In The Word
Read: Romans 3:1-20
All the World Guilty
3 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written:
“So that You are justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) 6 Far from it! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? Their condemnation is deserved.
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written:
“There is no righteous person, not even one;
11 There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks out God;
12 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The venom of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Their 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 they have not known the way of peace.”
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 under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
God’s grace is substantially bigger than sin, which allows His forgiveness to eradicate our sinful past. While God’s grace is available if we sin, His grace is not a license or excuse for sin. There are many people who take advantage of God’s grace-filled nature by willfully sinning, which is basically saying, “Why strive to be good since I will be forgiven for doing bad?” This misuses, even abuses, God’s grace. Paul’s adversaries erroneously claimed that he taught a doctrine that said, “Let us do evil that good may come” (Romans 3:8). As this statement is so contrary to Scripture, Paul dismissed his critics by saying, “Their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8). Paul later wrote in his letter, “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2).
Scripture plainly declares that sin greatly grieves and displeases God. It was sin that put God’s son Yeshua on the cross. If you truly love God, then you will avoid any behavior that pains Him and will strive to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (Colossians 1:10). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 15:14). And if you will grasp the reality of God’s love for you, then you will intentionally avoid ever exploiting His grace. God’s grace is there for you if needed, but it is not there to be abused.