August 2025 ~ "The Whole Book"

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

#1626 Romans 4 Part 2 The Promise

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no trespass.

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all— 17 as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”—in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your seed be.” 19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to do. 22 Therefore it was also counted to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was counted to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those who believe upon Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification. Romans 4: 13-25 LSB

Romans 4: 13-25

V. 13 But through the righteousness of faith - The law of Moses had not entered the picture yet. This does not remove the law of sin and death, for Abraham, as a child of Adam and Eve, like all of us, was born into sin. The law comes to point out the trespass, like a mirror or a measuring stick, it reveals our actual state as sinners. The Bible tells us that we are saved by grace, which is unmerited favor, through faith, which is the gift we are given that enables us to receive that grace. It is what is born in regeneration, the ability to see that I am a sinner, that there is a cure to be found in the gracious gift of God, and to trust in a righteousness belonging to another, Who is Christ. I don't have nor can I produce this righteousness, but faith allows me to believe that Christ's righteousness, and His sinless death, have been applied to my account.

1For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good. 2God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.… Psalm 53: 1-3

Vs. 14-15 Faith has been made empty - Like we have been seeing, Abraham was before the law, he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. You see a beautiful picture of this when Abraham cuts the animal in half, leaving a path for two people to walk through in a blood covenant, but Abraham never walks through with God, instead, he falls to sleep and God walks between the halves. This is a unilateral covenant, in that God is the upholder. He requires a righteous sacrifice and then provides it, just like in the picture on Mt. Moriah where Abraham offers up his son, Isaac, but God stops this sacrifice and provides a ram. The law brings more knowledge of sin and therefore more accountability, but it is powerless to save. The covenant that saves us is that God promised His Son a people, God walked the blood covenant with His Son, Who became the sacrificial Lamb, the One without spot. If God had no moral law then there would be no trespass, but the law assures us, our consciences assure us, that we say, "right and wrong", assures us that there is a law. The law is beautiful in that it tells me what is offensive to God, and through His grace He brings me to hate what He hates and to follow His word.

…20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing. Galatians 2: 20-21

…2I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.… Genesis 12: 2-4

#1625 Romans 4 Part 1 Counted To Him As Righteousness

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God! 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,

And whose sins have been covered.

8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

9 Therefore, is this blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it counted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Romans 4: 1-12 LSB

Romans 4: 1-12

Vs. 1-3 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness - It is the righteousness that comes by way of the vehicle of faith. Even that faith, which many fail to understand, because it is not derived or distilled from man. Faith is also a gift from God as we see in Ephesians 2:8, "for it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God." God owed Abraham the same thing He owes everyone in accordance with His sovereign and Holy nature, and that is death, the wages of sin. Abraham was a sinner and lost like every other man, but God came to him, made Himself known, proved His own self faithful even when Abraham lacked, and God brought Abraham not only to believe that there was a God, but to believe in the true God, and believe what He said, evidenced in Abraham's willingness to leave his own country and comforts for a heavenly promise he could not yet see. You see Abraham's faith grow throughout his life, tested, challenged and developed by God.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she regarded Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there were born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been remembering that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now, they aspire to a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, 18 to whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave commands concerning his bones. Hebrews 11: 8-22

V. 4 Not to the one who works - Like I always say, over and over again, because it is the first part of the gospel. God owes no man anything other than what is in accordance with God's own nature. He owes it to His own holiness that men receive the penalty of their sin, and still so to that holiness, if He so chooses to redeem, that He takes up the ledger and pays the debt Himself, through the perfect life and atoning work of His Son. No one is owed a perfect life here because we all fall short of the mark of His perfection and expectation. No one is owed eternal life because we all sin, and God, Who is the eternal being, is infinitely opposed to our sin. If we die in it, attached to it, in denial of His opposition to it, we should not be so surprised to find ourselves forever under the condemnation of His just wrath. Playing it down won't change His mind, finding some other human to agree with you won't change God's mind, and being that man or woman that plays down what God says to the ruin of other people, that is a scary thing. The Bible makes it clear that we are dead in our trespasses and sins, and so dead people do not raise themselves, do not do good works, so remind yourself of that, what does God owe you? There is massive confusion out there about faith, where people turn it into a work, and think of it as the means to get worldly gain, and they turn faith into the practice of positive thinking or the stupid new age enlightenment stuff you here from corporations or see when your scrolling through Linkedin, "visualizing and manifesting", hogwash and snake oil. People tell you to have faith in yourself, believe in the good of man, follow your heart, but that's the wisdom of this age, not God's wisdom.

