Romans 3:20 Themes and Topics

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision? much every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God. for what if some betrayed their trust? shall their unfaithfulness render read more.
the faithfulness of God of no effect? by no means; yea, let God be acknowledged to be true, tho' men should be all deceivers; as it is written, " that you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged." but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?" not at all: for then how could God judge the world? "but, say you, if the veracity of God hath appeared more illustrious thro' my unfaithfulness, why then am I condemned as a sinner? and why may we not do evil, that good may come?" which is slanderously reported to be our maxim, by some, whose condemnation is just. "how then are we better than they?" why, not at all: for we have already convicted both Jews and Gentiles, of being all under the guilt of sin. as it is written, " there is none righteous, no not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one. their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. their feet are swift to shed blood. destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known. there is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God. for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. but the divine justification certified by the law and the prophets, is now clearly proposed independently of the law: that divine justification, which by faith in Jesus Christ is extended to all, that believe; for there is no distinction: for all having sinned, all have forfeited eternal glory:

How then can we assert, "that Abraham our father obtained this from circumcision?" for if Abraham was justified by works, he had matter of pretension, whereas he had no such claim from God. for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." read more.
the reward is not counted as a favour to him that has done good actions, but as a debt: whereas he that trusts in God to be made righteous, tho' he has not done such actions, shall find his faith accounted as righteousness. even as David also speaks of the happiness of the man whom God accounted righteous independently of his works, " happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. happy is the man to whom the Lord will not account sin." Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. how was it then accounted? whilst he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? he was not then circumcised, but uncircumcised: and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness: and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised. Besides, the promise that he should possess the world, was not made to Abraham, or to his posterity in consideration of the law, but with regard to the righteousness by faith. for if they only who are of the law have right of possession, faith is made useless, and the promise becomes of no effect. because the effect of the law is punishment: for if there had been no law, there could have been no transgression. therefore the inheritance is of faith, that it might be meerly of favour, to the end the promise might be assured to all his posterity, not to that part only who have the law, but to that also who have the faith of Abraham, the father of us all, as it is written,

now this saying, "that it was accounted to him," was not written for his sake alone, but for us also, to whom it shall be accounted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Then said John to Jesus, master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we oppos'd it, because he does not follow you with us. but Jesus said to him, don't oppose it: for he that is not against us, is for us.

Upon this occasion John address'd himself to Jesus, saying, master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, tho' he did not belong to us, for which reason we opposed him. but Jesus said, do not oppose him: for no man can speak evil of me, at the same time he works a miracle by virtue of my name. such a one is not against us, but for us. read more.
and whoever he be that shall give you a cup of water, as being the disciples of Christ, I assure you, he shall not lose his reward.

if therefore God has bestow'd the same favour upon them, as on us, after we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I make any opposition to the divine will? Having heard this, they were appeas'd, and glorified God, saying, God has then granted salvation likewise to the gentiles, on the terms of their repentance.

However some that arrived from Judea, told the Gentile converts, unless you are circumcised agreeably to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved. upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question. so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren. read more.
and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them. but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses. The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair. and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith. God who knows their hearts has granted them a testimonial, by giving them the holy spirit, even as he did to us: making no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by the faith. why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear? but we believe that it is by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are to be sav'd, as well as they. The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry. After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention. Simon has related how God began to visit the Gentiles, to chuse from among them a people consecrated to his name. and this is agreeable to the oracles of the prophets: as it is written, "after this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: I will repair its ruins, and raise it up: that the rest of mankind, even all the nations, that profess my name, may seek the Lord. he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world. wherefore my opinion is not to disquiet the Gentile converts: but only to write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood. for as to the law of Moses, that has been published in every city a considerable time, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled, we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair. for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions; that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel. Being thus dispatch'd, they went to Antioch; where having assembled all the faithful, they deliver'd the letter: from the reading of which, they were affected with joy at the comfortable contents, as for Judas and Silas,

