Category Archives: Romans

Regardless of whether we are rich or poor, whether we are highly educated or have no schooling at all, no matter where we live or whatever our background and culture happens to be, we all have one thing in common: we die. How did death come into the world? The Bible records how it happened. “The Lord God took the man (that is Adam) and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”” (Genesis 2:15-17 NIV) Sure enough, Adam ate from the forbidden tree and from that day forward, we all experience death.

However, this raises a question. Why do we die when it was Adam who sinned? In chapter 5 of his inspired letter to the church at Rome, in verses 12 through 14, the Apostle Paul explains it this way, “Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.”

An important principle of law is that punishment must be appropriate for the crime and only the guilty should receive punishment. If someone is punished for something he didn’t do, then injustice has been done. Adam disobeyed God’s specific command. Therefore he deserved to reap the consequence of disobedience. He died, just as God said he would if he disobeyed, but why must others also die? In this passage Paul provides one answer. Other men than Adam die because they have also sinned.

Paul acknowledges, however that this is only a partial answer. Earlier in his letter he pointed out that those who do not have God’s commandments will not be judged by them. Instead, they will be judged by whether they lived according to the knowledge of God’s will that they had. Here he writes that where there is no law, sin is not taken into account. In spite of this, everyone dies just as though they had broken a commandment.

Earlier Paul wrote that God is just. God must also remain just while He rescues us from the consequences of our sin. This is one reason why Jesus came and sacrificed Himself. Sin must be paid for. Jesus paid our debt. Here we see another reason why Jesus came. God had to overturn the injustice that even those who have not sinned by breaking a command, still die.

In verses 15 through 19 of chapter 5, Paul writes, “But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.”

Paul writes that there is both a similarity and a contrast between the result of Adam’s action and that of Christ. The similarity is that their one action affected many people. Adam’s sin brought death to many. In the same way, Christ’s sacrifice has given life to many. The contrast is that the condemnation of death came after only one sin. However, Christ brought God’s gift of grace and justification after many trespasses.

From the time of Adam until now death has reigned. It is as if that one man controlled the destiny of the whole human race. From an earthly point of view it looks like death’s reign is absolute. As far as we can see, there is no exception to the fact that all die. Throughout history mankind has sought for something which will overcome death, or at least prolong life. The search has been in vain.

But now in Christ, a new factor has entered in. Death may reign over mankind, but Jesus reigns over death. He said, “…a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out…: (John 5:28-29 NIV) The death sentence we face because of what Adam did will be overturned.

There is another sense in which Christ has broken death’s grip, If we accept God’s gift of grace we will reign in life. In other words, we can have victory over death. One of the reasons Jesus came was to, “…free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:15 NIV)

In Christ we can have victory over death not only in this life, but also in the one to come. In reference to the resurrection, Paul writes in another place, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NIV)

One sin brought condemnation to us all. One act of righteousness brought life to us all. Have you accepted God’s gift of life?

God loves us. Even though we have alienated and separated ourselves from Him by our sin, He still cares for us. Since it is impossible for us to wipe away the effects of sin through our own efforts God made a way. Jesus Christ took our guilt upon Himself and paid our debt through His death on the cross. God credits righteousness to all who put their faith in Jesus and in His sacrifice.

The Apostle Paul tells us about the results of faith in chapter 5 of his inspired letter to the church in Rome. In verses 1 through 11 he writes, “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

The first result of justification through faith which Paul mentions is peace with God. Sin not only separates us from God, it creates active hostility between us. In another place Paul writes, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” (Colossians 1:21 NIV) Faith, however reverses the situation. Where we were once God’s enemies and hostile towards Him, faith produces peace.

Actually, it is more accurate to say that Jesus Christ enables us to have peace with God by means of our faith. How does Jesus accomplish this? Through Him we have access into grace. As we saw in a previous program, grace not only fills the gap between our shortcomings and God’s perfection, it also enables us to live righteous lives. Here Paul mentions another attribute of grace. It is grace which enables us to stand firm in our faith.

Another result of being justified before God is that it gives us hope. Hope in what? Paul writes that we have the hope of the glory of God. What does this mean? In Scripture the glory of God refers to the manifestation of God’s character. When we are justified by faith, it gives us the hope that someday we also will attain God’s character qualities. The Apostle John writes, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2 NIV) As Paul says, this is truly something we can rejoice and glory in.

