A Verse From Romans

I have no idea the inspiration, I just followed it. I saw Romans 3:19 this morning and was so led to do a line by line commentary to the end of the chapter. I hope it benefits someone, that is, by the way, the only reason why I write and publish.

Romans 3

19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

This is the purpose of the law, to point out sin. The law applies to whoever breaks it. It is of no effect to the righteous, which is the point. The world and its religions that thought itself righteous and without sin discovered through the law that it was in reality sin soaked. What thought itself glorious and holy, discovered quite the opposite. The world did (and does) have a big problem with facing this reality.

20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law does not justify. Jesus does. The law can do one thing, it points out sin. It cannot offer redemption or resolution for sin, only condemnation.

21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

The righteousness of the law is Jesus Christ.

22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Faith in Christ is our trust and reliance in Christ. Belief is our knowledge in Christ even when material fact is not currently present.

23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This is self-explanatory. All have sinned and all do sin. Sin is less an act and more of a condition, a state of being that produces the act. It is cause and effect.

24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Justified freely, there is nothing we can do to cause God to justify. It is by His will and good pleasure that anyone is justified, for no one deserves it or is owed it. God choses His elect to justify.

25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Jesus Christ is our atonement for sin. We must have faith in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. He (His blood) is our covering which makes us presentable to God. His blood is our righteousness. None of this would be possible if God wasn’t patient and tolerant.

26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

His righteousness, not ours. He is the justifier. Justification is not of our creation or doings. Even our faith and belief are gifts.

27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith

Where is boasting? How can we boast when we are nothing more than recipients of God’s gifts? We didn’t “do” anything that earned our justification, redemption or salvation. We didn’t “earn” it. God, on His own accord gave of these things to whomever He chose to give.

28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The law only condemns, it does not justify or save. It can’t. Justification is of God. We simply must have faith. How do we know we are justified and saved? By the spirit that works inside of you. It moves and motivates to feel, to believe, to desire the presence of God. The Holy Ghost working inside of you motivates you to move forward in faith and belief in God.

Do you have free will? Yes, you do. But until the indwelling of the Holy Ghost you had been blind and deaf due to sin. The Spirit opens your eyes to truth and reality allowing your will to function freely.

29) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

He is God of the elect, the chosen which is determined by God, not man or by anything of man including man’s religion.

30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

This is driving the point home. It is one God that justifies. Nothing else, no one else, no procedure, works, deeds, prayer, your Pastor or priest, the Mother Mary, special dispensation, nothing justifies but God, according to His good pleasure.

31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

The law only comes into play when sin is present. If there is no sin, then the law is of no effect. There is no law evoked against righteousness. This takes us back to verse 19. We can’t void what is not in play.
An example of something without law are the fruits of the spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Bill Hitchcock