Romans 3

God Remains Faithful Even If We Aren't

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar. – Romans 3:3-4

God keeps His promises even if we don't. That's how perfect He is. His promises are unconditional.

That's unheard of in this world that we live today. The world operates on contracts–I'll fulfill my end of the deal if you fulfill your end of the deal. If you reneg, then I can also reneg.

Self-reflecting on the things in my life that I do unconditionally, there aren't that many. Aside from loving my family and close friends, I'm ready to retaliate if others break their promises to me.

What a radical way to live. Fulfilling your promise even if others break their promises to you.

None Is Righteous Before The Law

None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. – Romans 3:10

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:20

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23

We are all sinners, and there's no exception to that. No matter how hard we try, we can never satisfy God's standard, which is perfection. Therefore, from God's Holy perspective, we all deserve to be judged to eternal damnation. God is so Holy that He cannot tolerate our unrighteousness.

We Are Saved By Faith

And [all] are justified by [God's] grace as a gift, through the redemtpion that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:24

Romans 3:23 is famous for saying that we all fall short. Less well-known is what comes after that–that God by His grace sent Jesus to redeem us. If Romans 3:23 were all that there were, there would not be any hope for us. But because we have Jesus as our savior, there is hope once again.

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. – Romans 3:28

Because we humans as imperfect beings cannot justify ourselves by means of the law, we need faith. Through faith, Jesus will redeem us.

Faith Doesn't Override Law

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. – Romans 3:31

One thing that Paul wanted to be clear on–faith isn't superior to the law, neither is the law superior to faith. They work together. The law is a witness to God's glory that we can never satisfy God through our own means; faith is a witness to God's grace of how much He loves us.