Romans 3:1-8

ROMANS

chapter

3:1-20

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”

“the righteousness of God is revealed (being) from faith to (in order to produce) faith” [1:17]

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

ROMANS

chapter

3:1-20

A.“the wrath of God is revealed…” [1:18-19]B. all men are “without excuse” [1:20-32]C. “Therefore YOU are inexcusable” [2:1-11]D. Doers, not hearers will be justified [2:12-16]E. “…the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” [2:17-24]F. “he is a Jew who is one inwardly” [2:25-29]G. “What advantage…has the Jew…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”

II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20]

“What advantage then…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”R

OMANS

chapter

3:1-20

If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it?

Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation:

God had entrusted them with special knowledge that Gentiles didn’t have: but it held both privilege and responsibility

Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2]

cp. John 4:21-22 – “salvation is of the Jews” – the Jews “knew” this fact by prophecy [Rm 1:1-4]; the Gentiles didn’t

“What advantage then…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”R

OMANS

chapter

3:1-20

If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it?

But, as we have seen, having the right facts [doctrine, etc.] in itself doesn’t save

Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation:

cp. John 5:39-40 – “in them you think you have eternal life…”; However, eternal life was in Christ, not in the law itself!

Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2]

Kept law but missed Christ [Mk 10:17-22]

“What advantage then…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”R

OMANS

chapter

3:1-20

If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it?

Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation:

Some did not believe the law they kept!

Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8]

This is not God’s fault! He kept His promise faithfully, even when the Jews fell away into sin [3:3-4; cp. David Ps 51]

Wrong concepts about “being faithful”:Being part of the “right church”;

“Faithfully” attending worship services;Not sinning badly (drinking, drugs, sexual sins)

“What advantage then…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”R

OMANS

chapter

3:1-20

If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it?

Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation:

Some did not believe the law they kept!

Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2]

Faith = proper knowledge [yes for Jew] + proper practice [mostly for Jew] + proper motives [rarely for Jew]cp. Pharisees, Sadducees, the “religious”

Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8]

“What advantage then…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”R

OMANS

chapter

3:1-20

If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it?

Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation:

Some did not believe the law they kept!

Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2]

Did God’s plan then “design” Jewish unrighteousness, to His glory? [3:5-8]

Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8]

NO! This is the problem with law system!

God HAS TO Judge the unrighteous – but this doesn’t mean that He DESIRES people to be

unrighteous, just so He can judge them! [v. 6]

I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17]

ROMANS

chapter

3:1-20

A.“the wrath of God is revealed…” [1:18-19]B. all men are “without excuse” [1:20-32]C. “Therefore YOU are inexcusable” [2:1-11]D. Doers, not hearers will be justified [2:12-16]E. “…the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” [2:17-24]F. “he is a Jew who is one inwardly” [2:25-29]G. “What advantage…has the Jew…?” [3:1-8]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”

II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20]

H. “There is none righteous…not one” [3:9-20]

“there is none righteous…” [3:9-20]This is Paul’s conclusion to the problem:No one can claim to be “better” than anyone else – both Jew and Gentile are “under sin”!

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”

3:10-18 is a long list of EVIDENCE against the Jew – it is the law’s oracle against them!

ROMANS

chapter

3:1-20

A LAW system would give an advantage [or, in this case, a disadvantage] to the one who had that law, but FAITH weighs all equally!

With all the abundance of evidence, the Jew has nothing to say in legal defense, but has to admit that his condemnation is just! [3:19]

“there is none righteous…” [3:9-20]This is Paul’s conclusion to the problem:No one can claim to be “better” than anyone else – both Jew and Gentile are “under sin”!

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified”

In the end, ALL the law can do is condemn!

ROMANS

chapter

3:1-20

A LAW system would give an advantage [or, in this case, a disadvantage] to the one who had that law, but FAITH weighs all equally!

“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight…” – both Jew and Gentile must admit to breaking their own law by their deeds – justification is not possible now, only knowledge of sin! [3:20]

cp. Adam and Eve’s sin:BEFORE eating, no

“knowledge of sin” and no condemnation – after eating, their deeds condemned them,

and even their new knowledge of good and evil

could not justify them!They needed FAITH!

HOWEVER…“…the gospel of Christ…is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith…”

Have your deeds brought youonly the knowledge of sin?

You need the gospel offer of “righteousness (justification)…from

faith”!

Won’t you believe and OBEY today?

“There is none righteous, no not one…Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” [Rom 3:10, 20; cp. 3:23; 6:23]