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, chosen to declare the gospel dispensation, which God had promised by his prophets in the holy scriptures, with relation to his son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was of the lineage of David as to his body, read more.
but as to his holy spirit miraculously declared to be the son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: by whose favour I have received the office of an apostle to bring the Gentiles every where to the obedience of faith preached in his name: among whom Jesus Christ has also called you: to all the beloved of God, the saints by this vocation, who are in Rome, grace to you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I owe what service I can do to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, to the learned, and to the illiterate. so, that as far as it depends upon me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also, who are at Rome. for I am not ashamed of the gospel, since it is divinely effectual to salvation, to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.

for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. but the divine justification certified by the law and the prophets, is now clearly proposed independently of the law: that divine justification, which by faith in Jesus Christ is extended to all, that believe; for there is no distinction: read more.
for all having sinned, all have forfeited eternal glory: being justified by his unmerited favour through the redemption that is by Jesus Christ: whom God had ordained, thro' faith, to be the propitiatory victim by his blood, for the manifestation of his goodness, by patiently passing over their past transgressions: to manifest, I say, his goodness at this time: that he might appear to be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus. what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded. what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith. for we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without observing the legal rites. is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles? surely he is of the Gentiles too; since it is one God, who will justify both the Jews and the Gentiles, through faith. do we then make the law useless by our doctrine of faith? by no means; on the contrary, it is we that observe the law.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access by faith to that degree of favour, we are in, by which we triumph in the hopes of divine glory.

for he is our peace-maker, who hath united both Jew and Gentile, and hath by his flesh broken down the middle wall of partition (which kept us at variance) by abolishing the dogmatical injunctions of the law, that having made the peace, he might incorporate the two into one new body under himself; that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them: read more.
and being come, he preached the glad tidings of peace to YOU who were afar off, and to US that were nigh.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God. for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin.

for by grace are ye saved, thro' faith (and that not from us: it is the gift of God) but not by works, so that no man can boast:

who has saved us, and by the gospel hath called us to holiness, not in consideration of our works, but in pursuance of his own resolution, and the favour, which having been promised us by Jesus Christ several ages ago, Verse Concepts

why? because they sought it not by faith, but indeed by the works of the law: for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; Verse Concepts

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification. Verse Concepts

many will cry out to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? have we not cast out devils in thy name? and in thy name have we not wrought many miracles? and then will I make this declaration to them: I never knew you: depart from me ye that have practised iniquity.

for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

and if it be by favour, it is not upon the account of merit. for then mercy would not be mercy. Verse Concepts

but when the kindness and love of God our saviour display'd itself to mankind, he saved us not in consideration of any virtuous actions which we had done, but out of his meer mercy, by the baptism of regeneration, he form'd us anew, by the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit,

Christ is of no use to you, whoever of you seek to be justified by the law; you have lost all interest in the gospel-dispensation. Verse Concepts

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for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

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yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification. Verse Concepts

for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

agreeable to what is written in the first psalm, "thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." and to show that he rais'd him from the dead, never more to return to corruption, he said thus, "I will faithfully perform the promises, which I made to David." wherefore in another place he says, "thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption." read more.
for David, after he had serv'd in his time the designs of providence, died and was buryed with his fathers, and was subject to corruption. but he, whom God hath raised, was not subject to corruption. know then, my brethren, it is by him, that the remission of sins is offer'd to you: by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision.

but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:" but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, " the just shall live by faith."

Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects? was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar? don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct? read more.
it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God." you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith.

