Romans 3

As Paul's letter continues and we come to Romans 3, He makes a statement that is for ALL of people on this planet:  "Let God be true, and every man a liar!"

Paul makes the point that though the Jews were indeed, given the oracles of God, chosen of God to be His people, circumcised, that like the Gentiles (he uses Greek in verse 9), all are held guilty before God because of sin.  As we all truly know, sin needs accountability before God, and certainly, needs a remedy.

However, the Old Testament is another "viewmaster" that demonstrates how men were not keeping the Law.  And remember with God, if one commandment is broken, then none of it counts. 

One must keep ALL to be righteous and holy before God - because he is perfectly holy.

God had tablets of stones engraved on Mt. Sinai with Moses (appointed by God) as the stenographer. Below the children of Israel led by Aaron, were erecting a golden calf with their resources.  What a picture!

This demonstrates what Paul has been talking about in Romans 1 and 2 - the flesh is corrupt.  The flesh has its default.  Later Paul writes a phrase that makes tremendous sense as to what is going on in the mortal jar:  "Sin in the members," and its power. (Romans 6, 7)

Sins of mankind are high and steep since the fall and continue to fill up.  Sins too, have piled up high and steep since the cross of Jesus Christ.  Yet remember what Paul said in the first chapter:  "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of God - it is the power of God to salvation for EVERYONE who believes..."  (Verse 16)

Isn't it rather amazing that God's grace would justify sinners through His Son - as the gift of God?

The other smashing sentence for me in Romans 3 is: "Now we know whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

The Law is used to show man's utter sinfulness - utter corruption.   Sin deceives anyone in thinking they are doing a pretty good job in keeping the law.  But an unbeliever does not think that way necessary - go around and say:  "Well today I've kept the commandments."  Many times they are not even thinking of God.

When one is confronted with the commandments and in order to start "feeling" a  need for God and the Gospel, many times "arguing" begins one is pretty good.   Put a person's need to be right with God, and yes many times, self-justification begins.

Paul shoots down man's position before God verses 10 through 18. Somehow it must get through to every heart, they cannot take any position before God on their own - ever.  And in verses 19 and especially verse 20 (even verse 23), it is stated that NO flesh will be justified in the sight of God by attempting to keep the Law.  All have sinned - Jews and Gentiles alike.

In the book of Galatians, the Jews were wanting the Gentiles to take on ceremonial law as the Jews did as part of salvation.  They were not comfortable with a Gentile (or anyone) being saved through faith.

And today, the same thing goes on.  We feel as though we need to add something to Christ.  Could it be because we do not understand fully what it means to have Christ dwelling in human hearts?

Paul said in one of his letters, "...if there had been a law that could have given life, Christ would not have died." (Galatians 4:21b). 

Another way to say this is:  If all men could have, on their own achieved perfection of righteousness and holiness by the commandments of God, Christ would not have needed to come, to die, be resurrected - be the NEW MAN, the NEW RACE of God, and God would not have needed to make the spirit man born-anew (alive from the dead condition), and give us His Holy Spirit.  This is ALL a gift from God by grace - this is ALL realized solely by faith in God.  

Yet we are truly going to see there is MORE than justification.

The Law is used to absolutely reveal to the heart there is no righteousness, no hope, no standing with God.   So then comes the blessed news of God's Gospel.  Verse 24, "being justified FREELY by His grace through the redemption that is, in Christ Jesus whom He set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith...to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

If the Law is to expose that no one cannot take any position before God without Christ and the Gospel, and man's efforts to do so only produces death, why as Christians do we return to that which once slew us, made us guilty?

This is where I was "tripped up," for years.  I needed a continued revelation of Jesus Christ to my heart.

For years I was hearing the Law again preached to me as though I were still a sinner.  That truly was once my position before God - but not now.  What is that position now?  (It's more than just a position though).

In Christ Jesus we are justified, placed into God's Son by the Holy Spirit, born anew - made alive from the dead.  And in the letter of Galatians (3:26), Paul states to them and to us, "For you are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

And I did not understand the futility of the flesh's effort in trying to achieve something that already came through faith in Christ dwelling in my heart.  Growing in the life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is a far cry difference than flesh striving to achieve that which God has already made us in Him.

So as we continue on this Romans Road, may our hearts be enlightened more with God's Glorious and Powerful Gospel!

Sue Gaither