God’s Faithfulness
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
-- What type of questions does Paul ask?
-- What had the Jews been entrusted with?
-- Will God be unfaithful to the Jews if they are unfaithful to Him? Remember, the Jews were God's chosen people.
-- Paul continues with rhetorical questions in Verses 5-8. Notice the aside in Verse 5 and Verse 8 even though they are set apart in two different ways.
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
-- Whenever Paul says "It is written, he is referring to something in the Old Testament. This was written in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53.
“There is no one righteous, not even one; All are sinners because all have sinned.
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God. All are ignorant and don't understand God is the way.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.” No one does good.
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” Throat is full of rottenness, tongue is deceitful, lips are full of poison, and mouths full of cursing.
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Feet are fast to murder
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” People have no respect for God.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
-- The Jews knew the Old Testament. That's why Paul used twice in this chapter the expression, "It is written..." Then what is written is set apart different from the rest of the text.
-- Hopefully, you see that Paul is teaching the Jews and reminding them that no one can be saved by the law. However, the law makes them conscious of sin.
-- Paul emphasizes that no one can be saved by the works of the law. The point he makes is that the law is needed because it makes us conscious of our sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
-- Verses 21-26 further clarifies what Paul has been saying. Righteousness comes through faith and not by the law. The Law an the Prophets in the Old Testament testify to that. Verse 23 is part of the sinner's prayer that makes it know that all have sinned (past tense) and fall short (present tense) of the glory of God.
-- All are justified (just as if they have never sinned) freely by God's grace (unmerited favor) through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
-- Paul asks and answers his own questions. He says the same thing about the law, that a person is justified by faith and not by the works of the law. Even so, the law cannot be dismissed just becaue we have faith.
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