JC Blog

The book of Romans is so masterfully written by the apostle Paul. He addresses every objection and concern that would be raise with someone hearing the true gospel. In the previous verses, Paul explained that even though the Jews were not faithful to God, God was still faithful the them.

When we look at how unfaithful we are, it magnifies the mercy of God in an exponential way. So the natural question arises...'if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us?" Or in other words, if our sin promotes and amplifies God's holiness and grace, why am I being judged?

Although Paul is addressing this argument, he clearly defines it as a human argument. The very thought that our sin could benefit God and help to promote His character is a very carnal and self-seeking. Paul wants to make that point understood from the beginning. Therefore he gives a disclaimer, that it in no way was this wisdom of God, this logic was clearly man made.

Paul's answer to this question is a strong, God forbid! The implications that God would be unjust or unfair to judge the world is utterly ridiculous. Our sin does bring out His mercy more clearly, however God can judge the world because He alone is righteous, holy and sinless. It is an established fact that He will come back the second time to judge, so the argument that God is unfair by judging the world has to be thrown out on that basis.

Apparently, Paul preached the message of grace so strongly that when people heard it, questions arose and truth had to be explained. God's message of grace is so great that it is natural to ask these types of questions. If you don't, then you probably haven't heard the full gospel as Paul preached it. Today, thank the Lord for His abundance of mercy and grace pour out upon you.

The integrity of God's Word is something we as Christians need to address and settle in our hearts once and for all. Paul dealt with opposition to this also. In this passage he headed off the question that would naturally arise concerning the revelation of the Law, the Jews and of Faith...What if some did not believe what God had said, will that nullify the promise of God?

The Jews had a covenant with God. Another word for covenant is contract. There is always two sides to a covenant and both parties must adhere to their obligations for the contract to remain effectual. God had promised the Jews a lot of things and the only thing required of them was their faith. God made this covenant with Abraham and ratified it with the seal of circumcision. Circumcision was a token of the faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Paul had just proven that the Jews had forsaken their end of a covenant because they traded in their faith for works. The Jews weren't living by faith in awaiting for the Seed of Abraham, the promised Messiah. Instead they started relying on adherence to the Law. So Paul's question is legitimate, would their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Does the Jews unbelief make God's Word ineffectual?

Verse four gives us an emphatic and resounding no! The unbelief of the Jewish nation made the Word and promise of God ineffectual in their own lives, because they choose not to believe it. However, God still sent Jesus as the Savior of the world, fulfilling His promise. For anyone who faith in Him, the gospel has the power to save them. So even though they were faithless and broke contract with God, He was still faithful in sending Jesus.

One thing we must settle in our hearts from the beginning is that no matter what circumstances surround us, what opinions people have or what we feel, we must decided that God is true and everything else contrary to His Word is a lie. Paul is saying that God's promises are always true even if men don't believe them. Just because circumstances have a way of lying to us, we have to resolve to adhere to what God has said about it in His word first and foremost. We have to believe God especially when everything around us tells us something different. Why? Because our lack of faith does not nullify God's promises. So our faith allows them to work in our lives.

Today, choose faith. Know that God is faithful to what he has already spoken. Decide in your heart to believe Him no matter what. Resolve to allow his faithfulness to work in your life and you will reap the benefits of His goodness and promised word.

This is quite a statement! In the past few verses Paul has unequivocally proven that humans are without excuse before God. Both for Jews, who have the Law and for Gentiles who have the essence of the Law written on their hearts. Everyone has an ingrained knowledge of God and His standards, therefore we also have a knowledge of our condition apart from God.

At the end of time, when unbelievers stand before God for final judgment there will be no excuse available. Paul says that God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, or as the Amplified Bible says, "God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts)." ( Romans 2:16 ) Even if they manage to disregard and suppress this knowledge in the present world, all men's secrets will be laid bare before Him. That knowledge and those thoughts will be the proof to condemn.

Mankind is without excuse but not without hope...

Paul does not want to condemn us, that is not the purpose of this letter. He longed for everyone to come into fellowship with the Lord. He is statically building the case for grace one brick at a time. In the first three chapters of Romans, he is tearing down old weak foundation and excuses to rebuild upon the firm foundation, the institution of Christ. To do that, he must destroy all arguments that counter the message of grace.

