Treasures New and Old

Romans: False Arguments: We are Better Than They

I’ve divided Romans, Chapter 3, into five sections based on five arguments that Paul anticipates from dissenters and then discredits those arguments. Last month we looked at the first two false arguments:

False Argument #1: The Bible (Law) Gives No One an Advantage: vs 1-4
False Argument #2: God Is Unrighteous: vs 5-10

This month we will look at Paul’s last three false arguments:

False Argument #3: We Are Better Than They: vs 9-18
False Argument #4: The Law Is Better: vs 19-26
False Argument #5: Believers Can Boast about Salvation: vs 27-31

False Argument #3: We are Better Than They

Romans 3:9-18:

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps 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: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Note: The difference between having an advantage (the light of the gospel) versus being better does not mean that we are more superior or more righteous than others.

Some main points of this short passage:

Paul has once again raised a false argument that he either has heard or anticipates. That of “since we have an advantage (we have the law – for modern day Christians – we have the Bible) we, therefore, must also be better than those without such an advantage.” But Paul will quickly knock that lie down with the verses that follow the false argument. Christians are not better than other people – but we are trophies of God’s grace.

The state of all mankind is “desperately wicked”. Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The behavior of the lost is summed up in verse 18 – “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Let’s explore this short passage and keep in mind that old adage, “But for the grace of God – there go I.” Look at the passage in Romans 12, and concentrate on verse 3:

Romans 12:1-3: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, but the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Verse 9-10 Notes: “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

Paul now readdresses the Jewish element in Rome with the “are we better than they?” question. Remember, many of these false arguments are coming from Jewish naysayers. Unfortunately, we believers can get caught in the same trap of believing that we are better than those who are lost around us. We even have a tendency to compare ourselves to other Christians and say that for this reason or another, we are better than they. Brothers and sisters, this must not be so!

In verses 1-4, he had just debunked the false argument that Jews have no advantage, so one could then turn around and say, ok – we have an advantage; therefore, we must be better than they!

This will lead us into false argument number 3 to which Paul says, “No – didn’t I prove to you in chapters 1 and 2 that all have sinned?” And, therefore, all are under the penalty of sin, and we all need a Savior!

Paul addresses this third false argument by quoting an Old Testament verse that even the Jewish naysayers would not deny, that is:

Psalm 14:1-7:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Verse 11-12 Notes: “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Psalm 14:1-4: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.”

Romans 7:17-25:

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Isaiah 64:6-7: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”

Verse 13-18 Notes: “Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps 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: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

These verses lend background to these verses in Romans:

Psalm 5:9 (emphasis added): “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.”

Proverbs 1:15-16: (emphasis added): “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”

Psalm 10:1-7 (emphasis added):

Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not see after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in this heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under this tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 59:8-12 (emphasis added): “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 109:17-18 (emphasis added): “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.”

Isaiah 59:1-8 (emphasis added):

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None called for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Psalm 36:1-4: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.”

False Argument #3 Conclusions:

1. Seeker churches fail the test

Some contemporary churches are billed as “seeker-friendly,” but the Bible says that “no one seeks God.”

Psalm 14 is a picture of God searching for even one whose heart seeks Him.

So, if no one seeks God, who are the seekers that some churches are trying to attract? How are people saved if no one is seeking God? All lost people are dead in trespasses and sin, and the dead are simply unable to seek anything. But we play semantics. The danger of many contemporary churches is that they attempt to attract the world with the world’s attractions, music, soothing messages, programs that entertain, etc.

If they are able to attract the lost with the programs and messages that the lost find attractive, how then will they ever really hear the gospel since once attracted, and in such a church, the worldly messages, music, etc. must by necessity continue?

2. We need an understanding of our fallen nature

Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Mark 7:19-23: “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

Even Christians must beware: Hebrews 3:12-13: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

3. We absolutely need a new heart and a new spirit

Ezekiel 36:25-27: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye tranformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

False Argument #4: The Law is Better

Romans 3:19-26:

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Back to an earlier issue, that of the law and those who trust in their ability to keep the law. This time Paul is addressing an implied argument, that the law is better. This is what Judaizers preached to believing Gentiles when they got saved.

Paul is going to address this argument from a slightly different angle – that of man’s inability to keep the law.

