Romans chapter 3
God remains faithful, even though all people have sinned. He offers righteousness based on faith. So we cannot boast about being righteous.
GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL
VERSE 1. Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
advantage. The Greek word is “hperisson.” It means “overplus.”
what advantage does the Jew have? In this Letter to the Romans, Paul asks questions and then answers them.
In this verse, he asks: What advantage is there to being Jewish?
Or what is the profit of circumcision? Since ancient days, Jewish men were required to be circumcised. But people forgot the purpose. So the prophets called people to circumcise their hearts. Read more »
VERSE 2. Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
revelations. The Greek word is “hlogia.” It is the plural form of “logos.” It means “words or statements.”
entrusted with the revelations of God. The Jewish people have been entrusted with the very words of God.
This could refer to the entire Old Testament. Or it might mean the promises and commands of God.
VERSE 3. For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
some were without faith. This verb “were without faith” also means “be unfaithful.”
their lack of faith. This noun can also mean unfaithfulness.
VERSE 4. 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 judgement.”
May it never be. That is, not at all. Human unfaithfulness can never nullify the faithfulness of God.
every man a liar. This means, “Let God keep on being true even though every man becomes a liar.” This alludes to Psalm 116:
Psalm 116:11. I said in my haste, “All people are liars.”
VERSE 5. But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
VERSE 6. May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
VERSE 7. For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
VERSE 8. Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
Let’s do evil, that good may come. Many Christians base their moral decisions on outcomes. If the consequences are good, they say is OK to do anything that is necessary. However, we believers CANNOT do evil that good may result. Read more »
ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED
VERSE 9. 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.
Are we better than they? That is, are Jewish people preferred?
No, in no way. Literally, “not by any means.” Jewish people have advantages over Gentiles. However, the LORD God does not give anybody preferential treatment.
VERSE 10. As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.
To sin is to violate God’s will for us. It harms our relationship with God. We all have missed the mark and sinned. Here are the verses we’ve found »
VERSE 11. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
no one who understands. No person truly understands the LORD God.
no one who seeks. No person truly seeks the LORD God.
Isaiah 64:7. There is no one who calls on your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.
VERSE 12. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
VERSE 13. “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”
throat. This pertains to talking.
VERSE 14. “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
VERSE 15. “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
VERSE 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways.
VERSE 17. The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
VERSE 18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
VERSE 19. 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 judgement of God.
we know. Paul includes himself with his Jewish readers.
it speaks to those who are under the law. The Law’s pronouncements are to those who are under the Law.
VERSE 20. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
by the works of the law. That is, nobody will be justified by observing the Law of the Old Testament.
RIGHTEOUSNESS BASED ON FAITH
VERSE 21. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
apart from the law. This new type of righteousness does not have anything to do with the Law of the Old Testament.
the law and the prophets. That is, the entire Old Testament.
VERSE 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
through faith. This new righteousness is not from observing the Law of the Old Testament. Rather, it is from faith.
in Jesus Christ. This new righteousness is from faith in Jesus Christ.
Many Christians have the mistaken notion that their righteousness stems from faith in “God.” But rather, a Christian’s faith is in “Jesus Christ.”
Of course, the Christian faith is monotheistic. We believe in One God. As do many people. But we go further. Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
VERSE 23. for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Romans and from the entire Bible.
all have sinned. The Greek is hpantes “hêmarton.” It literally means “all sinned.” If you were to ask a hundred Christians if everyone has sinned, what do you think they would say?
fall short. The Greek verb is in the present tense, stressing continuing action. It can be translated “keep on falling short.”
To sin is to violate God’s will for us. It harms our relationship with God. We all have missed the mark and sinned. Here are the verses we’ve found »
VERSE 24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Romans and from the entire Bible.
justified freely. Justification is not something we earn. It is given freely.
by his grace. God’s grace is so great!
VERSE 25. whom God sent 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;
an atoning sacrifice. The Greek word is “hilastêrion.” It is sometimes translated as “propitiation.”
Jesus Christ is our sacrifice of atonement.
VERSE 26. to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
WE CANNOT BOAST ABOUT BEING RIGHTEOUS
VERSE 27. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
VERSE 28. We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Romans and from the entire Bible.
apart from .. works. We want to shout this from the rooftops of every city in the world!
VERSE 29. Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
VERSE 30. since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
there is one God. The LORD is one. He is God alone. He is the one God and Father of all. Beside him there is no other God. There is none like him. Read more »
VERSE 31. Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
ROMANS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.