The Law Does Not Justify; It Condemns
Romans 3:1-20
What is the advantage of having the Law? To know God's will. Does the law justify? No, it condemns. Simply, the Law is good, we are not.
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Published July 9th, 2018; Updated October 10th, 2018
Main point summary
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Main point summary
The law is to show us that no one is righteous in His own sight. In other words, the law proves that God alone is righteous and worthy, and that we, every single person, have sinned against His holy commands, and are worthy of His condemnation.
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Romans 3:1-20
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Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, x the Jews were entrusted with y the oracles of God. z What if some were unfaithful? a Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! b Let God be true though c every one were a liar, as it is written, d “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you e are judged.” But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict f wrath on us? ( g I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could h God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, i why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not j do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
To those entrusted with the law (Jews): you have been given every advantage to know God and to be blessed by Him through obedience to His commands, but you willingly spurned and disobeyed Him, and thus, He is just to punish you.
What then?
THEN, QUESTION: What's the point of being Jewish?
Are we Jews 1 any better off? 2
IN OTHER WORDS, are the Jews really better/in a better position than the Gentiles?
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No, not at all.
ANSWER: Absolutely not
For we have already charged that all, both k Jews and l Greeks, are m under sin,
BECAUSE we have already established that everyone is sinful
as it is written:
AS the Bible says:
n “None is righteous,
No one does good
no, not one;
MEANING, absolutely no one
no one understands;
AND no one gets what righteousness is
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no one seeks for God.
BECAUSE no one desires God above themselves
All have turned aside;
Everyone has rejected God
together they have become worthless;
WITH THE RESULT that they have given up the very thing that gives them worth
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no one does good,
AGAIN, no one does righteous works
not even one.”
MEANING, absolutely no one
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o “Their throat is p an open grave;
MORE SPECIFICALLY, they ingest and spit out death (their minds/mouths are unbridled)
they use their tongues to deceive.”
IN OTHER WORDS, they don't tell the truth
q “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
IN OTHER WORDS, they are spew out venomous things
r “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
IN OTHER WORDS, they have nothing good to say
s “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
They are warmongers (their bodies are untamed)
in their paths are ruin and misery,
IN OTHER WORDS, they only know how to destroy
and t the way of peace they have not known.”
AS A RESULT, they don't know peace
u “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
BECAUSE they have rejected God
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Now we know that whatever v the law says it speaks to those who are under the law,
PUT POSTIVELY, what the law accomplishes is to establish its supremacy over you
w so that every mouth may be stopped,
IN ORDER THAT, you cannot boast
and x the whole world may be held accountable to God.
AND TO keep everyone accountable to God (through those who have the law)
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For y by works of the law no human being 1 will be justified in his sight,
WHAT I MEAN IS, everyone does not do what the law requires, and thus, are not righteous
since z through the law comes knowledge of sin.
BECAUSE the law only shows you the extent and depth of your sin (not seeking/fearing God)
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Under the law, you are not righteous/justified, but sinners
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Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.