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Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.
Paul continues answering objections from his Jewish dialogue partner. Yes, the Jews had real advantages—chiefly that they were entrusted with the very words of God (vv. 1–2). Yet Israel’s unfaithfulness does not cancel God’s faithfulness. God remains true, righteous, and just in His judgments, even when every human proves false (vv. 3–6). Paul also rejects the twisted logic that says sin should be excused because it “shows” God’s righteousness or “brings” Him glory; that argument is slander against the gospel, and it deserves condemnation (vv. 7–8).
Then Paul delivers the courtroom verdict on all humanity: Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin—no one is righteous, no one seeks God, and sin reaches into our words, our actions, and even our inner posture toward the Lord (vv. 9–18). The law does not provide a ladder to climb into God’s favor; it speaks to expose guilt, silence excuses, and hold the whole world accountable (v. 19). That’s why no human being will be justified by works of the law—because the law’s role is to reveal sin, not remove it (v. 20).
But now—after the guilty verdict—God reveals His saving righteousness apart from the law, though the Old Testament always pointed to it (v. 21). This right standing with God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (vv. 22–23). We are justified by grace as a gift through the redemption found in Christ, whom God put forward as the atoning sacrifice—satisfying God’s wrath and dealing with our sins (vv. 24–25). In the cross, God shows Himself to be both just and the One who justifies the sinner who trusts Jesus (v. 26). Therefore, boasting is excluded; Jew and Gentile are saved the same way—by faith—and this faith does not overthrow the law but upholds it by fulfilling its purpose: exposing sin and pointing us to Christ (vv. 27–31).
🌀 Reflection:
Romans 3 knocks the last prop out from under self-reliance. If the law can only expose our sin, then our hope can’t be our effort—it must be God’s gift. Are you resting today in what Christ has done, or still trying to earn what can only be received by faith (vv. 24–26)?
🎄 Christmas Reflection:
Christmas reminds us that God did not wait for humanity to fix itself before acting. When every mouth was silenced and every heart exposed as guilty, God sent His Son into the world—not to condemn it, but to save it. The child in the manger is God’s answer to the verdict of Romans 3: we cannot make ourselves righteous, so God came to give righteousness as a gift through Jesus Christ (vv. 21–24).
💬 Mission Challenge:
Share the “But now…” of the gospel with someone this week: you can’t justify yourself, but God justifies sinners freely by grace through faith in Jesus (vv. 21–24).
Click here to return to the contents page for Phase 2.3 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission.
Just Keith Harris 