Romans 3

** This post represents my summary and understanding of this passage. Before reading, please read Romans 3 so that you can better know if you agree with me or not. I suggest the ESV version. **

Summary [Verses 1-20]

Paul explains to the Jewish people that even though circumcision doesn’t save them, God has still chosen them and entrusted them with the revelation of God. Just because some Jews were unfaithful, that did not mean God was going to be unfaithful. God is always true. The Romans were arguing that their sin was exposing God’s righteousness and bringing him glory. They thought the more they sinned the better it was. But Paul was calling them out and telling them that way of thinking was not right. The Jews were arguing that they were better than everyone else, and Paul was saying that no one is better than anybody, everyone is under the power of sin. No one can be made right with God by doing what the law commands, the law is there to show them how sinful they were, it is not there to save them.

Summary [Verses 21-31]

But God shows us a way to be made right with Him without needing to follow the law perfectly. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This applied to all the Jews and Gentiles. God makes us right in his sight by his grace and forgiveness. He sent Jesus to the cross to serve as a sacrifice for our sins. People are made right with God when they believe in what Jesus did for them. This sacrifice was showing that God was being fair to the people and holding back his punishment for those who had sinned in the past. By offering Jesus as a sacrifice, he was demonstrating his righteousness and declaring righteous those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Because a person is justified by faith alone and not by their works, they have no right to boast about their actions. If our salvation is based on faith in Christ alone, can we then forget the law? No, when we truly put our faith in Christ we look to obey God’s law.

My Take Away:

This was another hard one to comprehend. But essentially, Paul is telling the people in Rome that it doesn’t matter if you are Jew, Gentile, religious leader, upholder of the laws. All are viewed the same by God and all will be judged. God gave laws to live by, and those laws expose our sins because no one can perfectly follow God’s law. However, the law is not the basis for our salvation, Jesus Christ is. God gives us hope by offering his son as a sacrifice for our sins, and now we are no longer viewed as sinners in God’s eye. We are viewed as righteous and forgiven before God. That forgiveness applies to those who put their faith in Christ and understand that He is the only way to salvation.

Before Jesus’ death on the cross, people would repent from their sins by offering animals (usually a lamb) as sacrifice in the altar. They would give their best animal and ask for forgiveness for their sins. This is why Jesus’ death on the cross was so important. He represented the Lamb. God gave his perfect son, who never sinned and who did not deserve to die, as a sacrifice. His sacrifice was done to cover everyone’s sins. He then resurrected, and this showed that He had power even over death. After his death, people no longer had to offer a sacrifice to be forgiven. They just had to put their faith in Christ and understand that his death and resurrection saved them from their sins and gave them life in Christ. Having that understanding changes our hearts and because we love God we want to obey his commands.

1. What are your thoughts on this passage?
2. How does believing in what Christ has done for you, changes the way you live?

Here is a great sermon series by John Piper on Romans 3. I encourage you to go listen to it as you study Romans 3.

• Romans 3:1-8 Let God Be True Though Every Man a Liar(link)
• Romans 3: 9-18 All Jews and Gentiles Are Under Sin (link)
• Romans 3: 19-20 Mouths Closed and All the World Accountable to God (link)
• Romans: 3:21-26 The Demonstration of God’s Righteousness (link)
• Romans 3:27-31 Justification by Faith Is the End of Boasting (link)

Hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know how I can be praying for you!