themuzicman
February 25th 2004, 10:25 PM
Three elements to Romans 1:16-3:30
1) Law and sin
2) No difference between Greek and Jew in regard to law or salvation
3) We must find salvation apart from the law.
Start in 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT
THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Introduction to the book, need for gospel, gospel, living in the gospel)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God
made it evident to them. (Men who are unrighteous? All of us? What is evident? The contrast between
unrighteousness and righteousness of God)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been
clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Invisible attributes
clearly seen so that they are without excuse? Again, righteousness...)
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their
speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and
exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and
four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Goes on to describe a progression of sin and corruption.)...
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not
only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Again, they know the ordinance or
judgement of God.)
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you
condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly
falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those
who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
This is the beginning of Paul's case against all men, and the breaking of self-righteousness.
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness o
f
God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath
for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH
PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and
immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does
evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
Note partiality, here, is in judgement and reward for deeds. There is also impartiality in requirement of the law:
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the
Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the
Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these,
not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their
conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when,
according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
Thus, the law applies to all men, even those without a written law, and I believe this concept of the law, whether
one has it in written form or via conscience, is the concept of the standard of law that it used throughout Romans.
17-29 talk about the advantage and disadvantage of the Jews. Even though they have the law, if they break the
law, even circumcision is insufficient for them. In short, the OT covenant and abrahamic covenant cannot be
salvific in nature, as we'll see at the end of chapter 3
This all sets up chapter 3:1-20
And then 21-26 presents the beginning of the solution, and concludes this section:
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and
the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
Notice what the law and the prophets bear witness of...
for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(problem)
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom 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; 26 for 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.
(Solution)
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we
maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not
the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and
the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Again, Paul finds no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
So, there are three major themes in this portion of scripture:
1) The law, written or known, convicts us of sin, and condemns us.
2) It does not matter whether we have the written law or the law of conscience, Jew or Gentile, circumsized or
uncircumsized, present or past, we are all condemned.
3) Salvation is found only apart from the law, since we have all fallen short, we need the grace of propitiation
through faith.
1) Law and sin
2) No difference between Greek and Jew in regard to law or salvation
3) We must find salvation apart from the law.
Start in 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT
THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Introduction to the book, need for gospel, gospel, living in the gospel)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God
made it evident to them. (Men who are unrighteous? All of us? What is evident? The contrast between
unrighteousness and righteousness of God)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been
clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Invisible attributes
clearly seen so that they are without excuse? Again, righteousness...)
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their
speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and
exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and
four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Goes on to describe a progression of sin and corruption.)...
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not
only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Again, they know the ordinance or
judgement of God.)
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you
condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly
falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those
who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
This is the beginning of Paul's case against all men, and the breaking of self-righteousness.
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness o
f
God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath
for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH
PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and
immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does
evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
Note partiality, here, is in judgement and reward for deeds. There is also impartiality in requirement of the law:
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the
Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the
Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these,
not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their
conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when,
according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
Thus, the law applies to all men, even those without a written law, and I believe this concept of the law, whether
one has it in written form or via conscience, is the concept of the standard of law that it used throughout Romans.
17-29 talk about the advantage and disadvantage of the Jews. Even though they have the law, if they break the
law, even circumcision is insufficient for them. In short, the OT covenant and abrahamic covenant cannot be
salvific in nature, as we'll see at the end of chapter 3
This all sets up chapter 3:1-20
And then 21-26 presents the beginning of the solution, and concludes this section:
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and
the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
Notice what the law and the prophets bear witness of...
for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(problem)
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom 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; 26 for 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.
(Solution)
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we
maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not
the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and
the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Again, Paul finds no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
So, there are three major themes in this portion of scripture:
1) The law, written or known, convicts us of sin, and condemns us.
2) It does not matter whether we have the written law or the law of conscience, Jew or Gentile, circumsized or
uncircumsized, present or past, we are all condemned.
3) Salvation is found only apart from the law, since we have all fallen short, we need the grace of propitiation
through faith.