Romans Chapter Three Lesson 33

Intro:

Why the Necessity of the Cross?

There is a barrier that stands between a Holy God and mankind!

Barrier Solution

1. Sin Redemption

2. Penalty for Sin Expiation

3. Physical Birth Regeneration

4. Relative Righteousness Imputation/Justification

5. Character of God Propitiation

6. Position in Adam Position in Christ

The Significance of the Resurrection of Christ

Rom 1:4

Rom 4:25

Back to Rom 3

verse 3 begins "What then?" This introduces the 2nd question and its answer;

Paul gives the answer: 3:4

Begins with the strongest negative answer in the Grk.

Examples of use:

Rom 3:3-4 that somehow man's unbelief cancels God's faithfulness; May it never be!

5:20-6:2 Man's sin causes God's grace to be magnified, so go on sinning!

6:14-15 Since we are not under the Law but under grace, we are free to sin as we please.

7:6-7 We are free from the Law, so there must be something sinful about the law, May it never be! false and irreverent!

God is always true, always faithful!

- Paul repudiates even the suggestion that somehow God is not true, faithful; alhqhj the very suggestion he says is reprehensible

Examples of usage: of God Jn 3:33; of Christ Mt. 22:16; of people 2 Cor 6:8; of actions Jn 3:21;

- The force that Paul is attempting to get across to us is that God is completely reliable;

He is still true/faithful/reliable in fulfilling His word when He brings judgment whether national [Neh. 9:32-33; Psa. 96:13;] or individually [Psa 119:75]

His faithfulness to His word to Israel in spite of their great apostasy and rejection of Him is nowhere better seen than in Jer 31:33-37.

- God stands in stark contrast to man in respect to His word;

Always faithful, always true to it; man is not! all found to be a liar; all fail to live up to the light that they have!

Paul quotes Psa. 51:4b in 3:4 point = David declares that his sin does not make God unjust in condemning him rather it vindicates God's justice.

So if man's sin/failure does not in any way cancel God's justice; then neither does the failure of the religious Jew to believe God cancel God's faithfulness and truthfulness.

Question and answer #3: Idea Paul is refuting here: Since our sin magnifies God's righteousness, How can He judge us??

Logic/reasoning is quite clear: Because of the great contrast God's righteousness is more clearly seen.

- Idea Paul is dealing with here is that the righteousness of God shines all the more brightly against the backdrop of man's unrighteousness.

Where they go wrong is in their conclusion that since their sin has promoted God's righteousness, to magnify it all the more; then how can God judge me!