Being justified enables us to not only rejoice that we will one day participate in God’s glory, it also enables us to rejoice in suffering. At first this does not seem to make sense. How can anyone rejoice because of the trouble and anguish he faces? Paul explains that it is not the suffering itself, but rather the result of suffering which enables us to rejoice. Our difficulties and hardships force us to change and grow. James writes something very similar, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)

Paul writes that the process of suffering produces hope. How can this be? One would think that suffering would produce discouragement. Instead, it produces hope because we can see how our trials have changed us for the better. It gives us confidence that someday we will attain the perfection God has promised us.

There is another reason for us to have hope. The Holy Spirit whom God has sent to live in our hearts shows us God’s love. Since we have already experienced God’s love, we can be confident that God’s promise that we will share in His glory will also come to pass.

How deep is God’s love for us? It is easy to love those we like, those who are good and kind to us. But, Paul reminds us that God showed His love to us when we were at our worst. We were powerless – we could not even help ourselves, let alone do anything for God. We were ungodly – we were living to please ourselves not God. We were sinners – we had broken God’s standards. We were enemies of God – we actively opposed God’s plans and purposes. In spite of all this, Christ still died for us. We often hear of people dying because of patriotism – they love their country so much they are willing to lay down their lives for it. We hear of people dying to save their loved ones and family. We hear of people who are willing to die for their friends. But who ever heard of anyone being willing to die for his enemy? Yet, this is exactly what God, through Christ, did for us. Can there be any greater love than that?

This demonstration of God’s love is another reason we have hope. Those of us who follow Christ have already been justified by His sacrifice on our behalf. If God did this for us while we were still His enemies, will we not experience even more blessing now that we have become His friends? We no longer have to fear God’s wrath.

This reconciliation with God, which allows us to face eternity without fear is another result of being justified through faith. Just as we rejoice in our hope of sharing in God’s glory and the outcome of suffering, reconciliation with God also causes us to rejoice. How much joy do you have in your life. If you are not rejoicing in your relationship with God, is it possible that you have not been justified? Could it be that you have not put your faith in Christ?

When God created man, He not only made him in His own likeness, He also gave him free will. We humans have the right to choose whether we will live according to God’s standards or not. Unfortunately, we have all chosen to do our will rather than God’s will. We have sinned and our sin has separated us from our Creator. However, God still loves us. He wishes to heal the breach that is between us because of our sin. How can God do this? By what principle can God declare us righteous without allowing our sin to go unpunished?

Many would say that they can become righteous through observing the Law of Moses or something similar. However, the Apostle Paul writes that this is not the case. In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, he cites the example of why God credited righteousness to Abraham. In chapter 4, verses 13 through 25 he writes, “For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. Therefore it also was “reckoned to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.”

From Abraham’s example, we see two problems with the idea that we can be justified in God’s sight by law. The first problem is that we have already broken God’ standards. We cannot repair having broken the law by adding another law to what we ought to do. Once we become sinners, we have to pay the penalty for sin. Adding another law does not do away with the penalty. It merely increases our trespass and exposes us to more of God’s wrath.

Paul uses the concept of a will to illustrate his point. Obtaining an inheritance depends upon satisfying the conditions specified in the will. If an heir violates the conditions, he will not receive the inheritance. If God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants was conditioned upon their keeping a law, the promise would have been useless because no one has been able to meet God’s standards.

The other problem with law, is that not everyone has it. Abraham lived before God gave the Law of Moses to the Israelites. Therefore, Abraham could not be declared righteous on the basis of the Law. On the other hand, Paul points out that where there is no law, there also cannot be any law breaking. Even though Abraham did not sin by breaking the Law, he still was a sinner.

If Abraham and his descendants are not declared righteous on the basis of the Law, then how was he declared righteous? It was because of his faith. Abraham believed what God promised him. Because he believed, God extended grace to him. God’s grace makes up for our imperfection. God’s grace also gives us the power to live righteous lives. In another place Paul writes, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” (Titus 2:11-12 NIV)

How strong was Abraham’s faith? It was so strong that he had no doubt that God would do the impossible for him. God had promised Abraham children. But Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren. Abraham, himself, was well past the age when he could father a child. Yet, Abraham did not doubt God’s word. He knew that God had the power to do what He promised. Abraham believed, not just what God said, but in God, Himself. It was because of Abraham’s unwavering confidence in the character of God that God credited righteousness to him.

