1. Paul ended chapter 2 by saying that Jewish people can’t rely on the covenant of circumcision (God’s covenant with Abraham) because what God wants is a changed heart. Now, he starts chapter 3 by saying that Jews still have an advantage – that of being entrusted with the very words of God, the Scriptures.
How does having the Scriptures give you an advantage?
We can read and study God’s word to know Him and what He wants for us. We don’t have to rely on our reason or conscience or imagination alone to know who our Creator is and what He demands from us; we can know with certainty because He’s told us.
2. Next, Paul says that if some of the Jews did not remain faithful to God, that doesn’t nullify God’s faithfulness. How can we relate this to hypocritical Christians?
We’ve all seen people who claim to be Christians but don’t act like it. We could take the perspective that this reflects badly on God, as Paul said in chapter 2. But someone acting hypocritically really only reflects badly on themselves. We need to remember that the person did something wrong, not God. The person sinned against God; God did not lead them to do it.
3. In verses 5-8, Paul explains that even though our sinfulness shows God’s righteousness more clearly by contrast, God still prefers that we not sin. Although our darkness makes God’s light seem to shine even brighter, it’s not worth it. God would rather not have the darkness of our sin.
What other bad things can you think of that Christians sometimes say are good because of the good that results from them?
I’m thinking of any kind of suffering. We often say that suffering is good because it makes us rely more on God, or we see how God brings us through those situations. The truth is suffering is not good. God promises to someday take all suffering away from us. He prefers there not be suffering. Instead, we should rely on God in all circumstances and praise Him for Who He is, not just for His work in bringing us through difficult times.
4. In verses 10 and following, Paul gives a series of quotes that could be misleading if you don't know the context. For example, the quote says "There is no one righteous...no one who seeks God." Is it true that there is no one righteous? What about all the people in the Old Testament God calls righteous, such as Noah (Genesis 6:9) or Abraham (Genesis 15:6)? Even in Psalm 14, where this is quoted from, David calls some people righteous.
So, if we’re not talking about every single person never seeking God or living righteously before Him, what is the proper interpretation of Paul's argument here?
Look at the subject of Paul’s sentence in verse 9: Jews and Gentiles. There are Jewish people who are sinful, and there are Gentile people who are sinful. Rather than speaking about individuals, Paul is saying there is no one people group who are wholly righteous. The Jewish people cannot count on the fact they have circumcision and the Scriptures to be counted as righteous before God because as a group, they still sin.
5. What do you notice about sequence of sins Paul mentions in verses 10-18?
It starts with our minds and hearts turning away from God, then our speech, then our actions, all with no fear that God will punish us. When we stray away from God, our thoughts and attitudes and motives become sinful, then how we talk to and about others, then finally our intentional actions. If you find yourself thinking or saying things you normally wouldn’t, let that be a warning sign that you need to draw close to God again.
6. How does the Law make us conscious of our sin?
The Law shows us God’s standards, so when we compare ourselves to it, we realize we are not meeting those standards.
What to DO after reading this passage
Take some time to pray for Israel and the Jewish people, particularly Jewish Christians. The Jewish Voice has a couple of great prayer guides from a Christian perspective.
1. In the previous section, Paul showed that no one could be counted as righteous by following the Law because no one can obey the Law perfectly. We all sin. So, whose righteousness can we rely on?
Verse 21 tells us it is God’s righteousness that has been made known. We often focus on Jesus’ righteousness and sacrifice for us, which is true, but in this passage, notice that the focus is on God the Father.
- It is His righteousness that has been made known and to which the Law and the Prophets testify,
- He is the one who presented Jesus as a sacrifice (verse 25),
- And again, He is the one who is demonstrating His righteousness by punishing sin and also extending grace (verses 25-26).
2. Notice the three words used to describe the result for us of God’s sacrifice of Christ: justify, redemption, atonement. What does each of these words make you think of?
- Justify – you are declared not guilty
- Redemption – you are bought back from slavery to sin and death
- Atonement – your sins are covered so that you can be in right standing with God
3. Is there anything we have to do to receive this justification, redemption, and atonement?
We can’t earn it by following the Law or doing good works, but we do need to respond in faith (verse 27). There are two ways to be declared righteous before God: one, follow the Law perfectly; two, place your faith in the sacrifice God made when Jesus died and took the punishment for our sins. Notice that we still have to do something – we need to have faith – but that’s a lot easier than following all of God’s commands perfectly. We can have faith; we can’t keep the Law.
4. Looking at verse 25, what does Paul mean by saying that because of His forbearance, God left sins committed beforehand unpunished?
This seems to be a reference to Sheol and the final judgment. If you’re unfamiliar with what Sheol was, the idea is that before Jesus died, most people’s souls were neither in Heaven nor Hell but a state of waiting or “sleep.” When Jesus died, He descended to Sheol and preached to the souls who were there, and some of them came out of the graves and ascended to Heaven. (You can read more about Sheol here.)
God had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished in that He didn’t send people to their eternal fates before they had a chance to hear about Jesus and respond in faith. He is truly a gracious Father!
5. Paul starts and ends this section by saying 1) the Law and the Prophets testify to Jesus’ coming and sacrifice, and 2) we uphold the Law by placing our faith in this sacrifice. Why is it important to understand these two points?
As other passages tell us, God doesn’t change. The New Covenant may seem like a radical turning away from the Old Covenant, but we see that this was God’s plan all along. He knew He was going to sacrifice Jesus from the very beginning. Nothing in the course of human history surprises Him, and He never has to change His plan. He is all the all-knowing, wise, and good Father.
What to DO after reading this passage
Are you basing your righteousness on how well you’re following God’s laws? Stop! God is so holy that His righteousness is the only righteousness that measures up to His standards, and He’s already given us His righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus. Place your trust fully in God’s sacrifice, not your obedience.
Do you have another insight into this passage? Please share below!
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