JEWISH OBJECTIONS

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ROMANS AT A GLANCE A Study of the Apostle Pauls
Epistle to the Romans CHAPTER 3
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JEWISH OBJECTIONS
Romans 33-4
OBJECTION 1

• The Jews "God has promised blessings to us
  Jews. Now if some don't receive those blessings
  because of unbelief, doesn't that mean God has
  broken His promise and is unjust? (Rom 33)
• Paul Not at all! God is always just even if
  every man is unrighteous. As a matter of fact,
  there is a sense in which the unrighteousness of
  man serves to establish or bring into focus the
  righteousness of God. (Rom 34, Ps 514)

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JEWISH OBJECTIONS
Romans 35-6
OBJECTION 2

• The Jews "But if our unrighteousness
  demonstrates the righteousness of God, wouldn't
  He be unjust to punish us for our sins? Wouldn't
  He be unfair to condemn us for our sins when we,
  by our sin, show God to be just. (Rom 35)
• Paul Of course not! If that were true then
  God could not judge anyone, or condemn anyone of
  sin. (Rom 36)

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JEWISH OBJECTIONS
Romans 37-8
OBJECTION 3

• The Jews "If good things come as a result of
  my sins (e.g., God's justice, mercy, and grace
  are revealed), then why am I criticized and
  condemned for my sins. Instead, I ought to be
  praised! Indeed, even as you have proposed, Paul,
  I ought to sin more that more good may come.
  (Rom 37)
• Paul I never said any such thing! The
  condemnation of those who slander me is just!
  (Rom 38)

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JEWISH OBJECTIONS
Romans 39-18
OBJECTION 4

• The Jews "Paul, if we do have some advantages
  as a result of being God's chosen people, are we
  better off than the Gentiles? (Rom 39)
• Paul Not at all. I have already said plainly
  that you Jews are under the condemnation of sin
  just like the Gentiles. Even your own prophets
  have said that the Jews are under the
  condemnation of sin. (Rom 310-18)

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THE FINAL WORD ONJEWISH SINFULNESS
Romans 310-19
What did the law say?
There is none righteous, no
not one . . . (Rom 310-18)
To whom does it say this?
. . . to those that under the law . . . that
is, the Jews (Rom 319)
What is the result?
The Jews' boasting mouths are shut up and they
are shown to be guilty before God. (Rom 319)
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Romans 320
JUSTIFICATION

• The establishment of a person as just by
  acquittal from guilt
• To judge, regard, or treat a person as righteous
  and worthy of salvation
• The legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God
  the pronouncement of the sinner as righteous

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Romans 320
WHAT IS LAW?
Law is the expressed and binding will of God
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THE JEWS' PROBLEMWITH LAW
Romans 320

• 1. They did not want to admit that they had
  violated law (Rom 217-320)
• 2. They sought justification by works of law (Rom
  931-32)
• 3. They 'stumbled' at the thought of a crucified
  Christ (Rom 932-33 1Cor 123)

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LAWKNOWS ONLY ONE DEMAND . . .FLAWLESS
OBEDIENCE
Romans 320

• Gal 310 . . . cursed is every one who does not
  abide by all things which are written in the . .
  . law . . .
• Gal 53 . . . every man who receives
  circumcision . . . is obligated to keep the
  whole law.
• Jam 210 For whoever keeps the whole law, and
  yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty
  of all.

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MAN DOES NOT KEEP THE LAW FLAWLESSLY
Romans 320

• Rom 39 . . . Both Jews and Greeks are all
  under sin.
• Rom 310 . . .There is none righteous, not
  even one.
• Rom 323 For all have sinned and fall short of
  the glory of God.

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THE REAL PURPOSE OF LAW
Romans 320

• 1. TO IDENTIFY SIN AND TO MAKE US KNOW THAT WE
  ARE SINNERS
• Rom 320 . . . through the law comes the
  knowledge of sin.
• Rom 77 . . . I would not have come to know sin
  except through the law for I would not have
  known about coveting, if the law had not said,
  You shalt not covet.
• Rom 713 . . . it was sin, in order that it
  might be shown to be sin by effecting my death
  through that which is good i.e. the law, that
  through the commandment sin might become utterly
  sinful.
• Rom 520 And the law came in that the
  transgression might increase.

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THE REAL PURPOSE OF LAWContinued
Romans 320
2. TO INDUCE US TO TURN TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION

• But the Scripture has shut up all men under
  sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ
  might be given to those who believe . . .
  Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us
  to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.
  (Gal 322, 24)

3. NOT TO RELIEVE MAN OF GUILT OR THE PENALTY FOR
SIN
. . . by the works of law no flesh will be
justified in His sight for through the law comes
the knowledge of sin. (Rom 320)
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GOD PROVIDES A BETTER WAY
Romans 319-31

• WE CAN NEVER BE JUSTIFIED THROUGH WORKS OF LAW
• We're not good enough
• Law was never intended for this purpose
• GOD HAS PROVIDED ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO BE
  JUSTIFIED
• Does not depend on our keeping the law
  flawlessly
•   Justification is given as a free gift to
  those who believe in Jesus Christ

BUT
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THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
Romans 321-25

• 1. Has now been revealed (321)
• 2. Is apart from the law (321)
• 3. Was witnessed by the law and the prophets
  (321)
• 4. Is of God (322)
• 5. Is through faith in Christ Jesus (322)
• 6. Is for all those who believe (322)
• 7. Is a free gift (324)
• 8. Is by God's grace (324)
• 9. Is through the redemption which is in Christ
  Jesus (324)
• 10. Is made possible through the propitiatory
  sacrifice of Christ the shedding of His blood
  (325)

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GOD IS JUSTAND THE JUSTIFIER . . .
Romans 324-26
How can God be true to His own nature of fairness
and justice if He allows those who are guilty of
sin to escape punishment?

• God sent Christ to pay the penalty for us who
  could not pay the price ourselves. Christ
  appeased the demands of the law for punishment by
  giving His own life on the cross. He bought us
  back from the sentence of death with His blood.
  In this way, the mercy of God was demonstrated
  along with His justice.

GOD IS JUST (He cannot ignore sin but must exact
the full penalty for violations of law)
GOD IS MERCIFUL (He justifies sinners that is,
He acquits men of their sins and regards them as
innocent)
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THE SYSTEM OF FAITH VS.THE SYSTEM OF WORKS
SYSTEM OF LAW Perfect law-keeping required
(213 Gal 310) Salvation by meritorious
works (41-5) Allows for boasting (42-4) No
forgiveness No one can be saved (320)

• SYSTEM OF FAITH
• Active faith required
• Salvation by grace through Christ
• Boasting excluded (327)
• Forgiveness for imperfections
• Both Jews and Gentiles can be saved

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SUMMARYRomans Chapters 1 through 3

• All men are under law
• But they do not live consistent with that law
• It is not possible for them to be justified by
  law
• So they stand inexcusable and condemned before
  God
• But God has revealed a plan for justifying man,
  not on the basis of law-keeping, but
  on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ
• This justification is available to all who will
  believe on Jesus
• It is possible because Christ paid the penalty
  for us and redeemed us with His
  blood
• This arrangement allows God to be both just and
  merciful

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