Abraham’s faith was not misplaced. Not only did his faith result in God crediting righteousness to him, it also enabled him to become a father. Physically, even though Abraham’s body was as good as dead, he became the father of Isaac. Metaphorically, Abraham became the father of all those who have the same kind of faith. In this way God fulfilled His promise to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.

Abraham’s example provides us with the answer to how righteousness can be credited to us also. Just as God credited righteousness to Abraham because of Abraham’s faith, God will credit righteousness to us if our faith is like that of Abraham.

What was Abraham’s faith like? Abraham had faith both in God and what God promised. Like Abraham, we also must have faith in God. In another place Scripture says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

Like Abraham, we also must believe in God’s promise. God promised Abraham that he would be a father. What is it that God has promised us? He has promised us Jesus. Specifically, God has promised us that Jesus’ death will pay the penalty for our sin. If we truly believe that Jesus died for our sin and rose again from the grave, God will credit righteousness to us just as He credited it to Abraham.

It is difficult to change one’s beliefs. The longer a person has held a particular belief, the harder it is to give it up. Perhaps one of the most difficult beliefs to change is the idea that we can please God and rescue ourselves from the consequences of sin by our own efforts. Our pride keeps us from admitting that we are helpless in the face of sin and we need someone to redeem us from it.

The Jewish people face an additional barrier to accepting the idea that they need a Redeemer. Though one of the purposes of the Law of Moses was to demonstrate that we are incapable of meeting God’s standards; though the Law itself points to the coming of a Redeemer, the Jews have trouble accepting that the Law cannot make them right with God.

To help us understand these two concepts, that is that neither our own good works nor a system of Law can make us right with God, the Apostle Paul gives the illustration of Abraham. The Jews revere Abraham as the “father of the faithful” and the forefather of their nation. That he was pleasing to God is beyond dispute. Therefore, by looking at his example we can learn how we also can please God.

In verses 1 through 12 of chapter 4 of his inspired letter to the church at Rome, Paul writes, “What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.”

We humans like to boast about our good works: We have given this amount of money to this cause; we have fed that number of people who were hungry. We even boast about the evil we didn’t do: We had the opportunity to cheat somebody, yet refrained from doing so. But Paul points out an important truth. Even if we refrained from doing what is wrong all the time; even if we did what is good all the time, we still would not have any right to boast before God. The reason is that when we do good or refrain from evil, we are only doing what God expects. We have done nothing meritorious or deserving of God’s praise.

If even perfection does not give us the right to boast before God, then how much less do we have the right when we have not lived up to God’s standards! As Paul pointed out previously, there is not a single one of us who has not sinned. Not one of us has been able to keep God’s laws, let alone do more than God requires of us.

Paul likens our situation to that of an employee. If a man does the work for which we hired him, we are obligated to pay him the wages we agreed upon. In addition, he has no reason to boast for he has only done what he was supposed to do. However, if the man does not do the work we contracted him to do, then he does not deserve his wages. If we are going to pay him, it will be on some other basis or principle than obligation.

It is the same way with God. We have not done what we should, therefore we have no reason to boast and God is not obligated to us. If He grants us eternal life it will be on a different principle than our good works. What is that principle? It is the principle of faith. Paul quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures to establish that it was not because of Abraham’s good works, but because of his faith that God declared him righteous.

Abraham was not the only one whom God declared righteous on the basis of his faith. Paul quotes from the Psalms to illustrate that this is a universal principle. God not only credited righteousness to Abraham, but to everyone who believes. It is not our good works, but our faith which saves us from the consequences of our sin.

People not only boast about their good deeds, they also boast about their ancestry. They are proud to have Abraham as their forefather. They reason that if God considered Abraham righteous, then his physical descendants must also be righteous in God’s estimation. Since God commanded circumcision for Abraham, then circumcision must make his children righteous too.

However, Paul points out that people who think like this have things backwards. God declared Abraham righteous before he was circumcised. It was not circumcision which made Abraham righteous. Rather it was because of Abraham’s faith that God declared him righteous. It was his faith which caused him to obey God’s command about circumcision. Circumcision was the result, not the cause of Abraham’s righteousness.

