10 All of Have Sinned

Romans chapter three finds Paul continue instruction regarding those attempting to live life by their own standards. However, the distinction from the previous two chapters, is he employed a style of teacher very familiar to the Jews of that day, whereby the rabbis would ask a series of questions, often rhetorical, all designed to cause their listens to not only think, but to be persuaded to correct thinking.

1 An Important Advantage

Romans 3:1-2

Since Paul had previously spent a great deal of time showing how circumcision could not bring about one’s salvation, here he seemed to find it necessary to show that the act of circumcision itself wasn’t bad, and that it actually brought an advantage.

The word translated as “advantage” is the Greek word <perrison> which means “overplus” showing someone who possesses an overabundance of something.

In context, Paul was stating, that Jewish people actually had a great advantage over all other nations. He then went on to speak of that advantage being the fact that God’s Word had been entrusted to them. They were the effectively the “caretakers” of the Word.

Paul would clearly state this later in the epistle:

Romans 9:4

2 God’s Truth Remains

In both of the previous chapters, Paul had spoken about how not everyone believed or followed God’s Word. Here he would speak to the fact, that man’s disbelief can never diminish God’s truth:

Romans 3:3-4

The majority of Israelites had rejected the Gospel, instead preferring to entrust their salvation to their failed attempts at keeping the Law.

Paul was therefore making a logical point, that simply because they didn’t believe the Gospel, did not negate it’s truth or effectiveness.

In actuality, those who attempt to deny the Gospel, simply because of their unbelief,

In verse 4, Paul then answered the rhetorical question he’d asked in the previous verse:

Romans 3:4

By declaring that God “is” true, Paul was showing that truth is an attribute of the Lord, and thus part of His character.

While truth is an attribute of the Lord, that is far from the case with man, and no one can say they’ve never spoken an untruth.

On the other hand, Jesus didn’t state that He told the truth, by that He “is” truth:

John 14:6

3 God’s Righteous Stand

Paul then discussed how God’s righteousness stands against everything:

Romans 3:5-8

Paul used a counterargument which he knew his fellow Israelites would use. Incredibly, it would be the argument that our unrighteousness “demonstrates” or literally highlights God’s righteousness.

The argument is faulty, since it renders God to man’s level, though He is the Creator.

The Bible is clear, that man is conceived in sin:

Psalms 51:5

On the other hand, God’s Word is also clear, that the Lord is completely without sin:

2 Corinthians 5:21

Just as man’s unrighteousness is due to our sin nature, therefore God’s righteousness is due to His sinlessness, which means than man does nothing to effect God’s sinless nature.

It’s because God is sinless in nature, He is therefore qualified to be the righteous judge.

In verses 6 through 8, Paul then emphatically answered the question he posed in verse 5:

Romans 3:6-8

If the Lord’s character depended upon man, then he would be disqualified from judging us, because by inference, it would also disqualify Him from being God.

Another untruth which Paul addressed was in verse 7, showing the fallacy that God’s truth appears greater because of our les. Because God “is” truth, there is nothing false in Him, and therefore it is impossible for Him to appear “truer” because of our untruths.

In verse 8, Paul discussed another exaggerated argument, that man should therefore do that which is evil, so that good may come about.

And while the above argument clearly ludicrous, Paul states that some were accusing him of making those anti-biblical statements.

The teaching was effectively saying that God was glorified even greater, because of man’s sinfulness.

If any of that were true, then the Father sent His Son to the cross in vain. But what Paul clearly taught, was that the Father paid the greatest price, by sending His Son to die for the sins of the world;

Galatians 4:4-5