CHAPTER THREE OUTLINE

Outline: 3:9-31

I. Man's Universal Condition (3:9-20)

A. All are under sin (9)

[1]. Gentiles:

(a). Defy God
(b). Self-righteous delude themselves
(c). The heathen violates his conscience

[2]. Jew: Denies in deed what is taught in the word

B. Confirmed by scripture (10-18)

[1]. The character of men (10-12)
[2]. The conduct of men (13-17)

(a). Their speech (13,14)
(b). Their deeds (15-17)

C. The work of the law (19,20)

[1]. Shuts men's mouths
[2]. Holds all accountable
[3]. Makes men knowledgeable of sin

II. God's Gift of Righteousness (3:21-31)

A. What is God's answer to man's failure? (21)

[1]. The righteousness of God himself
[2]. Given apart from the law
[3]. Witnessed by the prophets

B. How is it obtained? (22-24)

[1]. Through faith in Jesus Christ (His person and work)
[2]. For all who believe
[3]. Without partiality
[4]. Through God's works applied to us
[5]. Through redemption

C. How redemption works (25)

[1]. A propitiatory blood sacrifice

(a). Expiation - satisfies justice
(b). Propitiation - releases love

D. Why is redemption provided? (25,26)

[1]. To vindicate God

(a). His justice is questioned because of His past forbearance
(b). Now his long delayed wrath falls on His Son Jesus

[2]. To justify those that believe

E. The results of the gift of righteousness (27-31)

[1]. No one can boast
[2]. No one is excluded
[3]. The law is vindicated, upheld, established

Three main points are made in Chapter three. First of all the objections of the Jew are answered. The Jew has been given the primary place in history in God's minds eye, nationally speaking. The Jews were given the oracles of God, the law. The Jew was promised the land of Canaan; the Messiah was a Jew; the writers of the Word of God were Jewish, etc. The Jew asks was this all in vain?

Secondly, Paul declares the universal lost condition of mankind, Jew and Gentile. A number of Old Testament scriptures are quoted showing us the tremendous working knowledge of the scriptures that Paul the apostle had. In this second section Paul shows us that the law was not given to save, but it was given that men would have a written record from God so that man could not claim ignorance of sin and that every mouth may be stopped!

Lastly, Paul declares the remedy for the plight of mankind. The remedy is the works and righteousness of God. God has done the work, he wants you to trust in what he has done for you, rather than trusting in what you can do for Him." Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

In this chapter we have a great example of how indirect quotations are made of Old Testament scriptures, varying in words, yet infallible (verses 10-18).

 

Verse:

3:2 "The oracles of God" - (1 Pet. 4:11; Heb. 5:12; Ps. 147:19,20)

3:4 "Let God be true" - (Tit. 1:2; 1 Jn. 1:10)

"As it is written"- (Ps. 51:4) is quoted freely by Paul and shows us that the scriptures may be applied this way.

"Thou mightest be justified" - (1 Tim. 3:16)

"When thou art judged" - the implication is that people are going to accuse and judge God at the Great White Throne Judgment and God will answer "as it is written". See the temptation of Christ in (Lk. 4 and Matt. 4) ...."that every mouth may be stopped (3:19)." (See also Matt. 22:12 ff)

3:5 If my badness, wickedness or unrighteousness demonstrates God's goodness, does God owe it to me to let me get away with it?

"I speak as a man" - (Gal. 3:15)

God's righteousness - (2 Cor. 5:21; Ps. 35:24)

3:7 We are not to glorify God by contrast, we are to glorify God by obedience, not disobedience.

3:8 (Rom. 6:12; Gal. 5:13)

3:9 "...we have before proved..." - (Chapters 1,2). The Jew has violated the Law, the Gentile has violated his conscience.

"They are all under sin" - (Rom. 5:10-12; Eph. 2:1-3).