In the same way, it is not a physical mark which makes us righteous today. All we have to do is look around us to know that many people are very wicked in spite of the fact that they have been circumcised. Nor, does physical ancestry going back to Abraham make us righteous. Instead, it is the kind of faith that Abraham had which God is looking for in us. If we have Abraham’s faith, then God will declare us righteous just as He did Abraham. It is those who have faith who are the true descendants of Abraham, regardless of whether they are circumcised or not, regardless of whether they are Abraham’s physical children or not.

What makes us right with God? Why should God be pleased with us? Most people would answer these questions by pointing to their good deeds. They have God’s favor because their good deeds outweigh any wrong they might have done. Jewish people would answer that they are pleasing to God because they have the Law of Moses. Since God gave them the Law it is obvious that God is happy with them.

However, the Apostle Paul does not agree with either of these assertions. In his inspired letter to the church at Rome he highlights the fact that no one, whether Jew or non-Jew, has achieved the level of perfection that God requires. Those who do not have the Law have violated their own conscience. Those who have the Law have not kept it. In short, God counts every person a sinner and our sin has separated us from fellowship with Him.

If we cannot rely on good deeds or the Law of Moses to save us from God’s judgment, is there no hope? Is there no solution to our sin? Yes, there is. In chapter 3, verses 21 through 31 Paul writes, “But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by
the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.”

Paul points out in in this passage that the solution to sin lies with God. We will never be able to attain righteousness by our own efforts. Since we cannot, God must make it possible if we are ever to regain our relationship with Him.

God’s solution for sin is not the Law of Moses even though God is the One who gave it. Nevertheless, even though the Law of Moses cannot save us, it (and the writings of the Old Testament prophets) does testify to what can save us. In fact, this is one of the purposes of the Law. In another place Paul writes, “So the Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24 NIV)

Why is faith superior to the Law? Aside from the fact that the Law of Moses cannot save, the Law was given to only a few. Yet, everyone has sinned. Since sin is universal, the solution to sin must also be universal.

Earlier in the letter Paul described sin as those thoughts, intentions and actions which are contrary to God’s standards. Here he mentions another aspect of sin. He uses an archery term to describe it. We are like an archer whose arrow falls short of the target. Even if we have never done anything to violate God’s standards, we still do not attain the target of God’s perfection. Our goodness always falls short of His. We need something to fill the gap between our efforts and the perfection God demands. It is Christ’s death which fills the gap. It is His blood which atones for our sin. It is our faith in Christ and our acceptance of His death on our behalf which restores our relationship to God.

But why is the death of Christ necessary? Why can’t God merely forgive or overlook our sins without Christ’s sacrifice? The answer is that God must retain His own justice while justifying us. The penalty for sin is death. God cannot arbitrarily break that principle and retain His own justice. Sin must be paid for. Therefore, to atone for sin, someone had to die. Someone who was totally innocent had to take the place of us who are guilty. The sinless Christ had to take our sin upon Himself.

God’s justice was not always evident. The fact is that He did overlook the sins of many of the people we read about in the Old Testament. Even the sacrifices for sin specified in the Law of Moses were not sufficient to do away with sin. As Scripture says in another place, “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3-4 NIV) In other words, God forgave sins even though the price for those sins had not been paid. But if the price had not been paid, then how could God be just? How could God overlook the sins of His people in the past while judging people for their sins today? This is another reason Christ had to die. His death not only pays for the sins we commit today, it also pays for the sins of those God forgave in the past. In this way, God can remain just Himself while justifying sinners. God looks at those who put their faith in Christ as if they had never sinned.

Christ’s sacrifice has another consequence. Since our release from sin does not result from our own efforts, but rather depends on what God has done for us through Christ, there is no room for us to boast. We cannot boast in our good deeds – they are not acceptable to God. We cannot boast that we are recipients of God’s Law – because the Law condemns us as sinners. Instead, the only boast we can make is that Christ died for us. As Paul writes in another place, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 NIV)

Paul points out that justification by faith is not limited to any specific group or race. It is available to all. Since God is the God of everyone, both non-Jewish peoples as well as the Jews, His plan to redeem people from sin includes all people. Everyone is capable of faith in Christ.

As people, each one of us is uniquely different from everyone else. We have our individual likes and dislikes. We have our own ways of thinking. We do things differently than others do. We have different talents and abilities. We have different physical characteristics. Some of us are tall, others short. We have different colors of skin, eyes and hair. Not only that, we speak different languages and come from different cultures. We have many other differences as well. When we view mankind as a whole, we see an infinite variety.