Paul now uses a common illustration to amplify his point making it clear that the legal act of declaring a man righteous (justification) is completely apart from any kind of human work. If salvation were on the basis of one’s own effort, God would "owe salvation" as a debt—instead of righteousness being a gift of God’s grace to those who believe. Since faith is contrasted with work, faith must mean the end of any attempt to earn God’s favor through personal merit and this same principle applies to us once we have become believers. We are sanctified (our daily growth in grace and progress toward greater Christlikeness) by faith not by deeds we do in our strength. Nothing of the old flesh can please God Who is holy.

Although faith is required for salvation, it has no power in itself to save. It is the power of God’s redemptive grace alone, working through the atoning work of His Son on the cross, that has power to save. Note carefully that faith is not, as some claim, a type of work. Paul here makes clear that saving faith is completely apart from any kind of human works. - Precept Austin

…38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:… Acts 13: 38-40

…7But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. 8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?…

…10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve. 11Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.” Jeremiah 17: 7-11

9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”…

…12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.… Galatians 3: 9-14

Vs. 5-8 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven - Paul continues to make his argument for justification by faith by pointing out to another of their OT heroes who needed grace. David sinned, was disciplined by God and forgiven by God. He stood in contrast to King Saul, in that David had a repentant heart, confessed his sin and sought to be brought back into communion with God the Father. Saul only cared what people thought and was more worried about an earthly kingdom. He wanted respect for his title regardless of his actions, and even sought to murder David, and David differed in that he found brokenness before a Holy and just God.

…18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? 19He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. 20You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.… Micah 7: 18-20

…10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.… Psalm 51: 10-12

Vs. 9-10 But while uncircumcised - They forget, Abraham was the beginning of all of this, God called him out of a pagan world and made him a promise before the seal of circumcision was given.

11Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.… Ephesians 2: 11-13

Comment: The question of a physically circumcised Jew becoming uncircumcised strikes us as somewhat ridiculous but Josephus describes this practice writing "they (Jews who sought the favor of the Greek ruler Antiochus) desired his (Antiochus') permission to build them a Gymnasium at Jerusalem (thus emulating Greek culture - gyms were "big" with the Greeks). And when he had given them leave they also hid the circumcision of their genitals, that even when they were naked (Greeks exercised in the nude in the "gyms"!) they might appear to be Greeks. Accordingly, they (the compromising Jews) left off all the customs that belonged to their own country, and imitated the practices of the other nations (the Gentiles)." (Ant 12.241)

Paul adds in his letter to the Galatians…

For in Christ Jesus (the key word is "in" - when by grace through faith we who were in Adam [cp Ro 5:12-note] are placed forever in Christ - cp 1Co 15:22) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything (external acts/rites are immaterial and worthless, unless they reflect genuine internal righteousness - i.e., they are supernaturally motivated by a desire to please God and not by a fleshly futile attempt to merit His favor), but faith working through love (Saving faith proves its genuine character by works of love cp Ro 13:10-note). (Gal 5:6)

While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? - Paul does not leave this question open for debate but answers that it was while he was uncircumcised, which is a physical state the Jews equated with the "goyim" or the "Gentile dogs"! This was the state of their physical ancestor Abraham, whether they like it or not, or whether they accept it or not. It is an indisputable fact! - PA

Vs. 11-12 But who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised - Faith preceded the sign of circumcision. We enter the realm of Ritual vs. Reality, and we all need to ask ourselves this question: what is our hope based upon, faith in the promise of God or in some ritual or rite that we participated in? I would ask those who baptize infants, what did that infant believe, what are you hoping for in this? Does God owes us for removing our foreskin; does he owe you for crying after a presentation of the Passion and then walking forward with your feet and saying a prayer with your lips? I would say He only owes Himself, His own integrity, and He has promise His Son a redeemed people even before there were people, before time and space existed. I believe He will make good on that promise through the meritorious and atoning work of His Son and no other. To even think you can earn an ounce of God's favor is blasphemous. Jesus did it all, all to Him I owe, like the song says, sin has left a crimson stain, and He washed it white as snow.

…28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3: 28-29

#1624 Romans 3 Part 4 Au Contraire

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith, is one.

31 Do we then abolish the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. Romans 3: 21-31 LSB

Romans 3: 21-31

Now, as we approach this, a little bit of an introduction. Job, that very early book, no doubt describing a man who lived in the patriarchal period, the period of the Pentateuch. Job, that righteous man, that man who was commended by God for his faith, asked the most important question that any person can ever ask. It is posed in chapter 9 of Job and verse 2. And this is the question that Job asked, “How can a man be right with God?” That is the most compelling question. How can a man be right or be in the right before God?

