was to Abraham and his seed that God promised blessing. Therefore, if Paul could use Abraham to illustrate his point, it would go a long way in persuading the Jews. So, what did Abraham, the Jews' biological ancestor, discover in terms of justification?
For if Abraham was declared "righteous" out of deeds… Verse 2 is a common form of argumentation called a Conditional Statement. (Also known as an If/Then statement. In formal logic, the if clause of a conditional statement is called apodosis [sometimes antecedent]; the then clause is called protasis [sometimes consequent]. A conditional statement is valid when either the apodosis is affirmed or the protasis is denied. Consider the following example: If it rains, then my car will become wet. If it rains is the apodosis and then my car will become wet is the protasis. According to this statement, I can be sure that if it is, in fact, raining, then it is also true that my automobile is becoming wet. I can also know that if my car is not wet, then it is certainly not raining. It does not work the other way, however: we cannot arrive at truth by denying the apodosis or affirming the protasis. In the example above, if I know that it is not raining, this does not prove that my car is dry. Somebody may have sprayed it with a hose. Conversely, if my car is wet, it does not require rain. I may have just gone through a carwash.)
Confusion exists, however, because the last clause is elliptical; part of the argument is assumed, but not written. The full argument would go like this—If Abraham was justified out of works, then he has a boast. But, Abraham does not have a boast toward God, therefore, Abraham was not justified by works.
3 For what does the Scripture say?… The Bible confirms that Abraham was righteous because of his faith.
4 Now to him who labors… Imagine a neighbor trying to sue you because you did not graciously give him $100? The case would not be given a second glance by any judge. But, if an employer fails to pay the agreed upon salary to his employee, then the worker has grounds for complaint because wages are not paid out of generosity, but out of obligation; they are debts which need to be paid. The point is that if justification comes as a result of an individual's obedience, then it is not a matter of grace, it is a matter of requirement. Justice would require God to justify someone who has kept the Law, but, as we saw in 3:24, justification is a gift given out of God's free grace.
5 But to him who does not labor… A restatement of the theme—for those who lay aside their own efforts and trust in the work of Christ, their belief procures justification.
6-8 Just as David declares the blessing… As the apostle asserted earlier, the Old Testament Scriptures testified to the doctrine of justification by faith. Exhibit A is David, the man after God's own heart, who understood the true blessing of God all too well. After committing adultery and having the husband of his paramour murdered, David had nowhere to turn except the grace of God. The Law was merciless toward adultery and murder; those who were found guilty of such debauchery were to suffer the death penalty. Did David hope to be justified by the Law? No, he appealed to, and hoped in, the kind forgiveness of a gracious God. (In Psalm 51, the wonderful prayer of contrition and repentance, David acknowledged that there was no hope of forgiveness in the Law. He did not go quickly to the altar because there was no sacrifice for these kinds of sins. His only hope was the underserved mercy of God.)
(Romans 3:27-4:8, Extended Paraphrase)
If justification is a gift, then why would anyone brag about his righteousness? There is no place for bragging. For how did he become righteous? By keeping the Law? By doing good deeds? No, he became righteous by obeying the Law of Faith. Because we consider a person to be justified by belief, not by keeping the Law. Or does God's reign only extend to those who have Law—the Jews? Is He not the Lord of the Gentiles also? Yes! He is the Lord of the Gentiles, too. If it is true that God has one providential plan, then He will declare “righteous” the circumcised Jews from faith and the uncircumcised Gentiles by faith. If justification is by faith, then are we saying that the Law is useless? May it never happen! On the contrary, we are showing that the Law accomplished its purpose of teaching the Jews about their sinfulness. What did Abraham, our great ancestor and patriarch, find regarding justification? Because, if he was declared "righteous" because of his deeds, then he would have something to brag about. But, he does not have anything to brag about, therefore, he was not declared "righteous" because of his deeds. This is exactly what the Word of God proclaims, that "Abraham trusted God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." Now, for the one who receives something that he has worked for, his wage is not a gift, but it is a debt. But, for the one who does not work for righteousness, but trusts in the One who declares "righteous" those who are evil, his trust is counted for righteousness. It is just like what David said regarding the blessing of the man to whom God counts righteousness without considering his deeds, "Blessed are those whose lawless acts were forgiven, and whose sins were covered over." "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count.”
