Commuter Bible NT John Ross

Paul continues to make his case concerning the relationship between the follower of Christ and the law. How should we think of the law as it relates to sin and is it relates to freedom in Christ? In today’s reading Paul says that if a woman’s husband dies, then she is no longer bound to that man. Likewise, Paul says that we are to put our relationship with the law to death so that we may engage in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, the law is not sin; in fact, the law points out our sin, and in some ways amplifies the gravity of sin. So often the flesh wants to go on sinning, but the mind wants to obey the law, but praise God, Christ rescues us from this body of death.

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Salvation came by faith for Abraham, and it also by faith for us today. We have been declared righteous by this faith, because we now have the righteousness of Christ credited to our account. In Christ, we experience an overflow of grace that is extended to many, for the gift of his perfect righteousness is given to all who trust in him. Through one man’s obedience, that is Christ, many are made righteous. So if we have been forgiven of all of our sins and if God gets glory for every sin that is forgiven, should we continue to go on sinning? Paul says the answer is “No! Absolutely not!” Christ came so that we might have a new life, a resurrected life, in which we who were once dead have been raised to new life in Jesus.

The Jews considered their forefather Abraham to be a paragon of virtue, a man with whom no fault could be found. Paul refutes this idea, saying that Abraham, like all other men, was a sinner saved by grace. It is not Abraham’s works that justify him before a holy God, but his faith, for as it says in Scripture, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” In other words, if God serves an accountant, then his books would wipe clean the debt that was owed and his account would credited with a foreign righteousness, that is, the righteousness of Christ. Circumcision does not justify him, because he was credited while still uncircumcised. Paul makes the case that this makes him the father of both circumcised (that is, Israel) and the uncircumcised (that is the Gentile) who have faith in Christ.

Here in chapter 3 Paul poses a series of questions from an opposing party’s point of view, as if he is being challenged by someone making arguments against his position. After most of these questions, Paul will respond by saying, “Absolutely not!” and will then proceed to explain why his opponents’ proposition doesn’t hold up. The overarching theme is that man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Such faith does not nullify the law, but instead, upholds it, because it is by the law that we know our sin. There is no one perfect, for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Justification cannot be earned by such fallen people, which is why it is necessary that one inherit Christ’s righteousness.

In chapter 1, Paul covered natural revelation, that is, the concept that everyone begins with an understanding that God exists because the natural world reveals it to men. Men suppress this truth in unrighteousness, and are guilty of any number of sins. Even though such is the case, Paul tells that church that they ought not concern themselves with casting judgment as much as they ought to concern themselves with faithfulness to God, especially in those cases where the accuser is guilty of the same sins whereby he finds fault in another person. Obedience to the Law means little if the person in question is not set apart for the Lord. It is not the outward sign of circumcision which is important, but the inward sign of s circumcised heart.

Paul’s letter to the house churches of Rome is full of rich, theological truth, often presenting ideas that are both mind-boggling and comforting all at once. In today’s passage, Paul begins to present his case for a righteousness that comes by faith. He begins by explaining that the world rejects God because they love their unrighteous behavior more than their Creator. Claiming to be wise, they become fools, and exchange the glory of God for created things. This twisting of worship results in twisted forms of living including sexual deviance, greed, malice, quarrels, gossip, slander, arrogance, and more. Not only are these embraced by mankind, but men who commit such acts are applauded.