The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

ROMANS 3:20 - 4:6

1854

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gen- tiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the 10 circumcision by faith, and 11 uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we thenmake void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 4 Abraham was saved (justified) 1 What shall we say then that 12 Abra- ham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; 1 but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? 13 Abra- ham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that 14 worketh is the re- ward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but be- lieveth on him that justifieth the ungodly, 15 his faith is counted for righteousness. David was saved (justified) by faith in CHRIST 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God 16 imputeth righteousness without works, by faith in CHRIST Date Written - AD 57

20 1 Therefore by the deeds of the law 2 there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being wit- nessed 3 by the law 4 and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of 5 Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: The reason no one is good enough to save himself (or, earn heaven on his own merits) is that all have sinned 23 6 For all have sinned, and come short of the 7 glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare 8 HIS righteousness for the 9 remis- sion of sins that are past, through the for- bearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time 8 HIS righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of himwhich believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is exclud- ed. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith 1 without the deeds of the law.

1. Gal 2:16 & Eph 2:8-9,15 2. Job 25:4 & Psa 143:2 3. Jn 5:46 4. I Pet 1:10 & II Pet 2:5 5. Rom 1:16-17 & 10:1-4 & I Cor 1:30 & II Cor 5:21 & II Pet 1:1 6. Psa 51:5 & 58:1-3 & Job 5:7 & 14:1 & 25:4-6 & Gal 3:22 7. or, “Heaven” - Psa 73:24-25 & Acts 7:55 8. Psa 22:31 & Isa 59:16 9. or, “forgiveness” 10. or, “Jews” 11. or, “Gentiles” 12. Isa 51:2 13. Quoted from the OT - Gen 15:6 (See - Gal 3:6 & Jms 2:23) 14. or, “tries to work his way to Heaven” - Rom 11:6 15. that is, “his saves him and his faith is counted for righteousness” 16. meaning, “put to the account of” obedience to Romans 10:13

3:23 a To God, all men are in the same category –lost. This word ( sinned ) comes from a Greek word meaning, “ to miss the mark .” It is an athletic term and relates to the idea of a marksman’s arrow missing the target. In spite of our best efforts, we all shoot short of God’s expectations and miss the mark of perfection, and thus salvation ( Gal 3:24 ). 3:23 b This expression ( come short ) is also an athletic term in the Greek and relates to the idea of a runner falling behind in a race. Once again, in spite of our best efforts, we “all” fall short of God’s finish line of perfection, thus our need for a Savior. 3:24 a This word ( justified ) is the Greek word GLNDLοXPHQοL ( dikaioumenoi ). Dikaioumenoi is a legal term and means, “ to secure a favorable verdict before God – not guilty .” 3:24 b This word ( redemption ) is the Greek word DSοOXτUZσHZ9 ( apolutroseos ). Apolutroseos is a slave market term and means, “ to purchase the freedom of someone who is in slavery .” 3:25 In the Old Testament the place of propitiation was the Mercy Seat (Exo 25). According to this verse and I John 2:2 & 4:10, CHRIST is our propitiation (our Mercy Seat). 3:28 This word ( justified ) means, “ just as if I’ve never sinned .” Whereas the doctrine of sanctification ( I Thess 4:3,4,7 ) tells of an on-going change in one’s conduct before God, the doctrine of justification tells of an immediate change in one’s standing before God ( Rom 13:11 ). David M. Levy in The Tabernacle: Shadows of the Messiah notes:

Justification does not mean made righteous but declared righteous–put into a right relationship with God (Rom. 4:24–25). Thus, justification is a judicial act of God whereby He declares us righteous when we trust in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf… Justification is not obtained by any work that we do but is bestowed freely through the grace of God. 1

3:31 The “true purpose” for the law ( yea, we establish the law ) was to show us our need for a Savior (Gal 3:19,24), not use it to work our way to Heaven. Hebrews 7:19 says, “ For the law made nothing perfect , but the bringing in of a better hope (Christ) did; by the which we draw nigh unto God .” 4:6 Once we trust CHRIST to save us (and not our works), God “stamps” ( imputeth ) righteousness on our account (Rom 10:4).

1 Levy, David M. The Tabernacle: Shadows of the Messiah , Bellmawr, NJ, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1993. Print.