Verse 19 Notes: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

First point is that those who trust in the law are subject to the dictates, ordinances, statutes, and restrictions of the law, all 613 mikvahs.

The first saith is the Greek word lego, akin to logos (Strong’s G3056) and it means “to lay forth” (Strong’s G3004). In other words, whatever the law lays forth, it lays forth to those who are under that system. Those who are under the law must obey what the law lays forth, dictates, describes, directs, demands.

The second saith is laleo (Strong’s G2980) is a word that speaks directly to those under the law. It is a singular, indicative, present, active verb (Gilbrant). Singular refers to the whole law or it would have been plural. Indicative is a demand. Present active means that it is always in force. So, Paul is saying that whatsoever the law lays forth, those under the law are continuously responsible to keep the law and must obey and perform all of it. Which we know is impossible.

Paul then gives a clear reason (not the only reason) for pointing out this truth – that every mouth may be stopped and, thus, all the world stands guilty before God.

Why stop the mouths? Man’s heart is desperately wicked and can’t comprehend how far his sin has separated him from a holy and righteous God. We might even believe ourselves to be pretty good and deserve to be in heaven, even in our fallen condition.

However, when we stand before a holy and just God and our sins and violations of the law are revealed, we won’t be able to claim that God is unjust (False Argument #2 in verse 5). It will be clear that day that all are guilty before God because there is not a way for fallen man to keep the dictates of the law.

So summing up verse 19, Paul is pointing out that the law is not better because we simply cannot keep it in our fallen natures.

Verse 20 Notes: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

As a sort of conclusion to verse 19, verse 20 sums up the point: Those who do try to live under and obey the law, their “deeds” mentioned (ergon: work, labor (Strong’s G2041)) will not find justification in their feeble attempts to keep the law. Remember, violation of one point makes you a lawbreaker and guilty before the court of Heaven.

No on can be justified by the law because no one can keep all of the law.

Also, it is the law that convinces us of sin. I did not know to not speed until I saw the 35-mph speed sign. I did not know to not trespass until I saw the “No Trespassing” sign. I did not know not to take what I wanted as a child until someone taught me that that was stealing. Whenever I took something that was not mine from then on, I knew it was stealing and, therefore, wrong – and I did it anyway. The law convinced me of sin. It taught me that I am a sinner!

First we must understand human nature. Because of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and became part of human existence. Because Adam is the common ancestor of every human being, we all inherit that sin nature. We are born with a natural desire for rebellion, self-interest, and disobedience. In Romans 7:18, Paul says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) [my sin nature, my old man] dwelleth no good thing: for to will [to do God’s Word and the Law] is present with me [I know these things and desire to do these things]; but how to perform that which is good I find not [I am unable to perform in myself].” In ourselves, we cannot seek after God, for the simple reason that seeking God is a good and holy thing. Sinful flesh is incapable of good and holy things.

Isaiah 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Verse 21-22 Notes: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”

But now transitions from the system of the Old Testament Law to what really saved people in the Old Testament: faith. The righteousness which is acceptable to God is not a legal righteousness. It had been taught already in the Old Testament as the righteousness by faith. Romans 1:17: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.”

Is manifested, i.e. clearly made known, equivalent to the word revealed used in Romans 1:17.

Because keeping the law (justification by works) is impossible, God has revealed another already taught way, both in the law and prophets. A method which is not a legal system (without law), and, therefore, it is not on the condition of obedience to the law, but on the condition of faith which is applicable to all men.

As men cannot attain God’s righteousness by the deeds of the law, God has revealed in the gospel another righteousness, which is not by the law, but is attained or received by faith and is offered to all men, whether Jews or Gentiles, as a free gift.

The law and the prophets refers to the Old Testament Scriptures. I must inject an important point. Andy Stanley and other mega-church pastors have announced that the law has been done away with, does not exist and has no bearing on our lives, and can be ignored¹. But I am reminded what Jesus taught: Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.“

Thus, we see two systems in force that are active and usable (if you can keep it). The law -still active and available and convincing men of sin, and faith – believe in Jesus Christ as our fulfiller of the law since we cannot do it ourselves.

Verse 22 tells us clearly what the other system is: “Even the righteousness of God.” Paul is saying that God has, in effect, instituted two systems, one of the law and one of faith. That faith is of God, that the faith that we have in Jesus Christ is not from within ourselves but is from God.