However, there is one way, regardless of our different abilities, temperaments, cultures and ways of thinking, in which everyone is exactly the same. Each one of us has violated or has failed to live up to God’s standards. God calls our rebellion and failure, sin. Sin separates us from fellowship with God.

In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul points out that this condition of separation between God and man is not limited to those who do not have God’s Law. No, the Jews also, to whom God gave His Law, are also separated from God because they failed to keep it. To drive the point home, Paul quotes several passages from the Old Testament Scriptures. In chapter 3, verses 9 through 20 he writes, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.” “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”; “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. The way of peace, they haven’t known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

The Jews boasted that they were better than other peoples because God had given them the Law of Moses. No doubt the Law gave the Jews many advantages and blessings. However, the Jews came under condemnation as sinners, just like everyone else, when they failed to keep the Law. Their boast was nullified by their disobedience.

In what ways have people become sinners? Paul lists 14 statements taken from various places in the Old Testament to substantiate that everyone has sinned.

“There is no one righteous; no, not one.” What this means is that there is no one who has conformed to God’s standards. God made us in His image, yet we do not display the character of God as we should.

“There is no one who understands.” Though it is impossible for a creature to fully comprehend his Creator, God reveals enough of Himself to us so that we can recognize Him. However, as Paul already said in chapter 1, verse 18 of this letter, we have chosen to suppress the truth about God. We do not understand because we have chosen not to understand. As other Scriptures point out, we are ignorant of God because we have hardened our hearts against Him.

“There is no one who seeks after God.” Instead of trying to restore our broken relationship with God, like Adam after he sinned, we try to hide from God.

“They have all turned aside.” God has shown us the way, yet we have chosen to turn from it.

“They have together become unprofitable.” God created us for a purpose. However, we have not fulfilled that purpose. We have become useless to God.

“There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.” At the time of creation, God declared that mankind was good. Unfortunately, we have become evil by not practicing what is good.

The next statements describe our talk and how we use our voices. “Their throat is an open tomb.” Graves contain decay. They give off a bad odor. All too often our words are putrid and vile. As Jesus said, our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts.

“With their tongues they have used deceit.” Our words should instruct and guide. Instead, we use words to mislead, lie and deceive.

“The poison of vipers is under their lips;” We should use our words to build others up and encourage them. But we destroy others with false accusations and gossip.

“whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” God made our mouths to give praise and to sing in worship. Instead we use our voices to condemn, curse, grumble and complain.

The next statements highlight deeds, which are often an outgrowth of our speech. “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” All we need to do is look around us to see that people delight in killing.

“Destruction and misery are in their ways.” In our selfishness, we do not care how we hurt others as long as we get what we want.

“The way of peace, they haven’t known.” We do not know how to live in harmony with others, and we do not have peace in our own hearts. We try to fill the void with things and activities rather than let God’s Spirit fill us with His peace and joy.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The root problem behind all sin is that we do not have a proper view of God. We put ourselves and our desires on an equality with Him.

In summary, all of us, whether Jew or non-Jew, have violated God’s laws. And, once we have become sinners, we cannot become righteous again by keeping His Law in the future. Keeping the Law does not repair the violations we have already committed.

If the Law of Moses cannot save, then what was the purpose of it? Paul writes that it was to make us conscious of sin. We cannot know what is right and wrong unless we are told. We can’t understand the need of salvation if we aren’t conscious of being lost.

How can we human beings know God? How can we who are sinners have a relationship with God who is holy, righteous and just? Jews would reply that the answer to these questions is the Law of Moses. God entered into a covenant relationship with the Jewish people. Because of the Law they became God’s chosen people.

However, the Apostle Paul points out in his inspired letter to the church at Rome, that it is not merely having the Law of Moses which makes a person right with God. It is also necessary to obey it. If a Jew breaks the Law, his spiritual condition is the same as if he didn’t have the Law at all. The Law demands perfection and once a person sins by breaking it, there is no provision to erase his sin. The system cannot save! Sadly, everyone, whether Jew or non-Jew, those who have the Law and those who do not have it, all of us have violated God’s standards. All of us are sinners in His sight whether we have the Law or not.

