Romans | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

ROMANS 3

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED BY CHRIST

Paul corrects the believers who thought their unrighteous, rebellious ways brought glory to God by showing off his grace. Rebuking this thought, Paul explains that sin does not bring glory to God. Although God has the ability to redeem all things, He has called believers to live according to the teachings of Jesus and pursue holiness. Quoting Psalm 51:4, Paul writes that he values God's ultimate judgment over the words of man.

Reciting a variety of Psalms, Paul teaches that no one is good or righteous on their own. All believers, regardless of background or heritage, have fallen short of God’s best (Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7). Paul urges believers to live out of reverence for God. One of the purposes of the law was to reveal sinfulness and highlight the need for salvation. Paul uses this as an argument to examine one’s own sin and turn towards God.

Paul teaches that Jesus embodied the righteousness of God outside of the law. To the Jewish people who held the law as sacred, this was an extremely bold statement. Jesus wasn’t just good; He fulfilled all the old rules and predictions from the past. All of the Jewish laws and traditions and prophets pointed to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul has come to share the news with the Jewish people and invite the non-Jewish people into a new belief system.

Paul reminds everyone that no matter how much they've messed up, believing in Jesus makes them right with God. Because of this gift from God, believers are redeemed and freed from sin. Instead of boasting in the law or religious practices, Paul encourages the believers to boast in faith alone, as faith is the source of salvation.

STUDY QUESTIONS

The Romans were using God’s grace as an excuse to sin. What does Paul say about this in Romans 3:5-6?

Read Romans 3:20-23. How does humanity's inability to follow the law highlight the need for a Savior? Who has fallen short of God’s glory? What does Romans 4:14 say about this?