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for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

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but Israel, who followed the law of justice, hath not attained to the law of justice. why? because they sought it not by faith, but indeed by the works of the law: for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;

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the sting of death was sin; and the strength of sin was the law. Verse Concepts

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for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

Do we then conclude, that the law is the cause of sin? by no means; but I should not have had such a notion of sin, had it not been for the law: for I should not have known concupiscence was a sin, unless the law had said, "thou shalt not covet." but sin receiving strength by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. for before the law sin appear'd dead. then it was I once liv'd secure; but when the prohibition came, sin exerted it self, and I was in a dying condition: read more.
and the commandment which leads to life was instrumental to my ruin. for sin getting power by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and just, and good. was it then good that brought death upon me? no, but it was sin, that sin might show it self by being able to bring death upon me by means of that which is good; that sin, I say, by the commandment might appear to be exceedingly destructive. for we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold a slave to sin. what I do I allow not: for what my mind leads me to, that do I not; but what I have an aversion to, that I do. if then I do what I in my mind am against, the consent of my mind is, that the law is right.

"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator. now a mediator supposes two parties, of which God is but one. Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law. read more.
but the scripture has declar'd all guilty of sin, that the blessing promised on condition of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. but before faith came, we were shut up together as prisoners under the custody of the law, 'till faith was to be revealed. so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. but now faith being come, we are no longer under a pedagogue. for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

I own that the law is good, if a man make a right use of it: Verse Concepts

"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator. Verse Concepts

it being plain, that the law was not design'd against the just, but against the lawless and refractory, against irreligion and vice, impiety and prophaneness, parricide and man-slaughter, Verse Concepts

so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Verse Concepts

for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent. Verse Concepts

Do we then conclude, that the law is the cause of sin? by no means; but I should not have had such a notion of sin, had it not been for the law: for I should not have known concupiscence was a sin, unless the law had said, "thou shalt not covet." Verse Concepts

for the law made no man perfect, but this was effected by introducing a better hope, which brings us nearer to the divine presence. Verse Concepts

Sentence of death therefore shall not pass upon those christians who do not lead a vicious life. for the christian dispensation of a spiritual life has set me free from the legal state of sin and death. God having sent his own son invested with a body like that of sinful men, as a sacrifice for sin, thereby destroyed its power; which the law could not effect, human nature being in such a corrupted state. read more.
so that the moral obligations of the law might be fulfilled by us, in living according to the spiritual, and not the carnal tenor thereof:

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification. Verse Concepts

for by the observation of the law no one shall be justified in his sight, since it is the law that takes cognizance of sin. Verse Concepts

agreeable to what is written in the first psalm, "thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." and to show that he rais'd him from the dead, never more to return to corruption, he said thus, "I will faithfully perform the promises, which I made to David." wherefore in another place he says, "thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption." read more.
for David, after he had serv'd in his time the designs of providence, died and was buryed with his fathers, and was subject to corruption. but he, whom God hath raised, was not subject to corruption. know then, my brethren, it is by him, that the remission of sins is offer'd to you: by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham. and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe. but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:" but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, " the just shall live by faith."

For the law being only an allusion to a future dispensation that was more excellent, and not an exact imitation of such a state, cannot by the anniversary sacrifices, which are offered, entirely purify those that present themselves. for then they would not have been repeated, because they who sacrificed being once purified, would not have been conscious of wanting any further atonement for their sins: whereas their annual sacrifices were accompanied with an anniversary commemoration of their sins. read more.
And indeed it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats, should take away the guilt of sin. wherefore at his appearing in publick, he saith, "sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure: then said I, lo I come, as in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God." after having said, "victims, oblations, holocausts, and sacrifice for sin, thou wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein," tho' they are all prescrib'd by the law; he immediately adds, "lo, I come to do thy WILL, O God." he abolishes the first to establish the second: in consequence of which WILL we are sanctified by the oblation which Jesus Christ has made once for all of his own body. While the high priest in his daily administrations frequently repeated the same sacrifices which could by no means expiate sin; Christ, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin, sat down on the right hand of God for ever: expecting the only event still remaining, the entire subjection of his enemies. for by one single oblation he has purified for ever those that are sanctified. and this is what the holy spirit declares, when after having said,

by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision. Verse Concepts

for we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without observing the legal rites. Verse Concepts