THE BOOK OF ROMANS ~Chapter 3
What advantage then, is there in being a Jew? And
what value was there in circumcision? The benefits were great, in all respects.
In the first place, the Word of Elohei was entrusted to the Jews. Granted, that
some of them did not accept it in faith. Can their lack of faith nullify
Elohim’s faithful promises? No, never! Elohei will prove true, though every man
may prove false! Scripture puts it this way, “You are shown to be true in Your words, and when You are being judged
You are in the right” (Psalm 51:4).
But what shall we say if our righteousness simply
serves to magnify Elohei’s righteousness? Shall we say that it is wrong for
Elohim to punish us? No, not at all! How else could Elohim judge the world?
But, if a falsehood of mine, placed by the side of Elohim’s truthfulness,
brings out His glory, why must I be condemned as a sinner? Why not, then, do
evil that good may come? Actually, some have slanderously reported that we have
said this, and others have accused us of so doing. The question justly deserves
condemnation.
What then? Are we Jews better than the rest? By
no means. We have already stated that both Jews and Greeks are all under the
curse of sin. For Scripture says, “There
is none righteous; no, not one. No one understands; no one searches for Elohei.
They have all strayed from the right way; they have all become corrupt. Not a
single one practices kindness; no, not one. Their throats are like open graves,
they use their tongues to deceive, and behind their lips is the poison of asps.
Their mouths are full of curses, and bitterness. They run swiftly to shed
blood. Ruin and misery mark their ways. And they know not the way of peace. And
no fear of Elohei is kept before their eyes” (Psalms 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1, & 140:3; Proverbs 1:16 &
Isaiah 59:7).
We know that whatsoever the Law says, it says to
those who are under the Law so that every mouth may be stopped and everyone in
the world may realize his guilt before Elohim. No human being can be justified
before Him simply by keeping the Law. What the Law does is to show us how
sinful we are.
Elohim’s plan of justification has been disclosed
without any reference to the Law, though the Law and the prophets do make
mention of it. Elohim’s own way of making men righteous is by faith in Yeshua
Ha’Mashiach. This justification is for all and upon all who believe, for no
other requirement is made. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of
Elohei. And all are justified freely, because of His grace through the salvation
that is in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. For Elohim gave Him to us as a means of
reconciliation if we would believe that He ransomed us with His blood. Elohim
has in this way demonstrated His own justice as well as His forbearance in
passing over our former sins, also by showing at the present time that He is a
just God and that He justifies everyone who believes in Yeshua.
What then, becomes of our vain human pride? It is
outlawed. How? By what fundamental law? By the law of works? No, it is rules
out by the law of Faith. We hold, therefore, that a man is justified by Faith,
without the works of the Law at all. Is Elohei the God of Jews only? Is he not
the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles, too. There is only 1 God. He
will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith, and the
uncircumcised also on the ground of their faith. Do we, then, by faith nullify
the Law? Not at all; rather it strengthens the Law.
