JC Blog

Wow! This statement is the pinnacle of the entire case against humanity. Paul is the prosecuting attorney building his case against mankind. The first chapter of Romans showed the Gentiles guilt before God because of their innate knowledge of Him. The second chapter of Romans showed that the Jew were worst off then the Gentiles because they had the Word of God but did not keep it. And finally the beginning of chapter 3, concludes that everyone is guilty before God, citing back to Old Testament scripture supporting this claim.

This is not a new concept. They condition of mankind was hopeless before Christ. The Amplified Bible describes the state as 'under sin, held down by and subject to its power and control.' The grasp of sin so tight that we had no hope of defeating it. By looking at this collage of Old Testament scripture that Paul shared, it is evident that man was destitute to save himself. We needed a savior.

The truth expressed in this passage of scripture is crucial to understanding the Salvation message. Since we were never capable of reconciling ourselves to God by atoning for our own sin, God did it for us. He paid the price with His precious blood shed on the cross.

We have to recognize this in order to move pass the condition that we are in. Once we accept the terms that Paul has laid out over these many verses, we are free to move into the next section of scripture. Paul will move from being the prosecuting attorney to the defense attorney acquitting us on the bases of Christ.

Today, it is my prayer that you will join me on this journey of faith. I pray that God will enlighten your heart to the truth of His word. God Bless you!

Abraham's promise came four hundred and thirty years before the Law was given through Moses. Therefore it is impossible that the promise could ever come by the Law, it has to come by faith. Because faith was the original catalyst for the righteousness that the promise produced.

The Law was given to the Jews and the Law was intended for the Jews, not for the Gentiles. The purpose was to lead them to Christ. It acted as a schoolmaster or guardian to lead towards Christ and His appointed time. Therefore they were always to be justified by faith according to the promise to Abraham given centuries before the Law. ( Galatians 3:23-25 ).

Abraham's offspring was also to be recipients of the promise. The Jews assumed that the heirs were physical decedents of Abraham. However, the promise was that all nations on earth would be blessed by Abraham ( Genesis 12:3 ) and that he would be the father of many nations ( Genesis 17:4 ). However as Paul worded the promise in today's passage, Abraham was the heir of the world. So this removes any claim the Jews had, that they alone were sole beneficiaries of the promise of God.

So the promise comes by faith and the promise is offered to everyone who has faith in it. That faith is what obtains the righteousness that the Law could never provide. Today, the promise has been fulfilled in Jesus and the words spoken to Abraham in Genesis 12 have come to pass. The entire world has been blessed by Abraham and his example of faith.

What an amazing thing to have a heart for the lost. Paul had the most revelation of his peers and just wrote an amazing account of grace in the first eight chapters of Romans. Then as chapter nine begins he reveal his heart for the lost children of Israel. His sorrow at their dismissal of Jesus was unbearable to him, for he maintained a close and intimate walk with the Lord. Knowing God so well and the depth of his love for mankind, he was broken hearted by those who wanted to remain under the law wrapped up in religion, instead of having this relationship with God.

He writes to us that his consciences confirms in the Holy Spirit his anguish at their obstinacy. The Holy Spirit was bearing witness with his spirit this fact. Not only is this so but it prompted and enlightened him to this truth of how their denial of the Messiah brought the Lord increasing sorrow. Peter said, God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). His hearts desire is for us to chose him seeing how he has chosen us. For Israel, the chosen race of God, this rejection was doubly painful.

Paul went onto say, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race..." ( Romans 9:3 ). As a shepherd and leader called to minister the gospel, his grief at their rejection must have cut deep. It is the same intense revelation that caused Moses to say something similar on Israel's behalf. "But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written" ( Exodus 32:32 ). They both knew the intensity of God's love and couldn't bear for their people not to experience it as well. Jesus was driven by this same desire to save His people. So he had come to died in their behalf so the entire would could be reconciled to him and blessed through them as a nation. The Holy Spirit revealed to Paul how this rejection grieved the Lord as well.

No doubt that Paul's desire to see his brothers and sisters come to the Lord sparked an interest among the Jews. Although he was the apostle to the gentiles, he said in Romans 11, "...Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" ( Romans 11:13-15 ). What a marvelous perspective to have, he knew that the Jews rejection of Jesus blessed the entire world because Salvation first came to the Jew and then overflowed to the Gentiles. So if their rejection meant blessings for the world, what will their acceptance bring?

Today, like Paul I have a heart for the lost. It is my prayer that the world know Jesus in a personal way. No longer through ritual and religion, but tossing that aside to really know him in a life changing way. Today, my spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit to his incredible love for mankind. May you also understand how he loves you and how you were set apart to bless the world through Jesus, Amen.

The book of Romans is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace. This revelation was not made of man but Paul received it directly from the Lord Jesus himself. "I want you to know, brothers, that 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 ). What Paul taught was beyond previous comprehension and understanding. Becoming a student of this letter, written to the church in Rome, will change your heart and bring you into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Because Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles he wrote to this church to settle a dispute between the Messianic Jews and the Gentiles. The church was a diverse group of people who had settled in Rome from other areas. There is no record of a visit to this church by an apostle offering doctrinal teaching and guidance.  In fact many assume that these Christians had been in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given ( Acts 2 ). They spread and settled in Rome. The church was comprised of Gentiles who had converted from idol worship and devout Jews who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Problems arose when the Jews urged the Gentiles to live as Jews and undergo the rite of circumcision. Because of Paul's mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles he felt an obligation to write to this church and settle this dispute among them explaining completely the grace of God.

As Paul starts to wind down his letter he gives this church his vote of confidence that they are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. By understanding what Paul had written to them they had an excellent working knowledge of grace. What he wrote could settle every dispute that might arise because of their different backgrounds. Now they would be able to move into the freedom of Christ leaving behind traditions and customs they previously held. Paul wrote without inhibition and without apology to remind these believers of the truth of Christ. He made much of his ministry to preach the gospel of Jesus in its fullness. He wanted to present the Gentile church to the Lord as an acceptable offering, full of knowledge, understanding grace and living holy and purely in this world.

Like the church in Rome as we wind down this in-depth study of the book of Romans, the Holy Spirit is able to sanctify us in the truth of this letter so that we become living examples of the work of Christ Jesus. So many things have been covered and understanding these amazing truths will change our lives. Like Paul, I am confident that understanding this book will bring you to the point of being a teacher of grace and able to instruct others in the truth of Christ. I pray that you remind yourself of these things always and continue to read this book of the Bible regularly. I pray that the truths inside will change your perspective and you will live out of the grace of God that was given to you in the person of Jesus Christ.