Abraham's Sign
Category: Understanding Romans
(Romans 4:9-12, Literal Translation)
Therefore, was this blessing upon the circumcision or also upon the uncircumcision? Because we say belief was counted to Abraham for righteousness. Therefore, in what way was it counted? To the one being in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, rather in uncircumcision. And he received a sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of belief which he had in uncircumcision, for him to be the father of all of those who trust by means of uncircumcision, for righteousness to be counted to them, and the father of the circumcision to those not from circumcision alone, rather also to those who are in line with the footsteps of the belief of our father Abraham in uncircumcision.
Therefore, was this blessing upon the circumcision or also upon the uncircumcision?… In 4:1, Paul inquired as to what Abraham had found in regard to justification. The answer was justification by faith alone. Now he asks a follow-up question, he wants to know whether Abraham was justified before or after he was circumcised.
Not in circumcision, rather in uncircumcision… A quick glance at the historical record in Genesis will show that Abraham was declared righteous prior to his circumcision. In 15:6, when his faith was counted for righteousness, Abraham had no children (15:2). In Chapter 17, Abraham received the command to circumcise his descendants and he began with his 13 year old son Ishmael. Clearly, at least 13 years passed between Abraham's justification and the inauguration of circumcision. The obvious implication is that Abraham's justification was not dependent upon, nor caused by, circumcision. He was counted righteous before he was circumcised.
And he received a sign of circumcision… Once there was a slave named Horas, his was the third generation of servants who attended the king personally. One day, to his utter surprise and delight, the king released Horas and his family from their obligations and gave them a large parcel of land. Horas was a free man. He went immediately and built a house and a barn, purchased animals, planted crops, and moved his family to their new domicile.
Two years later, Horas was summoned to the palace for a ceremony wherein his emancipation was committed to writing. A scribe penned as the king dictated the full and final liberty which he had bestowed upon Horas and his family. After the document was complete, the scribe rolled up the scroll and presented it to the king for his official seal. The king dipped his signet ring into the wax and sealed the scroll, and the scroll was presented to Horas.
The elated Horas went home and built a wooden box with a glass front to enclose the letter. He placed the scroll in the box and hung it in the center of the great room where it would be easily seen. In the days to come, when people who knew of Horas' former status questioned his citizenship, Horas would invite them to come see his scroll as proof. And whenever he happened to pass by the box he would look up gratefully remembering what the king had done for him.
In this story, the scroll was very important to Horas; but it was not the cause of Horas' freedom; it was an account of it. The cause was the decree of the king. Even if the scroll had never been written Horas would have been free. The scroll was simply a sign of the king's gracious fiat.
A sign is not the thing itself, rather it points to the thing. My wife, my children, and I prove this fact every time we travel to visit our family, for after only a few hours of driving we encounter a sign which reads St. Louis 540 Miles. We would all be thrilled if this sign were our destination, but although the sign says 'St. Louis', the actual city is still several hours away.
My signature is my sign; it is not me, but it represents me. Tiger Woods is paid an obscene amount of money to wear a little swoosh on his clothing because it is the insignia of a huge corporation. He would not receive large sums of money to wear clothes with little apostrophes on them because they would be insignificant, they would point to nothing.
Circumcision was a sign for Abraham, it pointed to something other than itself—the righteousness that he obtained by believing God's promise. His righteousness was not dependent upon circumcision anymore than Horas' freedom was dependent upon the scroll. Abraham was justified throughout the 13 plus years which predated his circumcision, and he would have remained justified even if God had never ordained the sign. Nevertheless, the Scriptures show that it is common practice for God to give a sign when He makes a covenant. After He drowned all flesh except those who entered the ark, God gave the rainbow as a sign which pointed to His covenant promise never to do so again. When He chose Israel as His special people and made a unique covenant with them, God commanded them to set apart the Sabbath Day as a sign that they were a divinely set apart nation. When God credited righteousness to Abraham, he gave circumcision as a sign of His covenant promise.
One place where the Jews went astray was in missing the significance of signs. They took the signs to be ends in themselves, rather than pointers to something else. The Sabbath did not make Israel holy, God made them holy; the Sabbath pointed to what God had done. Likewise, circumcision did not make Abraham’s offspring righteous, God made them righteous through faith.
