Romans 3 and Holiday Fun
First and foremost, let me apologize for the long absence in this journal. Between the Holidays, travel, and a three week break that the men's bible study has taken from Romans, I have not paid the appropriate amount of attention to this little piece of internet fun. While a great deal of newsworthy events have taken place in my absence, it was also very nice to get away from a computer for a little bit. Anyways, I am back now. I would like to take some time to update everyone on a few things that happened over the break, and then we will move right along to the 3rd Chapter of Romans.
Since we last spoke, I have enjoyed a vacation to see family in the greater Charlotte area for Christmas, I have read a few books (Mostly Lauren Winner's "Girl Meets God"), and I have applied, interviewed for, and accepted a new job. As of the first week of February, I will be the College Ministry Associate at Anastasia Baptist Church in St. Augustine, FL. The process that led Megan and I to this point was prayer-filled, and we are excited to see what God is going to do with us during the next year.
In looking ahead toward this year and all that I am excited about, it is hard to believe that I have the life that I have. Meg and I have constantly been amazed at God's faithfulness and all the blessings he has poured out on us. Families who are incredible. Friends who have become family. A Church that we feel called to. Jobs that allow us to live. Life is just really great! There is a thought that the first year of marriage is the hardest. If this is true, than the life God has in store for us will be better than I could have ever imagined.
I pray that this year brings the best for you all. My Sister and Truman are expecting another boy in May. Holly and Kyle are expecting a girl in February. Jeremy and Katie are expecting as well. I imagine that at least a few friends will be getting married. I imagine that many more will be moving, making career changes, and taking big steps. No matter what your year holds in store, I pray that God will lead the way and that He will keep you safe and secure.
Anyways, moving on to Romans chapter 3. If you remember from chapters 1 and 2, Paul is making the point that all humanity is grouped together in their sin. Not even the Jews, God's chosen people, can claim to be better based on their morality because they fail to live up to it. However, as we are about to find out in chapter 3, there is/was benefit to being a Jew. So, with that in mind let's jump in.
Romans 3
1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."
The Jews have the advantage of being entrusted with the words of God, the law of God, and the promise of God. What about Jews who were Jewish by culture, but not by faith? What about those Jews who turned away from God and worshiped idols? I love Paul's response to this question. He knows that what he has said in the first two chapters is being met with all kinds of emotions from the Jews in Rome. So he points out the fact that grace is not a new concept. He shows these Jews that they have been extended grace from day one. "Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God." This is where the brilliance of the argument Paul makes in the book Romans starts to come out. He is laying out the idea that God has not changed. He is showing that what God has done through His Son is merely the completion of what He has been doing for the Jews all along. The benefit in being a Jew is the promise.
5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.
Again, Paul is making his point all the more clear. He does so by playing devil's advocate. He poses the thoughts that will surely be on the other side of this argument. If God keeps His promise to a people who did not keep up their end of the deal, what are you saying about God? How could a God do that and still be just? The answer to this is not an easy one, but it is relatively simple. This is a line of questioning that is really asking one thing... "What is the nature of God?" The answer to this question is only simple because it is found in just one place... the Sovereignty of God. Paul also poses the question and the answer that has befuddled nearly every believer... "What is the balance to Grace?" If God will be faithful despite my faithlessness, than what motivates me to serve Him? This is one of the more paramount questions of the rest of the book, and I pray that we are all wrestling with it the way that the scriptures lead us to.
9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"
"THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
Using quotes from nearly every book of the Old Testament, Paul is pointing out again that all are under sin. He is showing the Jews that while they do have the promise of God's faithfulness they have still failed to act righteous. It is important to balance these two points. Paul knows that if he just mentions the promise to the Jews, there is no reason for them to need Christ. If God will be faithful no matter what, than what do they need to be saved from? You see the promise that God made to the Jews is fulfilled through Christ. Christ' sacrifice levels the playing field again, and makes the salvation which was promised to the Jews available to all. Just read below...
19Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
There are not many places in scripture where a simple and basic theology is laid out so effeciently. Start with verse 20, it is summarizing what Paul has said for the last two chapters. "No flesh will be justified to God through the law of works." John Piper talks a lot about Justification. I, like him, believe that it is one of the theological truths that we need to grasp and cling to. It is our promise. Like verse 21 and 22 says, "apart from the law the righteousness of God has been manifested....the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe." We recieve our rightneousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone, anywhere in the world can recieve this righteousness. There is no distinction. God is not playing favorites. He isn't asking us to clean up our lives before we come to him. He is not saying do this or that, and then you can come to me. Just like Paul is pointing out in verses 23-26, God is saying to us "I love you and I have given my Son to pay the debt of your sin. I have given Jesus to set right what is wrong, and you don't have to do anything else to make things ok. It is done. He was and is your propitiation. All you have to do is believe it. Trust me that He has taken care of it already." If you ever need a scripture that plainly and simply tells you what it is that you believe as a Christian, I think this is it.
Paul goes on to cement this idea all the more firmly. Justification is through Faith in Grace through Christ. Jews, Gentiles, Greeks, Romans, Barbarians, Americans, Africans, Asians, Men, Women, Children, Ederly... there is no more boasting is who you are. Christ has come to eliminate this idea of bigotry and hatred and ethnocentrism. He has come to put humanity back together. He is here and He is available to all. He is the only one we can boast in. He is Just and Justifier.
This, of course, leads us back to the earlier question. What is the balance of Grace? What is my motivation for right behavior, if my justification is apart from the law of works? Paul leaves us with his answer. Through faith, we establish the law. We establish the law of faith. Paul is going to take us deeper and deeper into what this law of faith consists of, and what the implications are for our day to day lives. For now, I am just so excited for the rest of the book of Romans, and I would love to hear how it speaking to you as we take this journey together.
Happy New Year,
Rob