Romans 3:1-8

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17] “the righteousness of God is revealed (being) from faith to (in order to produce) faith” [1:17]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17] II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20] 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” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation: If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it? Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] God had entrusted them with special knowledge that Gentiles didn’t have: but it held both privilege and responsibility 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

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation: If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it? Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] But, as we have seen, having the right facts [doctrine, etc.] in itself doesn’t save cp. John 5:39-40 – “in them you think you have eternal life…”; However, eternal life was in Christ, not in the law itself! Kept law but missed Christ [Mk 10:17-22]

R O M A N S “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation: If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it? Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8] Wrong concepts about “being faithful”: Being part of the “right church”; “Faithfully” attending worship services; Not sinning badly (drinking, drugs, sexual sins) Some did not believe the law they kept! 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]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation: If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it? Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8] Some did not believe the law they kept! Faith = proper knowledge [yes for Jew] + proper practice [mostly for Jew] + proper motives [rarely for Jew] cp. Pharisees, Sadducees, the “religious”

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “What advantage then…?” [3:1-8] Paul envisions an objection to his teaching that law-keeping isn’t the basis for salvation: 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] If the Jew’s “hard work” at law-keeping has not kept him from condemnation, what was the advantage of having & keeping it? Much! They had the “oracles of God” [3:2] Doctrine cannot save the faithless [3:3-8] Some did not believe the law they kept! Did God’s plan then “design” Jewish unrighteousness, to His glory? [3:5-8] NO! This is the problem with law system!

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 I. An introduction to Romans [1:1-17] II. ALL are condemned [1:18 – 3:20] 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] H. “There is none righteous…not one” [3:9-20]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “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”! 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! 3:10-18 is a long list of EVIDENCE against the Jew – it is the law’s oracle against them! 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]

“by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified” 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! R O M A N S chapter 3:1-20 “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”! 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! In the end, ALL the law can do is condemn! “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]

Have your deeds brought you only the knowledge of sin? “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] 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 you only the knowledge of sin? You need the gospel offer of “righteousness (justification)…from faith”! Won’t you believe and OBEY today?