Romans 3

Everyone Is a Sinner

1 Is there any advantage, then, in being a Jew? Or is there any value in being circumcised?

2 There are all kinds of advantages. First of all, God entrusted them with his word.
3 What if some of them were unfaithful? Can their unfaithfulness cancel God’s faithfulness?

4 That would be unthinkable! God is honest, and everyone else is a liar, as Scripture says,
“So you hand down justice when you speak,and you win your case in court.”5 But if what we do wrong shows that God is fair, what should we say? Is God unfair when he vents his anger on us? (I’m arguing the way humans would.)6 That’s unthinkable! Otherwise, how would God be able to judge the world?7 If my lie increases the glory that God receives by showing that God is truthful, why am I still judged as a sinner?

8 Or can we say, “Let’s do evil so that good will come from it”? Some slander us and claim that this is what we say. They are condemned, and that’s what they deserve.
9 What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin,

10 as Scripture says,
“Not one person has God’s approval.11 No one has understanding.No one searches for God.12 Everyone has turned away.Together they have become rotten to the core.No one does anything good,not even one person.13 Their throats are open graves.Their tongues practice deception.Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.14 Their mouths are full of curses and bitter resentment.15 They run quickly to murder people.16 There is ruin and suffering wherever they go.17 They have not learned to live in peace.18 They are not terrified of God.”19 We know that whatever is in Moses’ Teachings applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God.

20 Not one person can have God’s approval by following Moses’ Teachings. Moses’ Teachings show what sin is.

God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift

21 Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than Moses’ Teachings. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this.

22 Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ.
There is no difference between people.23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory.24 They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindnesst through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin.25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past.

26 He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.
27 So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith.

28 We conclude that a person has God’s approval because of faith, not because of his own efforts.
29 Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is,

30 since it is the same God who approves circumcised people because of faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.
31 Are we abolishing Moses’ Teachings by this faith? That’s unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting Moses’ Teachings.

Romans 3

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?2 Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.3 For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

5 But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?7 But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?8 and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

11 There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:20 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.21 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;26 for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.27 Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.28 We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.29 Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:30 if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.31 Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.