God's
Faithfulness
What
advantage, the, is there in being a Jew,
Or
what value is there in Circumcision?
2
Much in every way!
First
of all,they have been entrusted
With
the very Words of God.
3
What if some did not have Faith?
Will
their lack of Faith nullify God's Faithfulness?
4
Not at all!
LET
GOD BE TRUE, AND EVERY MAN A LIAR.
As
it is written:
'So
that You may be proved right in your words
And
Prevail in Your Judging.'
5
But if our Unrighteousness
Brings
out God's righteousness more clearly,
What
shall we say?
THAT
GOD IS UNJUST IN BRINGING HIS WRATH ON US?
(I
am using a human argument.)
6
Certainly Not!
IF
THAT WERE SO, HOW COULD GOD JUDGE THE WORLD?
7
Some one might argue,
'If
my Falsehood enhances God's Truthfulness
And
so increase His Glory,
Why
am I still Condemned as a Sinner?'
8
Why not say—
As
we are being Slanderously reported as saying
And
as some claim that we say--
'Let
us do Evil that Good may result'?
THEIR
CONDEMNATION IS DESERVED.
No
One Is Righteous
9
What shall we conclude then?
Are
we any better?
Not
at all!
We
have already made the charge
THAT
JEWS AND GENTILES ALIKE
AR
ALL UNDER SIN.
10
As it is written:
'There
is No one Righteous,
NOT
EVEN ONE;
11
There is No one who understands,
No
one who seeks God.
12
ALL have turned away,
THEY
HAVE TOGETHER BECOME WORTHLESS;
Thee
is No one who does Good,
NOT
EVEN ONE.'
13
Their throats are Open Graves;
Their
tongues practice Deceit.
14
Their mouths are full of Cursing and Bitterness.'
15
Their feet are swift to Shed Blood;
16
Ruin and Misery mark their ways,
17
And the way of Peace they do not know.'
18
'THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.'
19
Now we know that whatever the Law says,
It
says to those who are Under the Law,
SO
THAT EVERY MOUTH MAY BE SILENCED
AND
THE WHOLE WORLD HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD.
20
Therefore No one will be declared Righteous in His sight
By
Observing the Law;
RATHER,
THROUGH THE LAW
WE
BECOME CONSCIOUS OF SIN.
Righteousness
Through Faith
21
But now a Righteousness from God,
Apart
from the Law, has been made known,
to
which the Law and the Prophets Testify.
22
THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD
COMES
THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
TO
ALL WHO BELIEVE.
THERE
IS NO DIFFERENCE,
23
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED
AND
FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD,
24
AND ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE
THROUGH
THE REDEMPTION
THAT
CAME BY CHRIST JESUS.
25
GOD PRESENTED HIM AS A SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT,
THROUGH
FAITH IN HIS BLOOD.
He
did this to Demonstrate His Justice,
Because
in His Forbearance
He
had left the Sins Committed beforehand Unpunished--
26
HE DID IT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS JUSTICE
AT
THE PRESENT TIME,
SO
AS TO BE JUST
AND
THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES
THE
MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS.
27
WHERE IS THE BOASTING?
IT
IS EXCLUDED.
ON
WHAT PRINCIPLE?
ON
THAT OF OBSERVING THE LAW?
NO,
BUT ON THAT OF FAITH.
28
FOR WE MAINTAIN THAT A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
APART
FROM OBSERVING THE LAW.
29
Is God the God of Jews only?
Is
He not the God of Gentiles too?
Yes,
of Gentiles too,
30
SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD,
WHO
WILL JUSTIFY THE CIRCUMCISED BY FAITH
AND
THE UNCIRCUMCISED THROUGH THAT SAME FAITH.
31
DO WE, THEN NULLIFY THE LAW BY THIS FAITH?
NOT
AT ALL!
RATHER,
WE UPHOLD THE LAW.
(Romans
3)
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