God's Promise Comes by Faith, Not Law-Keeping
Category: Understanding Romans
And the father of the circumcision to those not from circumcision alone, rather also to those who are in line with the footsteps of the belief of our father Abraham in uncircumcision. Because the promise to Abraham (or to his seed) himself to be heir of the cosmos was not by means of the Law, rather by means of the righteousness of belief. Because if the heirs are from Law, then belief has become empty and the promise has been rendered useless. Because the Law effects wrath, but where there is no Law, neither is there transgression. Because of this, it is from belief, in order that, according to grace, for the promise to be certain to all the seed, not to that which is from Law only, but rather to that which is from the belief of Abraham, who is the father of all of us. (Romans 4:12-16)
A seal of the righteousness of belief. In days gone by, official documents were sealed by placing hot wax over the opening and pressing the signet ring into it, at the same time securing the envelope (or scroll) and establishing its legitimacy. The king’s seal was the mark of royal authenticity.
Circumcision sealed Abraham’s justification, not because there was some innate power in the rite per se, but because it was the mark of God. Its validity was bound up in the One who gave it, just as the seal on Horas’ scroll (see previous post) was valid because it was made by the king himself. If the king was killed and replaced by one who captured Horas and enslaved him once again, Horas would find his sealed document to be a useless defense. But as long as the original king occupied the throne, the seal guaranteed Horas’ freedom because of the power and authority of the one whose seal it was. In the case of circumcision, Abraham’s righteousness was guaranteed because standing behind it was the everlasting King of kings whose declaration cannot fail.
This sign and seal would have been a tremendous reminder to Abraham of the grace of God and the One in whom true hope is found.
For him to be the father of all of those who trust by means of uncircumcision. Nothing happens by accident in a universe over which God is sovereign, thus the timing of Abraham's justification followed by his circumcision was purposeful: God was preparing for the inclusion of the Gentiles in His blessing. We, who trust four thousand years after the promise to Abraham and two thousand years after circumcision had become obsolete, were part of the reason why Abraham's justification preceded his circumcision.
12 And the father of the circumcision to those not from circumcision alone, rather also to those who are in line with the footsteps of the belief of our father Abraham in uncircumcision. Leaders in the Jewish community thought that flowing from Abraham's loins and following him in circumcision made them heirs of his blessing. However, physical incisions and parental lineage did not produce righteousness; the true beneficiaries were those who followed Abraham down the path of trusting God. Again, his belief began before he received the sign.
13 Because the promise to Abraham (or to his seed) himself to be heir of the cosmos. The promises to Abraham were never stated using terms of inheriting the world, but the concepts of occupying, ruling, and blessing the lands of the pagan nations amounted to the same thing. It was fitting for Paul to summarize the promise in this way.
Was not by means of the Law, rather by means of the righteousness of belief. God’s promised blessing upon Abraham and his descendants was not contingent on their adherence to the Mosaic Law. This would have been impossible, of course, because the Law was not revealed until four hundred years after Abraham's death. But another reason was…
14 Because if the heirs are from Law, then belief has become empty and the promise has been rendered useless. Paul is using a form of argumentation called reductio ad absurdum wherein the debater carries the assertion of his opponent to its logical conclusion. The Lord Jesus was a master at this technique. When the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, He adopted their position and reminded them of the stupidity of their claim: If demons are the agents of Beelzebub, and Beelzebub uses Jesus to destroy their work, then Beelzebub is attacking himself. If his house is divided against itself, then it will fall. This is the absurdity of the Pharisees accusation. Here Paul is showing that if the Jews' claim—that God's blessing comes to those who keep the Law—is correct, then the blessing cannot be based on belief. The blessing is either procured by trusting God or by keeping the Law. If the latter, then faith is empty; it goes as far as a car with a dry fuel tank.
15 Because the Law effects wrath. Not only is belief empty, but God's promise is futile if the blessing is based on the Law. Why? Because the Law provokes the rage of God, not His blessing. Just as the apostle proved earlier, those who are under the Law will be condemned by the Law; and condemnation is not blessing. God's promises are merely hot air if their fulfillment is dependent upon the heirs keeping the Law precisely because not a single one of them will meet the requirement. I could go to the grave of George Washington and promise him that he can be president again if he will just walk into the White House and sing "God Bless America," but no one would confuse this with a promise of real value.
