Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith”

RomansPaul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 5a II. God’s Righteousness: Needed by All Romans 1:18 - 3:20 Page 29

Preliminary Observations • In this chapter, Paul continues his lesson for Jews about their attitudes of self-righteousness. • Paul’s purpose, therefore, is to develop his overall theme, “All men need God’s grace revealed in the gospel....” • As in his other letters, the apostle seeks to deal with the problems currently troubling this church and the individuals.

Preliminary Observations • Perhaps the most serious problem that needed attention at Rome was the eroding influence of false teachers who unsettled brethren by insisting to Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised. • It is evident that there were issues about “full fellowship” between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Preliminary Observations • Paul demonstrates clearly that both Jews and Gentiles had come from such evil environments that both would have faced certain destruction without the forgiveness offered in the gospel.

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • Jews had been given advantages in the past (1,2) • Paul anticipated the question, “What advantage then has the Jew...” if circumcision does not save (1) • A most important question and Paul’s answer - Israel had been chosen as the repository of God’s revelation to mankind (2) • Only to the Jews was a written law given

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • God’s faithfulness not dependent on theirs (3,4); • Paul anticipated their asking if their unbelief would cause God to not fulfill His promises or would He be a covenant-breaker (3) • Paul declared that God would never be unfaithful to His promises (3, 4) • His promises were always conditional • God is true and every man a liar (those who broke their covenant with God in unbelief) (4)

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • Sinners who “show God’s glory” still deserve punishment (5-8) • Some Jews claimed that the more they sinned, the more His grace of forgiveness could be displayed to the world, i.e., it served to glorify God (5) • If that were true, how could God then judge the world (including the Gentiles)? (6)

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • Sinners who “show God’s glory” still deserve punishment (5-8) (continued) • Paul was accused of being a sinner by leading others into obeying another law • It that were true, then Paul’s sins would be to God’s glory so why would they oppose him (7) • If it applied to the Jews then it would apply to Paul • Some had slandered Paul by saying he taught “do evil that good (God’s grace) may come” (8)

End of Lesson 5a

RomansPaul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 5b II. God’s Righteousness: Needed by All Romans 1:18 - 3:20 Page 33

A brief review.... In chapter 3, Paul is answering Jewish objections to his charges • Jews had been given advantages in the past • God’s faithfulness was not dependent on theirs • Sinners who “show God’s glory” still deserve punishment for their sins Today, we will study how the O. T. scriptures support Paul’s accusations that all, Jew and Gentile, needed God’s righteousness

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • O. T. Scriptures support Paul’s accusations (9-20) • Paul proclaimed that the Jews were no better than the Gentiles - “they all are under sin’ (9) • Since they will not hear Paul, he used their own law to prove his point - “as it is written...” (10) • The O. T. passages quoted condemned both Jews and Gentiles, particularly the Jews for whom it was given • These quotations are shown on the next few slides

Romans 3:10-12 From Psalm 14:1-3 10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.“

Romans 3:13-14 From Psalm 5:9 13a "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit“ From Psalm 140:3 13b "The poison of asps is under their lips" From Psalm 10:7 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

Romans 3:10-18 From Isaiah 59:7,8 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.“ From Psalm 36:1 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Summary of Romans 3:10-18 • None is righteous (10) • None understands (11) • None seeks after God (11) • All have turned aside (12) • All are unprofitable (12) • None does good (12) • Speech was corrupt (13-14) • Murderers (15) • Destruction and misery are their ways (16) • Not known peace (17) • Having no fear of God (18)

D. Answering Jewish Objections to Paul’s Charges Romans 3:1-20 • O. T. Scriptures support Paul’s accusations (9-20) (continued) • Paul reminded them that whatever the law says, it says to those under the law (19) • No law can be kept perfectly (20) • Knowledge of sin came to the Jews by their law (20) • Jews were guilty for failure to keep the law

End of Lesson 5b

Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith”