Romans 3
3
God Remains Faithful
1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.#3:2 Greek the oracles of God.
3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”#3:4 Ps 51:4 (Greek version).
5“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7“But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
All People Are Sinners
9Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles,#3:9 Greek or Greeks. are under the power of sin. 10As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”#3:10-12 Pss 14:1-3; 53:1-3 (Greek version).
13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”#3:13 Pss 5:9 (Greek version); 140:3.
14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”#3:14 Ps 10:7 (Greek version).
15“They rush to commit murder.
16Destruction and misery always follow them.
17They don’t know where to find peace.”#3:15-17 Isa 59:7-8.
18“They have no fear of God at all.”#3:18 Ps 36:1.
19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Christ Took Our Punishment
21But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses#3:21 Greek in the law. and the prophets long ago. 22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.#3:30 Greek whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised. 31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
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Romans 3: NLT
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Romans 3
3
Jews Still Have an Advantage
1 Therefore, what is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? 2Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What is the result#Literally “for what” if some refused to believe? Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written,
“In order that you may be justified in your words,
and may prevail when you are#*Or, if the form is understood as middle voice, “when you yourself judge” judged.”#A quotation from Ps 51:4
5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.) 6May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner? 8And why not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, in order that good may come of it? Their#Literally “whose” condemnation is just!
The Entire World Guilty of Sin
9What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10just as it is written,
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12All have turned aside together; they have become worthless;
There is no one who practices kindness;
there is not even one.#Verses 10–12 are a quotation from Ps 14:1–3
13Their throat is an opened grave;
they deceive with their tongues;
the venom of asps is under their lips,#A quotation from Ps 5:9 and Ps 140:3
14whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.#A quotation from Ps 10:7
15Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16destruction and distress are in their paths,
17and they have not known the way of peace.#Verses 15–17 are a quotation from Isa 59:7–8
18The fear of God is not before their eyes.”#A quotation from Ps 36:1
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. 20For by the works of the law no person will be declared righteous#Literally “all flesh will not be declared righteous” before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Righteousness through Faith Revealed
21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—22that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ#Or “through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ” to all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God made publicly available as the mercy seat#Or “as the place of propitiation” through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins, 26in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith#Or “by Jesus’ faithfulness” in Jesus.
27Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law#Or “a principle” of faith. 28For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, 30since God is one, who will justify those who are circumcised#Literally “circumcision” by faith and those who are uncircumcised#Literally “uncircumcision” through faith. 31Therefore, do we nullify the law through faith? May it never be! But we uphold the law.
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