Romans 3
3
1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2#Ps 147.19; Rom 9.4. Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4#Ps 51.4. By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written,
“That thou mayest be justified in thy words,
and prevail when thou art judged.”
5 #
Rom 5.9; 6.19; 1 Cor 9.8; Gal 3.15. But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8#Rom 6.1,15. And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
9 #
Rom 1.18-32; 2.1-29; 11.32; 3.23. What then? Are we Jews any better off?#3.9 Or at any disadvantage? No, not at all; for I#3.9 Greek we have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10#Ps 14.1-3; 53.1-3. as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11no one understands, no one seeks for God.
12All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong;
no one does good, not even one.”
13 #
Ps 5.9; 140.3. “Their throat is an open grave,
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 #
Ps 10.7. “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 #
Is 59.7-8. “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16in their paths are ruin and misery,
17and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 #
Ps 36.1. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 #
Rom 2.12. Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20#Ps 143.2; Acts 13.39; Gal 2.16; 3.11; Rom 7.7. For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 #
Rom 1.17; Phil 3.9; 2 Pet 1.1. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, 22#Rom 4.5; 9.30; 10.12; Gal 2.16. the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23#Rom 3.9. since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24#Rom 4.16; 5.9; Eph 2.8; Tit 3.7; Eph 1.7; Col 1.14; Heb 9.15. they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; 26#1 Jn 2.2; Col 1.20. it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.
27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith. 28#Acts 13.39; Rom 5.1; Eph 2.9. For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. 29#Rom 9.24; Acts 10.34-35. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30#Rom 4.11-12,16. since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. 31#Rom 8.4; Mt 5.17. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Currently Selected:
Romans 3: RSV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
For more information about the NLT: