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Commentary
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 Romans Chapter Three So the law was a signpost for us as gentiles to recognise the coming of Jesus Christ to fulfill the law blameless. A true witness for His gospel then stands at some advantage (v1) if he can show that Christ would come to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. If Israel would be a light to the gentiles, then being a jew has some benefit because the prophets (v2) all point towards the coming of Christ. If some did not recognise Christ that does not make the law of faith without effect in bringing to fruit the justification of a man.(v3) To the end that Christ is blameless having fulfilled the law; that God's own liberty apart from and over the liberty of men be preserved in order that faith might be corrected by Christ's example, (in that God can choose His people from those that respect Him and whom make no boast of each other hypocritically (v4)) we can be assured. But if of liberty in general, even if it be as license under God's laws - does that not commend also the liberty of God to be taken into consideration? (as liberty would be true in general) For doing so we make God unrighteous for correcting our faults (v5) since we make him into a corruptible image as like ourselves. (v6) Therefore we are judged as sinners under the commandments of a law that was given by God to be sovereign over all, and He is not in fellowship with us as under it - though we do not expect God in anywise to be burdened by His law, not being a man other than in the example of Christ.(v7) If we sin to promote liberty to further God's liberty from and over us, are we not then separate? (v8) Quite so. Are we better than such men? - no, since even we do not know the Father as Christ does - and we are all to some degree promoting sin in license and our own misconceptions of God. Whether we sin as jew or gentile and whether or not we are keeping the works of the law (v9) we do the same things. There are none who measure up to the understanding of the true glory of God. (v10) Without the faith of Christ and true knowledge of God all have gone astray from recognising God as God in truth. There are none who have sought Him out fully. (v11) There were none who knew the heart of God, but only the conditions of law (v12). By hypocrisy (v13) and misdeeds (v14-v17) they have not realised they had exchanged God for a corrupted image of their own sins (v18). Now, the law is broken by lawbreakers, and the law was made for man, not for God; but man was created to satisfy God and therefore meet the conditions of God's law. The law is given by God to whosoever is to keep it (v19) It is not a law that God should keep, being made for the created rather than the creator. But the law of faith is more satisfying for God, who knows His own self far better than we. In that we can believe on Christ; by faith we can be justified. Under the law no one is justified because only sin is justifiable by the law to whom it condemns. (v20) The law of faith is the justification of the perfect knowledge of God that can be had through Christ. Such knowledge leads to repentance and the keeping of the law. (v21) Such full faith was totally exemplified through Christ's obedience and gospel. (v22) Now, all are at fault under the law, both jew and gentile. (v23) The grace extended upon us by God between the time we are at fault and we repent - His forgiveness in essence is found in the example of Christ's faith and obedience which was perfect. That our repentance be often quick and in eternity eventually complete; is satisfaction for God toward us for the time being. With Christ it was instant or immediate (perfection). Through belief on Him and His redemption, (v24) His example of obedience even to death - that His life laid down for us (His people) will be found in us is our true hope. Christ also giving us eternal life in the resurrection if we hold our faith true (in obedience) even to death. (v25) and His resurrection has shown us this grace for our faith, and not as faith on transfer of guilt. In having a perfect example of faith (v26) God gave that that will justify us before God. So of doing good works - where is praise for doing well? By God's laws under which we are all guilty? No. But by the law of faith only; from whom we can boast of Christ, who is the author and perfecter of all righteousness. Righteousness that is, to justify a man by faith only without the law (v28) - for faith has indeed been brought to the gentiles also by example. (v29) Since God is the creator of all, jew and gentile; there is only justification by faith for both. (v30) So has the law vanished? Not at all (v31) for correct faith in God is to not merely to respect His liberty and sovereignty but to be obedient also. Lawbreakers, (if being justified to break the law) thus change our perceived character of God: As God, He is our creator and His laws are made for us - By recognising the correct faith, we establish we are His creations and we establish Christ as He who came to fulfill the law and lead us to the Father. Were we to consider that the law is now unnecessary, we would make our faith into no faith at all because we have denied the judgements of one who has kept the law, Christ. In such a way, the person of Christ, (a perfect example of Godliness that we may emulate) has established the law, but built upon it a better set of promises. |
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