This truth is very hard for the Jews to accept. In chapter 3 of his letter, verses 1 through 8, the Apostle Paul answers four objections. He writes, “Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of God. For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.” But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. May it never be! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.”

The first objection that Jews have to the concept that the Law does not save is this: If being a Jew does not make us right with God, then what is the advantage of being a Jew? What is the point of having the Law?

Paul’s answer to these questions is that the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God. Though Paul does not explain here the advantages of having the words of God, there are other Scriptures which do. For example, God’s word gives guidance. Psalm 119, verse 105 says, “Your word in a lamp to my feet and light for my path.” (NIV) God’s word also helps us to understand ourselves. Hebrews 4, verse 12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV) Most importantly, though the Old Testament Scriptures cannot save us, they give us hope and prepare us for salvation. They point us to Jesus Christ who can save us. Paul wrote to Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 3:15 NIV)

A second protest those who have the Law make is that God isn’t playing fair. In the Law He gave us a system which is supposed to seal our relationship to God. It is supposed to save us, but it doesn’t. We are condemned by the very system which was supposed to help us.

Paul’s answer to this objection is that it isn’t God’s fault that we are condemned. He is faithful. It is not His fault that we have not kept our part of the agreement. How is He to blame when we have violated what we agreed to do? On the contrary, God would be at fault if He did not keep His word by judging us when we violate our covenant with Him.

A third protest some people make is that God is unjust when He condemns us because our unrighteousness shows how righteous God is by contrast. According to this logic, it is to God’s advantage that we sin. His glorious truth shines all the brighter in comparison to our falsehood.

The answer to this is that God is consistent. If He lets the Jews off because their sin enhances God’s righteousness, then He has no basis to judge anyone else. Conversely, if God is going to hold those who do not have Law accountable for their sin, He must also hold those accountable who do have the Law.

A fourth protest someone might make is that God brings good out of the evil that we do. If God uses our sin in order to accomplish good things, then why does He condemn us for sinning?

The answer, of course, is that ends do not justify means. The objection is very similar to that of those who misunderstand God’s grace. Those who have this misunderstanding say that if we are part of God’s chosen people, sin doesn’t matter because God’s grace will cover it no matter what we do. Some would go so far as to say that it is good for us to sin because God brings good from our sin.

Paul’s answer is that people who think and say things like this deserve the condemnation they receive. No amount of good can justify doing what is wrong. God is righteous and He demands righteousness from us as well.

The Jews of Paul’s day thought that having the Law made them right with God. There are many people today who have the same attitude. They think that they are pleasing to God because they belong to the church. Or, they think that because they are a member of a particular denomination, they can do whatever they like and God will still accept them. However, this is not the case. Righteousness does not come from an outward affiliation, but from keeping God’s standards. Peter writes, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” (1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV)

Probably almost everyone who believes in God would agree that He is not only the Creator, but the Judge. Some day, He will right all wrongs and end all the injustice we see and experience in this world. Some day, everyone will answer for what he or she has done.

However, this raises a question. While those who have violated God’s standards should pay the consequences, what about those who have never had the opportunity to know what God requires? How will God judge them? In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul points out that God does not show favoritism. He will judge people by what they have done according to the opportunity they had to know the truth. Even if someone never had the opportunity to know God’s Law, nevertheless we all have a conscience which informs us of right and wrong. Have we obeyed our conscience, or have we violated it?

But not everyone is ignorant of God’s Law. God gave His Law to the Jewish people. Since they have the Law, how will God judge them? In chapter 2, verses 17 through 29, Paul writes, “Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God, and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth. You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal? You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who glory in the law, through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision? Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.”

Because God gave the Law of Moses to the Jewish people, they enjoyed a relationship with God that no one else had. Unfortunately, instead of humble gratitude that God selected them out of all the peoples on earth, the Jews began to boast that they were superior to all others. They forgot that what made them special was that God chose them, not that they were better than anyone else. Moses told them, “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery…” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NIV)

There is no doubt that the Jews had an advantage over other peoples. As Paul says, in the Law they had knowledge and truth. Why did God give them this advantage? One reason is so that the Jews would become a blessing to others. For example, God told them, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” (Exodus 19:5-6 NIV) One of the functions of a priest is to pray for and teach others about God. This is what God intended the Jewish people to do for the other nations.

