Romans Study: Session 3

ROMANS (Romans 2:12 – 4:25) – Session 3
The Jews

• In verse 17 Paul continues to speak to the Jews (Some commentators think he is also talking to the religious moralizing gentiles).
• Riding on the coattails of last week’s theme Paul continues to warn the Jews of overconfidence and special privilege. 
• The Jews were/are a special people and they know it…
•  Why are they special???

1. They possessed and relied on the law (God gave it to them)
   
2. They were the heirs to the covenant and promise
   
3. Since they possessed the law they also knew God’s will
   
4. They were the chosen race of God
   
5. God ordained them to be instructors of the law.

•  These are indeed special privileges God gave to the Jews.  He had entrusted them with some very important things.  They were in many ways God’s representative to the nations.
• The problem arose when the Jews took these special blessings and started letting it go to their heads which ultimately resulted in overconfidence and self-righteousness.
•  They were possessors of the law of God and familiarized themselves with it and they in turn teach the law and ultimately pass judgment of the conduct of others around them.  The unfortunate thing is they weren’t mindful to keep the law they were enforcing on others.
•  Being possessors of the law had a great responsibility and they had some high expectations to live and uphold the law and they did not do this.
•  They had the responsibility to guide, teach, and live according to the law.
•  As I mentioned before they were essentially God’s representatives and what they did and did not do ultimately reflected on God.
  
  

Nobody but God is Righteous

• Since all of this is true are the Jews better off than everyone else?  The answer is no.
• All are under sin

1. No one is righteous (Psalm 141:3
   
2. Everyone is sinful
   
3. There is no fear of God among the people

• The law was established to show humanities sinfulness.
• Nobody can be justified by the law.
  
  

Justification and Faith

• So far Paul has spent a lot of time focusing on the wrath of God and how He will judge and punish the unrepentant sinner but from now on he spends a great deal of time writing about the righteousness of God and ultimately answers the question… Since humanity is lost (Jews and Gentiles), depraved and sinful then do we have any hope?
• Verse 21 begins with, “But now…”  Paul has spent time in Romans 1:18 – 3:20 talking about life according to the law, “BUT NOW…”  refers to a new era that has begun after the law.
• I want to focus on two key words… Justification and faith, which can be found in verses 22 - 24.
• For the sake of clarity, I would like to define the two words…

1. Justification – This is a judicial term that simply means to declare righteous.  To be acquitted by God from all charges brought against a person because of his or her sins.
   
   1. According to Romans 3:23 all of humanity is guilty before God of sin (Genesis 3:16) thus we are condemned.
      
   2. In verse 24 Paul writes that we are justified by God’s grace by the redemption of Jesus Christ through faith.
      
   3. Jesus took our place and received the punishment and condemnation that we all deserved by his death on the cross.
      
   4. Thus, our justification is by grace or unmerited favor through faith because it is not based on anything we did.
   5. Justification is not universal in the sense that everyone is justified regardless, according to verse 25 justification is only imparted on those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Faith – A strong conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
   

• Faith has become the key to our being made right with God and not the law.
• I am to assume faith is an important issue in this passage since Paul refers to it eight times in ten verses.
• Paul ultimately is setting the record straight here for both Jews and Gentiles.  He is clearly stating that we are now in a new era in regard to salvation.  It is not by works (it never has been) nor by keeping the law instead it is by through faith in Christ and completely by God’s grace.
• He informs the Jew that by keeping the law means nothing when it comes to redemption.  He also informs the Gentile that he has hope and his redemption is apart from keeping the law that was not given to him.
• Paul was releasing the Jew from the law and freeing the Gentile from the idea of good works unto salvation thus introducing both to the idea of justification by grace through faith.
• Since this is the case neither Jew nor Gentile has room to boast.  They have done nothing to merit their salvation.
  
  

Abraham and Faith

• Martin Luther said Christians are at the same time both righteous and sinful.
• Jews saw circumcision as a sign of membership in the Jewish nation.  It was, as they believed, their sign of belonging to God.  It was what made them unique and special.  It’s what separated them from the gentiles.  It was their heritage.
• Abraham was obedient to works (circumcision) but he was considered righteous before the covenant.
• Circumcision was a sign of his faith for Abraham.
• Abraham believed God (not just believed in) and it was counted as righteousness.  Abraham was justified by faith… before he was circumcised.
• Abraham was not righteous, but God treated him as though he were.
• If this was true of Abraham (non-circumcised) then it would be true to all people regardless of circumcision.  Paul is making the case that the gospel is not just for the Jews, but for gentiles as well.
• What does saving faith look like?
  

1. Believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead (God)
   
2. Trust that Jesus died for our trespasses (sins)
   
3. Trust in the fact that Jesus rose for our justification (redemption)
    

Questions

• Are you relying on anything other than Jesus Christ (i.e. morality, works, self-righteousness etc.) for your confidence in salvation?
• How do you feel about Paul’s claim that “All are under sin”? 
• How would you explain to a “good person” that they are sinful and in need the gospel?
• Do you tend to focus more on God’s justice than his justification?
• If God were to ask you: “Why should I let you into my heaven,” What would you say?
• How do you experience the blessing of forgiveness?  Are there things that cause you to forget or under-appreciate it?
• Read for next week Romans 5:1 – 6:23