“The Bible does not teach that a man is saved by a principle, but by the shedding of blood. Salvation is not through life lived, but through life poured out. It is not by the life of Jesus that we are redeemed; but by His life given up in the pain and suffering of a shameful death, of which death there is no sufficient symbol or method of expression other than that of the shedding of blood. Redemption is provided, not by the richness of His life provided, but by the suffering of His life poured out” (G. Campbell Morgan).
Because everyone has sinned being completely unrighteous, you need a Savior to pay the penalty for your sin. God loves you the way you are, but does not want you to stay the way you are.
Those who judge another are without excuse since they condemn themselves by practicing the same things. God’s judgment according to truth falls upon those who judge another. But His kindness, forbearance and patience leads you to repentance. Those with a stubborn and unrepentant heart store up wrath for themselves at the righteous judgment of God according to every persons’ deeds, whether good or evil. God’s judgment is impartial since those who sin without the Law die without the law and those who sin under the Law are judged by the Law. Gentiles can show the work of the law written in their conscience with their thoughts accusing or defending them. According to the gospel, God judges the secrets of men through Christ Jesus (Rom. 2:1-16). God judges impartially according to truth, works, conscience and the gospel.
Jews rely and are instructed by the Law, which contains knowledge and truth. They are a guide to the blind, light to those in darkness, instructor of the foolish and teacher of the immature. Breaking the Law allows God’s name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles. Circumcision has no value if one disobeys the Law. A person is a Jew when circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit and not the letter, so praise comes from God, not from men (Rom. 2:17-29). God values a heart that obeys the Law.
Jews still have advantages being entrusted with God’s word. Unbelief does not end God’s faithfulness. Don’t do evil to bring about good even though unrighteousness shows God’s righteousness (Rom. 3:1-8). Unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness and unbelief does not end His faithfulness.
Both Jews and Gentile are under sin because there are none righteous, none who understand, seek for God or do good since they all turned aside and become useless. Their throat is an open grave with deception, poison, cursing and bitterness. They are swift to shed blood with destruction and misery in their paths. They do not know peace or the fear of God (Rom. 3:9-18). Everyone sins since none are righteous or do good.
Those who under the Law are accountable to God. No one can be justified by the works of the Law since it reveals the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:19-20). The Law’s purpose is to make you conscious of sin.
The Law and the Prophets show God’s righteousness because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are declared righteous and justified as a free gift by His grace (unmerited favor) through the redemption (buy back from the slave market of sin) in Christ Jesus. God display Christ publicly as a propitiation (satisfactory substitute) in His blood through faith. God shows His holiness by forgiving past sins and declaring people righteous through faith in Jesus. One cannot boast in the law or works because everyone is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law. Faith does not nullify the Law, but establishes it (Rom. 3:21-31). You are justified by faith in Christ’s death to forgive your sins.
Are you conscious of sin as you read the Law? If yes, place your faith in Christ’s death on the cross on your behalf. God will declare your righteous.
