Romans 2:17-3:31 The Gospel for Jews & Gentiles

2:17-20 Privileges on which Jews would self-congratulate themselves

Called a Jew
Reliant on the law

Bragging about their relationship with God

Knowing God’s will

Approving of what is superior because they are instructed by the law

Convinced they are a guide to the blind

Convinced they are a light to the dark
Convinced they are an instructor of the foolish

Convinced they are a teacher of infants
Convinced they have in the law the embodiment of knowledge & truth

Substituting the words ‘Jew’ for ‘Christian’ & ‘Law’ for ‘Word’, shows the danger we potentially face of seeing ourselves in a privileged position whilst snubbing others.

2:25-29 

Jews rested on circumcision as the seal of God’s covenant with them – Paul demonstrates that you need to observe the law – it is not just simply the matters of the outward and physical, but rather the inward heart condition, which he describes as circumcision of the heart. 

As Christians, it’s not just the outward that matters to God, but also the inward – God looks at what we are like on the inside & judges us according to that – not on the ‘bits’ others can see.

4 Objections to the Gospel & their answers:

v1 – There is no value in being a Jew or being circumcised

v2 – Not so – there is much value in every way!  They have been entrusted with the very words of God!

v3 – What about those who did not have faith?  Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

v4 – Not at all!  God is true and every man a liar, which means God will be proved right when He speaks and prevail when He judges. 

v5 – But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what about that?  Doesn’t that mean God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us?

v6 – Not at all.  If that was so, then how could God judge the world?! 

v7 – If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness & so increases His glory, why are we still condemned as sinners?  Shouldn’t we do more evil so good will result? 
v8 – The people who say this deserve their condemnation. 

Throughout, Paul uses the OT Scriptures to back up his argument, he clings to God’s righteousness and justice and strenuously repudiates those who see God’s grace as license to live lawless lives.

3v10-18 

Paul speaks of the general trend of human life (v10-12) – There is no-one who is righteous, not even one.  There is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God, because ALL have turned away from Him.  There is no-one who does good.

He speaks of their speech (v13-14) – saying their throats are open graves, tongues are deceitful and their lips are the poison of vipers, mouths that are full of cursing and bitterness. 

He speaks of their conduct and inner attitude towards God (v15-18)  - they are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery mark their ways, the way of peace they don’t know, they have no fear of God at all.

We see from the early chapters of Romans that Paul is entirely justified in saying that “every mouth may be silenced (before God) and the whole world held accountable to God”. 

It is impossible for anyone by their own efforts or merits to win favour before God, escaping condemnation at the bar of God’s judgment.

3:21-26  The Righteousness of God:

It is from God

It is apart from the law

It has been made known

The Law and the Prophets testify to it

It comes through faith in Jesus Christ

It comes to all who believe

There is no difference in anyone – all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory
All are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood

He did this to demonstrate His justice

In His forbearance, he had left the sins committed before the cross unpunished

He did this to demonstrate His justice at the current time (of Paul’s writing)

He therefore was both just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus

The two inferences that follow are:

v27-28  There are no grounds for boasting – it is excluded.  Not on the grounds of observing the law, but on that of faith.  We maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 

v29-30  Is God the God of the Jews only?  Isn’t He God of the Gentiles too?  Yes – He is God of both – there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 

It is because of Jesus that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, our only boast is in the Lord!  (1 Cor 1:29-31)  There is now no division – we are all one in Christ Jesus!  (Galatians 3:28) 

Paul’s answer to those who would therefore argue that the Gospel nullifies the law is “Not at all!  Rather we uphold the law!”