And then he goes on to show why this is such a dilemma. Verse 3, “If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times. Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has defied Him without harm? It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun not to shine, and sets a seal on the stars; who alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea; who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number.

“Where He to pass by me, I wouldn’t see Him; were He to move past me, I wouldn’t perceive Him. Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could system to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

“God will not turn back His anger; beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him? For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice. For He bruises me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to get my breath, but saturates me with bitterness. If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.”

This is like Paul saying, “Even when I know nothing against myself, herein am I not justified. I can’t bring my case before God.”

Here is a man – namely Job – with a sense of his lostness; with a sense of his smallness; with a sense of his guilt, his emptiness, his meaninglessness; fearing death, dreading punishment at the hands of a holy God who cannot successfully make his case even when he says, “I’ve searched out my life, and I can’t see anything of continuing sin. I know that I am not, by my own perception, thereby justified because my own perception is so limited.

How should a man be in the right with God? How do you become right with God? God is holy, and God is a judge, and God punishes sinners, and God punishes the guilty who are sinners. How can that change? How can a man be right with God and particularly a God like this, a God who is so vastly beyond me?

And, of course, as you heard, Job goes through the litany of all the things that are true about the massiveness of God. How can I, this frail, weak, unimportant individual, establish righteousness before such a great and glorious and holy God? How can I, therefore, escape His judgment?

That, by the way, is the basic question that every religion tries to answer. That is the basic question that every religion tries to answer. Every religion is trying to answer the question, “How do I escape the judgment of God and get into the place of favor from God” – whatever god is the god of that religion – “and end up in the right place when I die?” That is the universal question which religion universally attempts to answer.

And so many suggestions are made. But all religions, of all types and all kinds basically give the same answer. You achieve that rightness. You get it by your attention to being a good person and performing the necessary religious rituals, and rights, and practices, and ceremonies.

In every case, you get in the right with God by something you do. Now, they will all admit that God is kind, to some degree. At least he will allow you the opportunity to try to do that. And in varying religions, the kindness of God is more or less a large part of our efforts. But in the end, all human religions come up with the same thing: you work your way in.

But the Bible clearly demonstrates and confirms that nobody will ever be made right with God like that. No one. No one is going to escape judgment and enter into blessing. No one is going to go from being under the disfavor of God into the favor of God by their own efforts, by his own effort or her own effort.

So, if we are to find a way to be right with God, it isn’t going to be found in us. It isn’t going to be found in the religions that we invent. If there is a way to be right with God, then God’s going to have to determine that way, because He’s the one that’s been offended. And therein lies the dilemma which all religion attempts to answer. Paul has clearly shown, starting in chapter 1 all the way through chapter 3, verse 20, where we ended last time, that no one can be right with God on the basis of human effort. That’s how verse 20 ends that whole section, by saying, “By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” Nobody will be right with God by means of the deeds of the flesh. That is keeping of God’s moral law or any kind of ceremonies. In fact, all the human race falls short. They are all under sin. Chapter 3, verse 9, “Jews and Greeks are all under sin.” And Romans 1:18, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness.” So, all are unrighteous, all are under sin, and therefore all are under judgment, and no one has the capacity in himself to change that situation no matter how moral he may attempt to be or how religious. That’s the condemnation of the opening chapters. - J Mac

V. 21 But now apart from the law - This is a transition from where we previously left off, where Paul told us that, "by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin." The law was not given to man as a means to be justified, that is an impossibility for fallen man, remember, dead in trespasses and sins, at enmity with God, needs to be brought to life, born again. I remember cutting tile for our house a long time ago, and so I took a measurement, cut a tile, and dry tested it to make sure it fit. Not being much of a craftsmen, carpenter or handy man, but always loving efficiency (short cuts), I went ahead and cut the whole run for that wall, only to find that each tile moved further from the wall. I checked the tiles and they all measured the same, and looking at the wall it seemed straight to my eye, but there was almost two inches difference from one end of the wall to the other. My eyes weren't the best judge, and when I pulled out a straight edge and an angle, I found that there wasn't an actual 90 on any corner of the house. The law was a straight edge, it showed men that they are crooked, but it was powerless to correct this. It was the measure.

