Lesson 382 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).
Cross References
I Condemnation of the Jew by the Law
1. All who claim to be Jews do not live according to the Law, [ROM:2:17-25]; [JHN:5:45].
2. Uncircumcised Gentiles who keep the Law are a condemnation to those Jews who do not, [ROM:2:26-27]; [ACT:10:1-2].
3. A true spiritual observance, rather than an outward form, is that which makes a true Jew, [ROM:2:28-29]; [JHN:4:20-24].
II The Righteousness of God and Guilt of Man
1. The Jew has many advantages, [ROM:3:1-2]; [ROM:1:16]; [ACT:3:25-26]; [ACT:13:46]; [PS:147:19-20].
2. The failure of some Jews is not the fault of the Law, [ROM:3:3-4]; [HEB:4:2].
3. God's righteousness is manifest in His judgment, [ROM:3:5-8]; [REV:16:5-7].
4. No man can be justified by the doing of good works, [ROM:3:19-20]; [TIT:3:5]; [GAL:2:16].
5. All have sinned, [ROM:3:9-18]; [PS:14:1-3]; [ISA:53:6].
III Justification by Faith
1. Righteousness is by faith, [ROM:3:21-28]; [HAB:2:4].
2. God justifies both Jew and Gentile by faith, [ROM:3:29-31]; [GAL:3:7-9].
3. Israel misses the mark, [ROM:9:30-33].
Notes
Outward Observation
The Jews who instructed others in the Law, were condemned by the very Law that they taught. Their observation was of the letter of the Law and not of the spirit. Jesus said. "Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness" [LUK:11:39]). They were careful of little outward details, but "omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" [MAT:23:23]). "Woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God" [LUK:11:42]).
Many a person today calls himself a Christian and is active in good works, but is as void of true salvation as were these Jews. They pride themselves in the Scriptures and live moral lives, but trust in a mental acceptance of Jesus. They fall short of true repentance. They are ignorant of the transforming grace of God, which enables them to live a sinless life. Claiming to be under the protection of the Blood of Christ, they are guilty of the same sins as those who make no profession of godliness. "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God?" [ROM:2:23]).
The Jews were marked by the rite of circumcision and other outward observances which were given in the Law, much as if a Christian of today wore a cross or some other emblem to designate him as a Christian. The Jews had begun to look on these outward signs as an assurance of their righteousness. In other words, if they wore a tag it was evidence of their righteousness. Let us look at it this way: suppose one were asked, "Are you a Christian?" He, in turn, would point to a pin he was wearing and reply, "Of course, don't you see my badge?"
Inward Righteousness
In the Epistle to the Romans, God is pointing out to the Jews that it is not the outward observances of the Law that make one a righteous person, as circumcision means nothing unless the life is holy. If someone claims to be a Jew, boasting himself in his being circumcised, it means nothing unless he lives a godly life.
A Gentile comes along whose life is godly, but has no circumcision about which to boast. How is it that he is able to live godly? It is because of his faith in Jesus. Righteousness, it is pointed out, is a matter of faith and not of the works of the Law. This is true regardless of whether we are Jews or Gentiles. A Gentile need not have the rites of the Law in order to be a Christian. Neither shall a Jew claim Christianity by the rites of the Law but by the faith he has in Christ.
Dishonouring God
"The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" [ROM:2:24]). The failure of the Jews to live up to the high standard they professed gave occasion for the Gentiles to blaspheme the name of God. When David sinned, the Prophet Nathan said, "By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme" [2SM:12:14]). The world looks for the fruits of Christianity in the lives of those who own His name. "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" [2TM:2:19]). The conduct of a Christian on the job must be such as will honour God. "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed" [1TM:6:1]). Young women are instructed "to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" [TIT:2:4-5]).
The Advantage of the Jew
The Jews did have an advantage over the Gentiles in that God chose them to be the medium through which His Law would be made known unto the world. "Unto them were committed the oracles of God." God gave Israel a righteous law by which to be governed. "What nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" [DEU:4:8]). They knew what was required of them and that the transgression of the Law was sin. This knowledge of the Law, however, brought salvation only to those whose belief came by faith in Jesus Christ. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" [ISA:53:6]). "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" [ROM:3:23]).
Faith and Failure
"What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" [ROM:3:3]). The hypocrisy and failure of some to live up to the standard of the Gospel do not in any way prove the impossibility to attain to that standard. Shall we look at those who have failed in business and say that it is impossible to succeed? Shall we point to a counterfeit paper money (an exchange note) and say that there is no genuine currency?
The white of the lily contrasts most against the blackest of soils, and the light of the fire glows the brightest in the darkness of the night. Just so the clearness of the Gospel of Christ was manifest during the fog of Israel's unbelief. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord:" [ROM:5:20-21]). The Law came to reveal sin; Jesus came to remove sin. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins" [ROM:3:24-25]).
The spirit or essence of the Law cannot be kept by doing the works of the Law, but only through faith in Christ. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified" [ROM:3:20]). Those who lived godly lives under the period of the Law did so by faith. The Jews were justified by faith, even under the Law, as all true righteousness is by faith. God is God also of the Gentiles who are justified by faith.
No one is able by his own morality or good deeds to please God. "Without faith it is impossible to please him" [HEB:11:6]). Whether Jew or Gentile there is only one way to please God and that is through faith in the redemption that Jesus provided for us in His death on the Cross. It is impossible to live a Christian life in our own strength. It can be done only after faith has brought salvation to our soul and God has imparted power to go and sin no more.
Questions
1. In what were the Jews placing their confidence?
2. With whom today can we compare the attitude of the Jew?
3. What advantage did the Jews have?
4. What is meant by our unrighteousness commending the righteousness of God? [ROM:3:5]).
5. By what are the Gentiles justified? The Jews?
6. Why did not Israel attain righteousness?
7. Who was referred to as the stumbling stone that was laid in Zion?
8. Of whom was it stated that "there is none that doeth good, no, not one"?
9. What does the Law bring?
10. What did Jesus do that the Law could not do?