Paul calls it his gospel. Not because he created it but because he was obligated to it. He was compelled to preach the good news unto the ends of the earth. Paul receive his revelation of the Gospel directly from God. He was so sure of the message of Grace that he told the Galatians "the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." ( Galatians 1:11-12 )

Paul wanted everyone to know of the good news of Christ Jesus. That news was not to tell men of their sinful condition and hopelessness before God, but that God had sent His Son to be our substitute for the punishment of sin. He bore our sin, our shame, our punishment and gave us His righteousness, His holiness and His forgiveness. Paul's gospel by direct revelation of Christ Jesus declares we are forgiven and in right standing with God the Father. This is completed in us through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It in no way is dependant on our own performance, adhering to the law or because we are basically good.

Today, if you have only experience the condemnation that religion casts, my you find grace. May you understand the Gospel as Paul preached it. The almost too good to be true news of Christ Jesus. May you rest assured that at the end of time, you will not stand in judgment before God but you will accepted exactly as you are, a holy and righteous son or daughter of the most high King.

Unfortunately many people struggle with understanding the difference between the Old and New Testament. For many people the only difference is one blank page dividing the two covenants. But these difference are far greater then the span between Malachi and Matthew.

This misunderstanding can be attributed to not comprehending a passage of scripture as this. At first glace it appears that Paul is saying that to be declared righteous before God, one must obey the law. This would lend towards the marriage of the two covenants as one. However, unless one understands the purpose of the Law and why it was given, this line between becomes fuzzy and understanding the differences will not come.

The sole purpose of the Law was to point us towards Christ. The law showed us the righteous requirements of God. The law showed us what sin was. The law showed us that we are completely incapable of obtaining right standing with God by our deeds alone. We are hopeless to fulfilling the law and need to fall at the mercy of God and His saving grace, which was the intent from the beginning.

Therefore, the purpose of the law shows us our need for a Savior and subsequently points us to Christ as our the Messiah. By accepting Christ, we are fulfilling the law. By obeying the purpose of the law, which points us to Jesus, we will be declared righteous by Him before God.

Looking at the entire book of Romans in relation to this passage of Scripture, Paul says the same thing. "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. " ( Romans 3:19-20 ) In only a few short verses after today's passage, Paul confirms that the purpose of the law was to bring us to awareness of the need of a savior.

He goes onto say, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ( Romans 3:21-24 ) First he says in our passage today that those who obey the law will be declared righteous. Then in Romans 3 he describes how to obey the law. He says, that the righteousness that the law and prophets testified about comes through faith in Christ Jesus. So we can conclude that the entire Old Testament law brings us to faith in Jesus.

Understanding this, is key to understanding and unlocking the truth of God's word. 'As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." ( Romans 10:11 ) Today, may you dwell in the righteousness purchased for you. May you understand that you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. May this revelation unlock the fullness of Christ and propel you towards His plan for your life!

Every believer has their own convictions in life. Some have found complete freedom in Christ while others continue to wrestle with certain things. Paul gives instruction to both types of believers to accept and encourage each other without passing judgment.

The example he used was the difference between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. The Gentiles had no convictions about eating certain meats but the Jewish Christian would only eat vegetables for fear of breaking an Old Testament dietary law. Paul said that the Gentile Christians should not look down on the Jewish Christians because their faith had limited their diet.  In the same way the Jews should not condemn the Gentiles for eating those meats and exercising their freedom in Christ. 

Paul is revealing the danger for those who have a revelation of God's grace; it is easy to become insensitive to and impatient with brethren who haven't yet come to that knowledge. We must learn to balance our freedom in Christ around those brothers and sisters so we can encourage and love them without destroying them in the process. In the same way, believers that haven't yet renewed their mind to this freedom can become judgmental and condemning of other brothers. They also need to consider that God has accepted their brethren and shown them the freedom to which they were called. Each person should consider one another and how to mutually edify and encourage in the Lord instead of condemning and destroying.

As such we were called to be servants, not judges. We have a responsibility to judge ourselves alone and let the Lord judge others. We should make sure that we put no stumbling blocks in anyone's way. We should be fully convinced in our own minds what is right and good to do and act upon that. If we do this, then we are proceeding in faith and the Lord responses to faith. Paul said later on in this chapter, "everything that does not come from faith is sin" ( Romans 14:23 ). Therefore we should let the Lord reveal these truths to us and act on them alone without condemning our brothers and sisters who haven't yet come into this revelation. For the Lord is mighty to support and uphold us, He is patient as we walk further and further into the knowledge of His word.

May God bless you with a revelation of the freedom that was purchased for you in Christ Jesus and may you walk in this, fully convinced in your heart, amen!