LessonFour--Romans3:1-20
All have sinned; no one can triumph by keeping the law
3:1-8 Jewish arguments against Paul and how Paul responds to them
PaulhasbackedtheJewsupagainsta wall.Hehasrevealedtheirsinsand condemnedthem.Buttheywillnotgo downwithoutafight.
Paulanticipatestheirarguments(after all,hehadbeenaPhariseehimself)and answerseachone.
ListthefourargumentsandgivePaul's answertoeachone.
1. (verses1,2)
Paul'sanswer
2. (verses3,4)
Paul'sanswer
3. (verses5,6)
Paul'sanswer
4. (verses7,8)
Paul'sanswer
TheJewstwistPaul'swordsagainst himandmakehimseemtospeak againstGod.Paul,however,answers theirargumentsfromScriptureand provesheisright.
3:9-20 All people are sinners; no one is justified by the law
InthissectionPaulconcludeshis preachingofthelaw.Paulcallsusall sinners.
Verses10-19PaulquotesfromtheOld Testament,mostlyfromthepsalms. SomeoftheOldTestamentquotations condemnallunbelievers,whilesome specificallycondemntheJews.
WhywasitimportantforPaultoinclude quotationsinwhichtheJewsalonewere condemned?
Thissectionteachesthetotaldepravity ofmankind,awatersheddoctrineof Scripture.WhilemanyChristians understandandbelievethisteaching, onlytheLutheranchurchteachesit accordingtoScripture.
1997NorthwesternPublishingHouse.Reprintedbypermission.
DoesPaulleaveanyroomforpeopleto layclaimtopossessingaremnantof goodnessinthem?
Toanswerthisquestion,listthe“no one”statementsthatdescribewhat peopledonotdo.
ReviewwhatLutherandScriptureteach.
Nowlisttheinclusivestatementsthattell uswhatallpeoplehavedone.
Reacttothisstatement:“Iwassearching forGodallmylife,andnowIhave foundhim.”
Agreeordisagree:Godmayrewardthe religious yearningsoftheheathenand revealhimselftothem.
Someversesdon'tsay“noone”or“all.”
However,verse19helpsusinterpret theseversesalso.Explainhow.
Verse20Whatcan'tthelawdo? What alonecanitdo?
Pointofdoctrine
AllScriptureteachesthetotaldepravity ofthehumanrace.HowaChristian defines“totaldepravity”willhave bearingonhisorherentirelifeoffaith.
ReviewwhattheCatholicandArminian churchesteach.
ReviewwhattheCalvinisticReformed churchesteach.
Allhavesinned. Infact,thereis nothinggoodwithinus.Forthat reasonthelawcannotdeclareus righteous. Itcanonlymakeus consciousofsin.
Summary
Godisfairwhenhejudgessinners, andthatincludeseveryoneforallare totallycorrupt.Allpeoplestand beforeGodaswickedand unrighteous.
For next time 1. ReadRomans3:21-31.
1997NorthwesternPublishingHouse.Reprintedbypermission.
2. ReadthebookofGalatians. Especiallynotechapters2--4,which areparalleltoRomans3.
3. ReadBecker'scommentaryon Romans3.
Romans3:1–20(EHV)
AJew’sAdvantageandGod’sFaithfulness
3What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew? Or what benefit is there to circumcision? 2Much in every way! Indeed, above all else, they were entrusted with the messagesofGod.
3Nowwhatifsomedidnotbelieve? Theirunbeliefwillnot nullifyGod’sfaithfulness, willit? 4Absolutelynot!Godmustbetrue,eventhougheveryoneisfoundtobealiar,just asitiswritten:
Sothatyouwouldbejustifiedwheneveryouspeak, andwinthecasewhenyoujudge.
AnAbsurdConclusion
5Now if our unrighteousness demonstrates God’s righteousness, what shall we say? Godisnotunjustinbringinghiswrathonus,ishe? (Iamspeakingfromahumanpointof view.) 6Absolutely not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7For example, someonemightsay,“IfbymyliethetruthofGodincreasesallthemoreto hisglory,why am I still being judged as a sinner?” 8And why not say (as some slanderously claim we say),“Letusdoevilsothatgoodmayresult.”Theircondemnationisdeserved.
AllAreGuiltyofSin
9What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all! In fact, we have already made the chargethatall(bothJewsandGreeks)areundersin. 10Justasitiswritten:
Thereisnoonewhoisrighteous,notevenone.
11Thereisnoonewhounderstands.ThereisnoonewhosearchesforGod.
12Theyallturnedaway;togethertheybecameuseless. Thereisnoonewhodoeswhatisgood;thereisnotevenone.
13Theirthroatisanopengrave. Theykeptdeceivingwiththeirtongues. Thepoisonofaspsisontheirlips.
14Theirmouthisfilledwithcursingandbitterness.
15Theirfeetarequicktoshedblood.
16Theyleaveatrailofdestructionandsufferingwherevertheygo.
17Thewayofpeacetheydidnotknow.
18ThereisnofearofGodinfrontoftheireyes.
TheLawCondemnsEveryone
19Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law, so that every mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God’s judgment. 20Forthisreason,noonewill bedeclaredrighteous inhissight byworks ofthe law,forthroughthelaw webecomeawareofsin.