However, the Jewish people began to glory in the position God gave them but apparently forgot their responsibility. It is tragic that they saw themselves as the instructors of the foolish, guides to the blind and light-bearers to those in the dark, yet violated the very Law they were so proud of. The things Paul mentions, that is, stealing, adultery and robbing temples are all things which the Law prohibited. No doubt these are merely a few examples of the way in which the Jewish people broke the Law of Moses.

Their hypocrisy had severe consequences. Instead of drawing other peoples to God, the Jews’ example of disobedience caused others to mock or blaspheme against God. To establish this point, Paul refers to what the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel wrote. The prophets point out that the Jews were God’s people, yet because of their disobedience God had to send them into exile in a foreign land. As a result, the nations concluded that God was not powerful enough to save His own people.

The point of Paul’s discussion is that merely knowing God’s standards or having the Law of Moses is not enough to avoid God’s wrath and judgment. In fact, those who knowingly violate God’s Law will receive a greater condemnation. This agrees with what Jesus taught. He said, “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48 NIV)

The Law of Moses required the Jewish people to circumcise their children. The Jews took great pride in this physical indication that they were in a covenant relationship with God. However, Paul points out that it is not circumcision, but obedience which makes someone pleasing to God. If someone does not have the Law, yet lives according to the Law’s principles, God looks at him as though he had been circumcised. If someone is circumcised yet breaks God’s Law, it is as if he were not circumcised. The uncircumcised law keeper will condemn the circumcised law breaker. What God is looking for is not a physical mark on the body, but a heart which wants to do what is right. All of us who claim to be God’s people need to ask ourselves whether we merely have the name, or whether we are truly obedient to God from the heart.

There is a principle which says that, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Suppose a man is arrested for cutting down a tree in a public park, for firewood. Will the judge let him off if he says, “I’m sorry your Honor, but I did not know it was against the law to cut firewood from public parks.”? Of course not! Whether the man genuinely did not know the law is not even the issue. It was his responsibility to find out whether it was permissible before he ever applied his ax to the tree.

Someone will argue, “It is not fair for the judge to fine the man. It was not his intent to break the law.” True, the man’s action might be less reprehensible than that of someone who broke the law deliberately. Nevertheless, he still showed contempt, or at least carelessness, for the law because he made no effort to find out what it was before acting. He could have known the law, therefore he deserves his fine regardless of whether he intended to break the law or not.

In chapter 2 of his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul points out that God gave the Law of Moses to the Jewish people. Because they had the Law, it was their responsibility to know it and to act according to it. Ignorance was no excuse. If they broke the Law, they came under God’s judgment regardless of whether they broke it willfully, or through neglect. In either case, they demonstrated contempt for it.

But this raises another question. How can God judge those who have genuinely never had an opportunity to know what He expects? God gave the Law to the Jewish people. He did not give it to those who are not Jews. Since this is so, is it not unjust for God to judge non-Jewish people by a standard they were never given?

Paul answers this dilemma in chapter 2, verses 12 through 16. He writes, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among
themselves accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.”

In this passage, Paul affirms God’s justice. Yes, He will judge all of mankind. However, He will not judge them by an impossible standard. God acknowledges that some people do not have the Law. Their ignorance is genuine. It is not merely a matter of neglect or indifference. Therefore, God will not judge them by a standard they never had, and had no possibility of knowing. Those who did not have the Law will not be held accountable to it.

What Paul writes agrees with other Scripture. In another place God talks about our responsibility and our reaction to it. He says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” (Proverbs 24:11-12 NIV) From this we see that God does not hold us accountable for what we honestly did not know.

On the other hand, Paul makes it clear that those who do know God’s Law will be judged by it. It is not enough to merely have the Law, it is necessary for a person to obey it before God declares him righteous. If he doesn’t keep it, he is judged a sinner.

What standard, then, will God use to judge those who do not have the Law? Paul writes that they are a law to themselves. This means that God will judge them by what they did with what they knew. Did they live according to whatever information about God they had? Then God will acquit them. Did they violate what they knew about God’s standards? Then, God will hold them accountable as sinners.

In a sense, it is wrong to say that non-Jewish people did not have God’s Law. The truth is that God has put within each one of us an awareness of right and wrong. We call this awareness our conscience. We generally know when we are doing wrong, because our conscience protests and our heart accuses us. Similarly, when we do right, our conscience approves and our heart commends us.