John MacArthur - Because they capitalize Law in this passage, it is evident that the translators of the New American Standard Bible understood nomos to refer to God’s divine revelation, either in the narrower sense of the Mosaic law or the wider sense of the entire Old Testament. But I believe that in this passage Paul primarily has in mind the sense of legalism, of men’s attempt to become acceptable to God by means of their own human efforts." (Ed note: Greek does not have the definite article modifying "law" and it would tend to support Dr. MacArthur's interpretation) (See Romans Commentary)

As discussed below, even apart from the law, the Pentateuch clearly taught that righteousness has always been credited, reckoned or imputed by personal faith. The prototypical example of course is Abraham's justification by faith (Ge 15:6), which was apart from the law for the Law wasn't even given until 400 years later. - PA

Vs. 22-23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - We all share the same parents and we all share the same curse, so we all need Someone to pay the debt of sin in our place, to live a life that is pleasing to God, and to sanctify us in repentance. There is no distinction here, no one who needs less because their sins weren't a big enough deal. This is a universal declaration.

…15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!… Galatians 2: 15-17

…19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city. 20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7: 19-20

…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10

V. 24 Being justified as a gift by His grace - God gifted us with Jesus in order to gift us to Jesus. It was free to us, but not free in the sense that it cost God greatly. Jesus took on human nature, was born as a man, lived a life that was pleasing to God, among a people that were abhorrent, namely us, and then died in our place so that the elect (those who would believe) could be reborn and reconciled to God. Remember, God is Holy, so He doesn't just wave off sin like it didn't happen, no, if He is going to redeem then He pays the redemption price.

…9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.… 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

Vs. 25-26 For in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed - The ability of our forefathers to continue on, to breathe in the air of this world was based upon the promise of Christ coming to pay for the sins committed. It didn't end in the garden solely because of the God's redemptive plan that He made with His Son and the Holy Spirit from eternity.

…18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. 20He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.… 1 Peter 1: 18-20

Vs. 27-30 Justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith - Abraham was called before the law, but it was his faith not circumcision that made him a friend of God. Moses gave Israel the law, but as we saw that was only the measuring stick, for no one was found righteous according to God's law. Of those who are saved, both Jews and Gentiles, it is by grace (unmerited favor) alone, through faith (a gift enabling us to believe) alone, in Christ alone, understood by the Scriptures alone.

…7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.… Galatians 3: 7-9

V. 31 On the contrary, we establish the law - Because the law was just it required Someone Who could keep it to pay for those who didn't. It is good so it begs for justice. It was like the tablets that Moses was carrying down from the mountain. He through them down and broke them, because the law had been broken yet again, even after the people had promised to keep it, to do what was in the law so they could live. The broken stone tablets did not remove the law, did not remove the righteous requirements of God, and so the law of the eternal God still stands. Death is proof of God's Holiness and His intentions towards sin. His punishment of those who carried His oracles, His punishment of His own servant, Moses, not letting him into the promised land, is a testimony to God's righteousness and the goodness of His law. Let those who twist Scripture, who take the literal and remove it's simple and clear meaning, leading men astray, let them be silenced and let the measuring stick be preached once again. It is the first part of the gospel, that which shows us the condemnation that we are under, let us see it and be moved by the Holy Spirit to repentance.

15Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”… Exodus 32: 15-17

…8How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception? 9The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have? 10Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.… Jeremiah 8: 8-10

#1623 Romans 3 Part 3 Fangs and Putrid Smells

“Their throat is an open tomb,

With their tongues they keep deceiving,”

“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,

17 And the path of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3: 13-20 LSB

Romans 3: 13-20

V. 13 Their throat is an open tomb - So for the Jew back then it was considered a defilement to come near the dead, and there are many sanitary reasons for this, like disease. You want to protect the body of your loved one also from wild animals, and so they sealed the tomb and applied ointments to the body to reduce the foul odors. On the outside there are flowers growing, a stone blocking the entrance, which was probably sealed with pitch or other materials to remove gaps, but inside was rot and decay. Paul is saying that their mouths are revealing the rancid nature of their hearts; it's an open door or window to who they really are inside. Remember Isaiah's epiphany when faced with a vision of the Lord, confronted with the Holiness of God? This godliest of men by our standards said, "Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Even he was able to come to a sense of his own depravity, to know that his past ideas of good would not hold up in the presence of the thrice Holy God. Paul is continuing to destroy the antinomian argument and show that being born again means being a new creature, desiring to do the things that please God, not just form and ritual.