But where there is no Law, neither is there transgression. If the promise does not depend on keeping the Law, then breaking the Law does not prevent its fulfillment.
16 Because of this, it is from belief. God made the fulfillment of His promise based upon belief rather than upon obedience for two reasons. First, to magnify His grace. Again, if blessing follows works, then it is obligatory; but God's goodness is presented solely because of His lovingkindness. Second, to grant assurance to the heirs. If a millionaire wills his estate to his son on the basis of specific achievements such as being accepted to Harvard, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point-average, graduating with honors, becoming an executive in a Fortune 500 company, marrying a woman from a “proper” family, and always using good manners, then there is no certainty that the boy will receive the wealth. But if the only requirement is for the son to believe the father’s promise, then the boy has every reason to be confident.
This assurance is just as much for the Gentiles as for the Jews since it is not rooted in the Law, but in belief.
Impossibilities, God's Trademark
(Romans 4:17-22) Just as it has been written, "A father of many nations I have made you," before whom he trusted, God, the One who makes alive the dead and the One who calls those which do not exist as existing, who, against hope, trusted in hope for himself to become the father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "In this manner will be your seed." And he who was not weak with respect to faith understood that his body was already dead when he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb, but to the promise of God he was not parted with unbelief. Rather he was strengthened with faith, giving glory to God, and fully assured that He who had promised is strong also to do, on which account, also it was counted to him for righteousness.
17 Just as it has been written, "A father of many nations I have made you”… “Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had Father Abraham, I am one of them and so are you, so let's all praise the Lord, right arm…,” so we used to sing at summer camp. The plan of God is mysterious and masterful. When He promised Abraham that his descendents would outnumber the stars, He meant that millions of human beings would trace their family tree back to the great patriarch; and they did. To this day, many Arab nations and religions claim Abraham as their root. But the true fulfillment would be of far greater consequence: Abraham is the forefather of the faithful from every tribe, tongue, and nation under heaven. His real progeny consists of believing, Spiritual descendents. I am one of them, and so are you, if you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the true seed of Abraham.
John the Baptist declared that God could raise up children to Abraham from rocks. At first glance, this seems to be a silly statement because no rock could match its DNA to the family of Abraham. But that was John’s point. Being a child of Abraham (and, therefore, an heir to the promise) has nothing whatsoever to do with DNA. Abraham’s children believe, and God can grant this ability to Jews, Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, Americans, Muslims, Asians, Africans, and even rocks, if He so chooses.
Before whom he trusted, God, the One who makes alive the dead and the One who calls those which do not exist as existing… God has been doing this from the beginning when He looked out at nothing and then thrust the universe into being by mere command. Later, He took a mound of dead clay and breathed into it the breath of life and it became a living soul. Later still, when the time had come to give flesh to His Son, He took a dormant egg in a young girl's ovary and caused it to become Jesus of Nazareth; and when His inanimate corpse was laid in the tomb, God once again breathed the breath of life into it, and up from the grave He arose.
Sarah's uterus was dead and the son which God repeatedly promised to Abraham did not exist. God had made Abraham a father of many citizen-less nations. This was no cause for alarm however, because God is in the business of doing things which for men are impossible.
18-22 Who, against hope, trusted in hope… Hope has become a synonym for a mere wish with no expectancy or grounded anticipation attached; to be left with only “a hope and a prayer” is to be left standing at the edge of despair with the ground beneath your feet giving way. This is not the biblical (or historical) meaning, however. In the Scripture, hope connotes something that is expected, but not yet realized. And when one's hope is based on the promise of God, anything short of sincere expectation borders on idolatry.
Abraham's hope was based upon God's promise, and he was convinced that not only was God a good God and would, therefore, keep His promise, but also that He had the capability of keeping His promise. Abraham’s situation was against hope because according to the Laws of Nature there was no reason to expect Sarah to bear a child; but he trusted, in hope, because he had received a promise from the One who controls the Laws of Nature. The outcome of his unwavering trust was justification.