Our consciences are not a perfect guide. The Bible tells us that we need training. For example, it uses food to illustrate the difference between levels of spiritual maturity. It says, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14 NIV).

Our consciences can also be mistaken. In another place Paul writes, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4 NIV) Nevertheless, Paul indicates that God judges those who have not had the opportunity to know His standards on the basis of their conscience. Did they do what is right as far as they knew right from wrong, or did they ignore the protests of their conscience and do what their own hearts told them is wrong? Have they listened to the promptings of their conscience, or have they corrupted it so that it no longer warns them when they do what is wrong?

In chapter 1, verse 16 Paul wrote that the gospel is God’s power for salvation. However, here in chapter 2, verse 16 Paul shows the other side of the gospel. It would be meaningless to promise salvation if there were no judgment. The day is coming when God will judge everyone according to what he has done. Paul writes that the judgment will not be according to appearances. Instead, God will judge us by our secret thoughts. Were our intentions pure when we acted?

In his inspired letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul addresses the question of why we need salvation. He points out that people have deliberately turned away from God. They have suppressed the truth, embraced idolatry and, as a result, have fallen prey to all sorts of evil practices. They have no excuse for their behavior, or the consequences of their behavior.

Some of the people to whom Paul wrote were Jews. Because God had given them the Law of Moses, they may have felt superior to those people without the Law whom God gave over to their own sinful desires. However, Paul points out that it is not possession of a law which makes people pleasing to God, but living according to God’s standards which makes us acceptable to Him. Those who have the Law but do not live by it are just as guilty as anyone else.

In chapter 2, verses 1 through 11 he writes, “Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

We humans are very quick to condemn others. We see someone doing something which we consider a sin, and we start talking about what terrible things they are doing. Unfortunately, we do not confine our comments to their actions. We go on to say what a terrible person they are.

It is appropriate for us to uphold God’s standards. There is nothing wrong in speaking out when someone does something which God does not approve, or when someone does not do what God says they should. However, we go beyond what is appropriate when we expect people to conform to our standards instead of what God has said. Even worse is when we condemn someone else when we are as guilty as they. We might not have done some of the things Paul mentions in the first part of his letter, but we too have broken God’s standards. For example, we might not have indulged in sexual perversion, yet be arrogant and boastful which, Paul points out, is just as bad. Even if we have avoided all the specific things Paul mentions, none of us has met God’s standards of perfection. Not one of us can say that we have kept God’s law perfectly.

Therefore, nobody who knows God’s standards has any right to condemn those who have never known them. Those who have God’s law but have not kept it, are just as guilty as those who do not have it but have deliberately turned away from the knowledge of God which we can perceive in nature. In both cases, we are under God’s judgment. Paul writes that God’s judgment is based on truth. This means that He judges based on the actual situation, not our own perceptions of our superiority over anyone else, or whether their sin is greater than ours. We are all guilty no matter how much or little we have sinned.

This raises a question. If we are all guilty and under God’s judgment, why does He continue to put up with our sin? Why does He not make an end of evil? Paul’s answer is that God is kind and patient. He is hoping that His kindness toward us will cause us to repent and turn from our evil. The Apostle Peter agrees. He writes, “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

What will happen if instead of repenting, we look at God’s patience as a license to continue sinning? Paul writes that we are storing up wrath for ourselves. God may be willing to not punish sin immediately in the hopes that some day we will renounce it, but the day will come when His patience will run out. At some point He will bring judgment.

Upon what does God base His judgment? Paul writes that God’s judgment is righteous. It will be exactly what is appropriate for the sin which we have committed. As we saw earlier, it is also based on truth. God will not punish us for something we have not done, nor will He overlook anything we have done. As Paul explains, “God will give to each person according to what he has done.” (Romans 2:6 NIV)

If we are all guilty of sin, and if God will judge us according to what we have done, is there no hope? Is there no way to escape God’s wrath? Yes there is. There are two sides to the principle that God will judge us according to what we have done. He will certainly punish those who reject the truth and follow evil. On the other hand, He will certainly reward those who do good. As we already saw, God desires our repentance. If we renounce sin and seek to do what is right, God will reward that desire.

This principle applies to everyone, whether we are Jews or non-Jews, whether we have had the benefit of knowing God’s laws and standards, or whether we are ignorant of them. God does not show favoritism to anyone. No matter who we are or what our background is, God will reward or punish us according to what we have done.