Romans - Week 7

We Are Sinful

READ

Romans 3:19-20

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

From the time the law was given, as recorded in Exodus 20 and beyond, people have misunderstood its purpose. Some get into heated arguments about whether one could be saved by keeping the whole law. They don’t realize that by common Jewish count there were 613 laws. Jesus was the only perfect person who ever lived. In this passage, Paul emphasizes the law was never given to enable people to become right with God but only to show them how sinful they are.

REFLECT

Have you heard some talk about keeping the law to be saved? You could remind them of how many laws the Jews believed were given by God. Then you could use James 2:10 to show if one is broken it’s the same as breaking all of them.

RESPOND

This raises the question, how then did one become right with God during Old Testament times? The answer is seen in what the Scriptures say about Abraham (known as Abram at that time) in Genesis 15:1-6. Abraham lived before the time of the law, but it is true in every age that a person becomes right with God only by faith.

Faith in Jesus Christ

READ

Romans 3:21-22

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Paul emphasizes how a person becomes right with God. It is by placing faith in Jesus Christ, not by trying to keep the law. Many of the Jewish people thought they were much better than others to whom the law was not revealed, but Paul says it doesn’t matter who you are. To be made right with God all have to come by faith in Jesus. This reveals the gospel is both universal and particular. It is universal in that it is to be heralded to everyone; it is particular in that only those who place faith in Jesus are granted salvation.

REFLECT

Are you grateful for God saving you by grace through faith in Jesus? Are you grateful enough that it makes you want to share the good news with others?

RESPOND

Read Galatians 2:15-17 to see what Paul told his fellow Jews about how to become right with God. Before his salvation, Paul had been a Pharisee who strictly kept the law, as he wrote in Philippians 3:5-6.

God's Standard

READ

Romans 3:23-24

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 3:23 is a key verse that reveals all are sinners who have come short of God’s glory. Some do better than others, but all come short. In spite of everyone’s shortcoming, God extends His grace to make it possible for everyone to be made right before Him. This was done by giving His Son who died on the cross to free people from the penalty of sin. It is similar to a pardon, which is not valid unless it is accepted.

REFLECT

Have you thanked God recently for His grace in providing His only Son to free you from the penalty of sin? All Christ-followers should be humbled to think about what their eternal destiny would have been without the sacrifice of Jesus for them.

RESPOND

Read Ephesians 2:8-9 that emphasizes what Paul said in this passage in Romans. Then do not forget to read verse 10 that shows what believers should do after they have become right with God.

Fair and Just

READ

Romans 3:25-26

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Paul clearly explains how one becomes right with God—by believing that Jesus sacrificed His life for sin. In shedding His blood, Jesus was the sacrifice God provided to pay the penalty for sin. The question earlier had been asked about God being fair. Here Paul asserts God was fair and just by providing the sacrifice for sin so anyone who believes in Jesus is made right in God’s sight. By doing this, God demonstrated His righteousness. No one can reasonably claim that God is not fair.

REFLECT

The Old Testament tells of many animal sacrifices for sin, but Jesus was the sacrifice once-for-all to pay the penalty for sin. Thank Him for dying in your place so you did not have to pay the consequences of sin.

RESPOND

Read Hebrews 10:11-13 to see Jesus contrasted with the Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifices in the Old Testament made a trail of blood down through history, but the sacrifice of Jesus was good once-for-all. Think about this good news and share it with others.

Our Acquital

READ

Romans 3:27-28

27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

If one became right with God by keeping the law, he could boast about what he had accomplished. Paul says no one can boast because salvation is by faith and not by obeying the law. It is humbling that no one can do anything to be accepted by God other than placing faith in the Lord Jesus. The way Paul repeats his thoughts seem to indicate it was difficult to make his fellow Jews understand this faith concept so he kept driving the truth home.

REFLECT

Is it not humbling to you to realize there is nothing you can do to make yourself acceptable to God other than believing in Jesus for salvation? If it were by works, some would have no chance. Inasmuch as it is by faith, all can believe who choose to do so.

RESPOND

Hebrews 11 is considered the great faith chapter in the Bible. Read what verse 6 says is the only way people can please God. Not only is one saved by faith, but also it is the only way for a victorious Christian to live, as Hebrews 10:37-39 indicates.