Faith in Jesus Christ is available to all, Jew and Gentile, slave or free, man or woman, and there is no difference to God (Remember, He is no respector of persons.).

Our holiness, then, becomes the consequence and not the cause of our justification since even our faith comes from God.

The righteousness of God which is revealed in the gospel is to be attained by faith – not by works, not by birth, not by any external rite, not by union with any visible church, but simply and only by believing on Christ, receiving and resting upon Him.

This righteousness is suited to and sufficient for all men; not only for all classes, but for all numerically. So that no one can perish for the want of a righteousness which is suitable and sufficient an clearly revealed and freely offered.

Verse 23-25 Notes: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

We are sinners, and we come short of what it takes to reach God’s glory. Coming short of the glory of God is saying that we don’t measure up to His standards, don’t meet His requirements to have fellowship with Him, and can’t obtain a place with Him in eternity. We fall far short.

But there is a way! Not by the law, but by God’s grace, and His mercy, and His justification through the system of faith (not the law), that is, through faith in Jesus Christ. He is our propitiation, our means, our bridge over the vast gap that sin has caused between us and God.

Propitiation – big Greek word: hilasterion (Strong’s G2435). The English word propitiation occurs three times in the New Testament (and not at all in the OT). And it is actually another Greek word hilasmos (Strong’s G2434) in the other two locations: 1 John 2:2 (bold added): “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 4:10 (bold added): Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Hilasterion only occurs twice in the New Testament, once here is Romans 3:25 and then again in Hebrews 9:5 where it is translated as “mercy seat”. “And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” Let’s reread verse 25: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [mercy seat] through faith in his blood, to declare his [that is Jesus] righteousness for the remission of [our] sins that are past, through the forbearance [self-restraint, tolerance, patience] of God;”

A couple of thoughts about False Argument #4:

So verse 26 is our closing point: “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

The other system that is far better than the system of the law is that of faith in Jesus Christ. Why does it work you ask? Because Jesus is the just one and is able and does justify those who believe in Him.

False Argument #5: Believers Can Boast about Salvation

Romans 3:26-31 (bold added): “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Verse 26 Notes: “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Paul is declaring not only God’s and, therefore, Jesus’ righteousness. He also verifies His justice, that He is just, and that His act of sacrifice on the cross gives proof of His justice by providing a way of escape of fallen man.

Since He is just, and since He has acted justly, and since His means of salvation is just, then those who believe become justified by Him for they are now covered by the blood of Christ. We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ because He is our justifier.

Verse 27 Notes: “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Because Jesus justifies us, and we are unable to do so ourselves, we have zero room to boast that we got ourselves saved. We did not. Jesus saved us. We, therefore, cannot boast how we saved ourselves by trusting Jesus.

Consider the pit from whence we were dug. Psalm 40:1-4: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”
Imagine yourself in a mud-sucking pit, stuck up past your knees and unable to move. The top of the pit is six feet above your head, and every attempt to claw at the sides only drags more dirt into the pit and causes the muck to rise a little higher. Now comes a couple of folks with a rope. They drop the end to you with a loop already knotted, and you secure it around your waist, and then it is pulled gently to catch under your arms. Your rescuers proceed to pull you out. Later, when telling others what happened, can you boast of anything regarding your rescue? You might dare to boast that I let them pull me out!

By what law do you, then, boast of your salvation? Did you drag yourself out? Did works save you as you continued to claw at the sides dragging more and more mud into the pit? Did you keep the law of God so as to be saved by your works?

Nay, Paul says, it is the law or system of faith that God has provided that saves a person.

Verse 28 Notes: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Paul is summing up the argument with a logical conclusion:

- The law is in effect, but no man can keep it.

- All have sinned, and all fail to even seek God.

- But God does seek man and God does the quickening of man – He is a quickening spirit.

- Christ kept the law perfectly.

- God sacrificed Jesus on the cross for man’s sin.

- Jesus conquered sin and death, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

- Those who believe in Christ are saved.

- Those who believe do so by faith and did not do so by keeping the law (i.e. works).

- Therefore, we conclude: We are justified before God by faith in Jesus Christ without the keeping of or completion of the deeds of the law.

Verse 29-30 Notes: “Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

Since Paul is talking at length about the law, it is natural to assume that this discussion is all about Jews. It is not. God is the one and only God, creator of all things and, thus, must be God over the Jews and the Gentiles for He is God over all.