…44For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. 45The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 46Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?… Luke 6: 44-46

…17“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.… Matthew 15: 17-19

…26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.… Matthew 23: 26-28

V. 13c The poison of asps is under their lips - Back then they would call it poison, but today we would say venom. So for some commentators the image they think would appear in the early reader's mind was that of the Egyptian cobra. Another really interesting snake I found was the Israeli Mole Viper, whose fangs can protrude to the side, making it very dangerous to handle even with the mouth seemingly closed. From Wikipedia, "This snake's fangs are able to be directed outside of its mouth, granting it the ability to side stab with a closed mouth. This makes capturing this snake particularly dangerous because it can unexpectedly bite sideways even when it is captured by the head to lock its mouth. This happened to the zoologist Heinrich Mendelssohn when he first discovered this species and captured a snake of this species in 1944.[13]" Asp is the Greek word for viper. Paul is comparing what's in their hearts to a venom factory which leads to fangs concealed in their mouth. When they open it, out comes slander, apostasy and every form of filth.

From Dictionary.com

any of several venomous snakes, especially the Egyptian cobra or the horned viper.
Archaeology., uraeus.

V. 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness - It takes very little to get it to spill out, so much are men like this that they have to have life coaches in the corporate world, to teach them to practice saying what they would not naturally say, all the while harboring evil in their hearts and intentions. We teach our children manners, and rightfully so, but they still need to be born again, and there will come a time that your disappointment, the structure and repercussions you provide will no longer be there or enough. If you provide nothing then you hasten them towards doom, and if your child naturally knows to behave better than you for the sake of not making a bad investment, well then they will think themselves rich instead of the beggars that we all are.

…8Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me. 9For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. 10Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.… Psalm 5: 8-10

"Out of his own mouth he will be condemned. There is not only a little evil there, but his mouth is full of it. There is cursing which he spits against both God and men, deceit with which he entraps the unwary, and fraud by which, even in his common dealings, he robs his neighbors. Beware of such a man. Under his tongue. Deep in his throat are the unborn words which shall come forth as mischief and iniquity." (Treasury of David).

The Apostle James says that “The tongue is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:6 +)

Ray Stedman comments that "Cursing is blaming God; that is profanity. Bitterness is reproaching God because of the way he has run your life. This is what we hear all the time, even from Christians. We hear complaints about your circumstances, where God has placed you, and what he is doing with your life -- cursing and bitterness." (Read the full text of the sermon Total Wipeout)

V. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood - It only got so far as the first man and woman's son, Cain, till there was a murderer. Listen to what Jesus says.

21You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,… Matthew 5: 21-23

Vs. 16-17 And the path of peace they have not known - They don't travel in the way of reconciliation. They open their mouths to start strife and discord. Drama is always with them. How many times could we have stayed quiet and quelled a storm, or spoke softly instead of pouring on fuel.

…7Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. 8The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace. 9Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.… Isaiah 59: 7-9

1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.… Proverbs 15: 1-2

V. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes - This is the root of all the worlds problems today. God does not do what they want, meaning He does not treat them like they are God and obey them, so they say there is no God. They see some evil that they don't like, while being blind to their own, and say, "if there is a God then I won't bow to Him because there is this type of evil in the world that I don't like, and I see myself as good." All the while they commit sin, the very thing that brought evil into this world and left them deserving of God's wrath, but they continue in evil thinking their is no pending judgement. Those who acknowledge that there is a God and yet do these things, they presume upon God's grace, but it is another god they have invented in their mind. So you believe there is God, but you don't believe what He says. What good is that?

…10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?” 11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.… Genesis 20: 10-12

…16My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.… Proverbs 23: 16-18

Spurgeon comments on Psalm 36:1 writing that

Men’s sins have a voice to godly ears. They are the outer index of an inner evil. It is clear that men who dare to sin constantly and presumptuously cannot respect the great Judge of all. Despite the professions of unrighteous men, when we see their unhallowed actions our heart is driven to the conclusion that they have no religion whatever. Unholiness is clear evidence of ungodliness. Wickedness is the fruit of an atheistic root. This may be made clear to the candid heart by cogent reasoning, but it is clear already and intuitively to the pious heart. If God is everywhere, and I fear Him, how can I dare to break His laws in His very presence? Those eyes which have no fear of God before them now will have terrors of hell before them forever. (Treasury of David)

Vs. 19-20 Through the law comes the knowledge of sin - The law could never make a man perfect. Men are already depraved, corrupted. The law was a guide, a mirror to help us see that we do not make the standard, the expectation. We needed Christ to come and keep the law, and then die a sinless death so that this atoning sacrifice could be applied to our account. Man can either pay for his sin eternally in hell, or repent and believe in Christ Jesus.

…16know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.…

…19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.… Galatians 2: 19-21

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#1623 Romans 3 Part 3 Fangs and Putrid Smells

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