Romans 3

Introduction

Have you ever subconsciously thought that maybe there was another way to God? And you strive and strive and strive and, in the end, you find yourself more tired and weary working so hard while knowing the truth. I feel this is the way I live, when I could be living in peace. Ultimately, as verse 21 says of Romans 3, the righteousness of God has been made clear to all of us. There is no way for us to strive or work our way to the top or ever find true peace with God apart from Christ.

Paul, in Romans 3, raises two hypothetical questions that present our unworthiness to find peace with God on our own. He shows that sin should not continue so as to bring righteousness, nor could our law-keeping ever offer us hope. He then shows this better answer for all of us. We may either sin or work for God's grace, but neither will suffice. We can only ever find reconciliation with God and live in His righteousness through the work of Jesus.

a) The first hypothetical question: Couldn't continual sin forgiven bring righteousness? (vs.1-8)

Admittedly, Paul has been dealing with the issue of God's wrath against sinners since chapter one, and we come to the conclusion of some of this discussion. But the question is posed this way

"But if our righteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?...By no means!" (vs.5-6)

Some of the opponents of Paul believes that Paul was cheapening the grace that Christ showed on the cross and the grace of the gospel message by teaching that God will receive more glory as Christian's sin and continue to be forgiven. It is a mystery to many of us now that God should receive any glory from the history of this world, where mankind has been flawed. What I do recognize, however, is that God shows both aspects of His Holy character: His justice and His mercy. Both of which combined produce this perfect Love of God we do not fully understand.

Paul also asks this regarding God's character:

"What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar" (vs.3-4)

There is something to understand about the character of God: there is no change in God's character when there is a change in our own. Simply because we are unfaithful does not mean He is too. He is a God of covenant - and He is faithful to His promises. God's righteousness prevails even amid our unrighteousness. And if we are to reflect the character of God, why would we be untrue to our own identity?

Here's the thing: why would we ourselves be hypocrites? We know that it should be unthinkable in the Christian life, based on chapter 2. Paul completely condemns the idea that our sin could ever glorify or honor God, calling his opponent's "condemnation...just" (vs.8). And he would be correct - through sin, we never can glorify God. A God of complete and utter holiness cannot be glorified by works that contradict His own character. Just as He would not oppose His own character as a faithful God, He could not be glorified by the sin that antagonizes Himself. He must judge that sin.

b) The second hypothetical question: Couldn't law-keeping bring righteousness? (vs.9-20)

So, Paul clears the air with his readers: he is not saying to keep sinning. Oh, so does that mean we can keep doing good stuff and that will bring righteousness? Well, Paul says no to that too. Everyone, unfortunately, is sinful and nothing can save them. In every way they are sinful:

• "None is righteous"

• "No one understands"

• "No one seeks for God"

• "All have turned aside"

• "They have become worthless"

• "No one does good"

• "Throat is an open grave"

• "Use their tongues to deceive"

• "Venom of asps is under their lips"

• "Mouth is full of curses and bitterness"

• "Feet are swift to shed blood"

• "Paths are ruin and misery"

• "Way of peace they have not known"

• "No fear of God before their eyes"

The situation seems quite dire. And everyone is doing this. And no matter what good they may do, weighed against their sin, it pales in comparison. I mean, see everything they are doing poorly! Even if everything they did was good, it wouldn't be good enough for this simple little fact: prior to salvation, every action we do is colored black. Remember, salvation comes by grace through faith and every good deed following should be done for the glory of the Lord alone, because He is one dwelling within us and moving in us.

The root cause of sin is this:

"There is no fear of God before their eyes" (vs.18)

And destruction will continue with this:

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin" (vs.20)

Under this system, our salvation is a never-earned goal. We can never race towards it with our own strivings. The very law we follow to be good only accuses us of our sin. It shows us our weakness and clarifies our faults. Like our consciences, it "bears witness" (2:15) against us and against it no one can stand righteous.

God's righteousness cannot be found in the one by that which proves their unrighteousness. So where does Paul suggest that it is found?

c) The very real answer: The righteousness of God cannot be proven in our sin, nor in our good works, but in God's work of faith in all who believe. (vs.21-31)

The righteousness of God may be defined as our right standing with a God of unquestionable moral character. As well as the law clarifying that we are sinful, the law and prophets (aka. the Old Testament Scriptures) bear witness to it. Interestingly, while our consciences - bound to God's law - bear witness against us (2:15), the law bears witness to Jesus. The law condemns us but shows us a better way: Christ Jesus.

Paul makes the distinction, almost summarizing the answers to his hypothetical questions. Could continual sin bring righteousness? (vs.1-8)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (vs.23)

In our sin, we fall short of the glory of God and the righteousness of this glorious God. Therefore, our sin cannot bring righteousness.

And without a doubt, if we ask Could law-keeping bring righteousness? (vs.9-20), Paul would respond in the negatory:

"...and are justified by his grace as a gift" (vs.24a)

It is only by grace - a gift of God - that require absolutely nothing from us. Everything is poured out by God. So clearly, law-keeping and continual sin for measureless grace are not the means by which there is righteousness, or right standing with God. Instead, it is "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" (vs.24b-25a).

Interestingly, it was this action of God sending His only Son to die on the cross that showed His righteousness, "because in his divine forbearance he has passed over former sins" (vs.25). God's righteousness was not in question. Knowing every sin His children would commit, He passed them over, forgave them, extended grace and mercy and bid them come.

This is the definition of God's righteousness: He is just to His son, and merciful to those who might accept this justice over their own condemnation. This is why God is called the "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (vs.26). With no room for sin, God allows the punishment for sin to be paid in full by Christ (just) and allows mankind to be righteous unto God (justifier). We are alive unto God because of the righteousness of God that extends justice and justification.

Conclusion

The law Christians now live under is a law of faith (vs.27). And it seems that if continual sin for abundant grace and law-keeping are failures when it comes to receiving the righteousness of God, why would we practice either one? Well, Paul will never condone sin, but he does not simply discard the law. He says this:

"Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." (vs.31)

Paul is not seeking for us to completely disregard the law. Children alive unto God by justification through Jesus Christ will live lives pleasing to God. The law outlines these things to us. But they condemn those whose sinful hearts refuse the Lord, and even those who strive to keep its commands apart from God's rule.

There is a delicate tension when it comes to serving the Lord. Ultimately, hearts that are alive unto God wish to glorify Him. But where do we begin to understand that we can never be perfect? Part of it is daily recognizing the redemption and restoration that we have in Christ Jesus. We need to know that it is this that motivates us, not the need for salvation. We live alive unto God for the sake of Christ, we do not live alive unto God by our own deeds.

Praise Him for that, for I still go to either extreme of this tension of good works and continual sin. But He has called me His child and I am alive unto Him. It is a pleasure to serve a God whose righteousness I am now clothed in.