HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1384
RO MA N S 3
page 1014
have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced
that you are a guide for the blind and a light for
people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you
can instruct the ignorant and teach children the
ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law
gives you complete knowledge and truth.
21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t
you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal,
but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit
adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from
pagan temples?* 23 You are so proud of knowing
the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles
blaspheme the name of God because of you.”*
25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has
value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t
obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey
God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own
people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who
keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are
circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t
obey it.
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you
were born of Jewish parents or because you
have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right
with God. And true circumcision is not merely
obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a
change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a
person with a changed heart seeks praise* from
God, not from people.
how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for
him to punish us?” (This is merely a human
point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not
entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge
the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue,
“how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings
him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we
sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things
deserve to be condemned.
All People Are Sinners
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are
better than others? No, not at all, for we have
already shown that all people, whether Jews or
Gentiles,* are under the power of sin. 10 As the
Scriptures say,
11
12
13
14
15
16
— promises —
from God
17
18
We are made right with
God by placing our faith
in Jesus Christ.
R O M A N S 3:2 2
God Remains Faithful
Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew?
Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First
of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole
revelation of God.*
3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just
because they were unfaithful, does that mean
God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if
everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
3
“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”*
5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness
serves a good purpose, for it helps people see
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”*
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from
an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”*
“Their mouths are full of cursing and
bitterness.”*
“They rush to commit murder.
Destruction and misery always follow
them.
They don’t know where to find peace.”*
“They have no fear of God at all.”*
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom
it was given, for its purpose is to keep people
from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can
ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. The law simply shows us how
sinful we are.
Christ Took Our Punishment
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made
right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses* and the prophets long ago. 22 We
are made right with God by placing our faith in
Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who
believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of
God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace,
freely makes us right in his sight. He did this
2:22 Greek do you steal from temples? 2:24 Isa 52:5 (Greek
version). 2:29 Or receives praise. 3:2 Greek the oracles
of God. 3:4 Ps 51:4 (Greek version). 3:9 Greek or Greeks.
3:10-12 Pss 14:1-3; 53:1-3 (Greek version). 3:13 Pss 5:9
(Greek version); 140:3. 3:14 Ps 10:7 (Greek version).
3:15-17 Isa 59:7-8. 3:18 Ps 36:1. 3:21 Greek in the law.