Because He is the one and only true God, and seeing as He has devised a salvation plan that predicates on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and that for our part God quickens us and even provides the faith to believe, no matter who believes – circumcised or uncircumcised, it is this faith gift provided to you and me that saves us – given to everyone.

Verse 31 Notes: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Final thought regarding the law – does the plan of salvation provided by God void or nullify the law since we are saved by grace through faith? The answer is simply NO – because:

1. The law had to be in place to convict us of sin – to convince us that we are sinners – to be our schoolmaster.

2. The law had to be in place so that the world would clearly see God’s holiness and demand for righteousness.

3. The law had to be in place to reveal to the world God’s own character and righteousness and to show the world the difference between God and all the false gods that man creates.

4. The law had to be in place to show that we, in our fallen state, cannot keep the law and, therefore, fail in any attempt to save ourselves through works.

5. The law had to be in place so that Jesus had a standard to which He would be compared against in order to be declared the sinless and without blemish Lamb of God.

6. The law had to be in place so that Jesus could keep the law and satisfy the demands of a holy God.

7. The law had to be in place so that as we consider these other points, we realize that the only path to salvation is not the law, not works, but salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

We, therefore, conclude that the plan of salvation instituted by God actually establishes the law, and without it, we might never see our need for Jesus Christ.

Closing Thoughts on Romans, Chapter 3

John 6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” In other words, the only way we can seek God is if the Holy Spirit has first stirred our hearts with a desire for God. It is God who draws us to Himself.

Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Even the faith to believe for salvation does not originate within our fleshly nature. God quickens the fallen human heart to respond to Him, for in our own self-centered rebellion we would never do so.

Every good thing originates with God. James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Faith in God is a good thing and even our faith originates with God.

Our best efforts fall far short of the righteousness required by God: Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

That’s why Scripture says that no one seeks God. We seek fulfillment. We seek pleasure. We seek escape from pain. But the pure motivation of seeking after God for Himself is a gift from God. We are not saved because we had the wisdom and insight to exercise our own faith and trust in God. No one wakes up one day and, on his own, decides to seek God.

Men may seek some spiritual enlightenment, go on long pilgrimages, climb a hundred steps at some monastery on their knees, say hours of prayers in solitude, shave their heads, flog their bodies, and many other things which if they worked would be a salvation by their own works.

Scripture is clear: we are saved only by the grace and mercy of God.

- Titus 3:5-7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

- Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

We are saved when God quickens our hearts and prompts us with the faith He gives to receive His gift of salvation. Even with the knowledge of God’s existence everywhere, people naturally choose to “suppress the truth by their wickedness”.

Romans 1:18-21:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Because no one naturally seeks God, God seeks us. He sought Adam and Eve as they hid in the Garden (Genesis 3:9), and He has been seeking His lost loved ones ever since. Jesus gave this as His mission statement: Luke 19:9-10: “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.“

When God saves us, we become new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

We are now members of God’s family and, specifically, a member of the Bride of Christ. He opens our eyes to His truth; He gives us faith and forgiveness and fellowship with Him. In our newness of life, we are given godly desires: Psalm 73:24-25: “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” And a new focus in life.

We receive a cleansed heart: Hebrews 10:19-22: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith; having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

We are given a new mind: 1 Corinthians 2:16: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” In the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to truly seek after God.

The connection between our salvation and our seeking after God is illustrated in how God restored His people following the Babylonian captivity. The ancient Jews, at first, expected a speedy return to their homeland, but the prophet Jeremiah advised them to settle in. Their captivity would last seventy years. Lest His people despair at the thought of such a lengthy discipline, God assured them that His plans were to give them “hope and a future” (verse 11).

Jeremiah 29:10-14:

For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

At the appointed time, the Jews repented of their sins and began to cry to the Lord in sincerity and fervency. This is just what God had foretold: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you . . . and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you . . . and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive” (verses 13-14).

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Gilbrant, T. The Complete Biblical Library Interlinear Bible. World Library Press. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software]. Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1990)

Schreiner, T. (November 1, 2018) The Old Covenant is Over. The Old Testament is Authoritative. The Gospel Coalition. Nov. 1, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/old-covenant-response-andy-stanley/

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

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