Romans 3: From Guilt to Grace - Just as if I never sinned

If you think it's alright to sin because Christ has died for you, then you should read this post. Although Christ has died for all our sins, it does not mean that we should carry on sinning.



1. God reveals his righteous in punishing the unrighteous (even the religious)

Romans 3:1-8 (ESV)
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,

“That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Romans 3:1-2 tells us that by being a Jew (or in a wider context, being born into a Christian family), we are entrusted with the Word of God for a start. However, we see in verse 3 that some of the Jews (and those born into Christian families) do not believe. Though so, in verse 4 we are told that their lack of belief will not change God's faithfulness. This basically means that God's promise to us is certain, and will not change no matter what each and every one of us do.

Why do we sin? It is because of our sins and evil deeds that prove that God is good (v5). For those who are unrighteous, God's wrath is upon them. God is perfect and is never unfair.



2. All of us are unrighteous

Romans 3:9-20 (ESV)
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one; 

11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 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 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Verse 10 tells us that no one is righteous, even the Jews (v9).

The bible describes man as sinful - there is nothing good in man. In fact, it lists out our wrong-doings in verses 11-18 (adapted from this source):

v11 Nobody understands. Nobody looks for God.
v12 They are like travellers who have wandered onto the wrong path.
       Together, they have become evil.
       Nobody, not even one person, does anything good.
v13 Their *throats are like open graves.
       With their tongues, they tell lies.
       The words from their lips are like the poison from a snake.
v14 They use their mouths to speak angry and bad words.
v15 They are quick to attack and they even kill other people.
v16 Wherever they go, they cause loss and pain.
v17 They do not know how to be kind.
v18 They do not respect God.’



3. God reveals his righteous by justifying us by grace through faith in Christ

Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation 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 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God's wrath is revealed on all and God's righteousness is revealed for all (v21).

We receive justification through faith (v22) and this justification is a gift from God (v24), and it reveals the righteousness of God (v26). Justification is a gift from God because no one deserves it. But Jesus died in order to suffer for this punishment of our sins.



4. The result of God's Grace

Romans 3:27-31 (ESV)
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

No one can boast because no one is righteous (v27). No one can be justified by our works and actions alone (v27). We are justified by faith (v28).

However we are cautioned that the law still has value (v31).



In closing, I would like to end off with a quote from Timothy Keller:

“The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin.”

Have a blessed week ahead!