3:11 (Ps. 10:4; see also Isa. 65:1; Jn. 6:44; Ps. 143:2)

3:12 (Pro. 14:12; Isa. 53:6; Jn. 14:6)

3:13 "Their throat..." - (Psalm 5:9)

"The poison of asps" - (Ps. 140:3)

3:14 "Whose mouth is full..." - (Ps. 10:7)

3:15 "Their feet are swift. (Isa. 59:7,8,16)

3:16 Acts 28:27

3:18 "There is no fear..." - (Ps. 36:1; See Ps. 2:11)

Between (verses 10 and 18) there are 14 separate indictments that man is charged with.

3:19 The purpose for the giving of the Old Testament law was not to secure the salvation of man. The law was given that man would have a knowledge of sin, to show to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Rom. 7:13; 5:20). It was given as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ "after that faith is come" (Gal. 3:23-25). The law was given only to sinners (1 Tim. 1:9-11) that at the Great White Throne Judgment and the -"books are opened" (Rev. 20:12-15) that every mouth may be stopped! - No excuse (Rom. 2:1) and all the world may become guilty before God (text).

3:20 (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:28; 4:1-5)

(Heb. 7:19) says, "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope (Heb. 6:18; Tit. 2:13) did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

3:21 "The righteousness of God" - (Rom. 1:16,17; (2 Cor. 5:21)

"Witnessed by the law" -(Jn. 5:46,47; Gen. - Deut., specifically Deut. 18:15,18).

"The prophets" - (Acts 26:22,23; Isa. 42:6; 49:6; 53:2-12; 61:1-3; Mic. 5:2)

3:22 "By faith" - (Gal. 3:26; Rom. 4:3,5; Acts 15:9; Eph. 2:8,9; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 4:16)

3:23 (Matt. 7:11; Eccl. 7:20; 1 Jn. 1:10; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:3; Eze. 18:4; Rom. 5:9,12; Rev. 21:8; Ja. 2:10; 1 Kings 8:46).

3:24 "Freely" - This is one of the places Eve got "confused" in (Gen. 2:16 and 3:2).

Justification - Definition, justify - To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, just, propriety or duty; to pronounce free from guilt or blame; to absolve, exonerate, clear.

Redemption - Definition, redeem - To regain possession of by payment of a stipulated price. To recover or regain, to ransom, liberate, rescue from captivity or bondage by paying a price or a ransom. Theologically - to rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law; deliverance by the atonement of Christ from the bondage of sin; salvation.

Propitiation - Definition, propitiate - To appease and render favorable; to conciliate. Theologically - atonement or atoning sacrifice, specifically, that which, as Christ's death, appeases the divine justice and conciliates the divine favor. Synonym -Reconciliation, Expiation, Satisfaction, Atonement

Redemption - (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 9:12,15)

3:25 (Acts 17:31; Rom. 5:9)

Propitiation - (1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10)

Some interesting scriptures to analyze when considering Old Testament salvation:

Job 1:1,8; 9:2	Luke 10:25-28
Luke 2:25	Mark 10:17-22
2 Peter 2:8	Philippians 3:6
Luke 1:6	James 2:19-24

Remission is not redemption!

Remission - Definition, Act of remitting or forgiving, pardon (Ex 34:7). Pardon of transgression of divine law;forgiveness of sins, or release from the penalty of sins.

Remit - Definition - To give up or over; abandon; surrender; to set free; liberate, release as a prisoner.

Remission secures fellowship, justification and redemption secured the clearing of the debt. The Old Testament saint could be forgiven but could not be cleared or redeemed. He could not be justified or redeemed by the blood of bulls and goats, (Heb. 9:12-15,26; 10:1,4,11).

"For the remission of sins" is always a reference to sins that have already been forgiven (Rom. 3:25) "that are past." Remission was brought about by blood (Heb. 9:22) under the Old Testament law. Sins were remitted under the law by the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Sin was forgiven (remitted) by the blood of bulls and goats, but not taken away, blotted out, or cleared. (Hebrews 9:26; 10:1,4,11, Exodus 34:7)

In (Acts 2:38) "For the remission of sins", "for" means "because of". Eg..., Charles Manson went to jail for murder. Did he go to commit murder or did he go because he committed (past) murder? JESUS Christ died for our sins ... In order that we can sin??!

Sins were remitted from (Gen. 4:1-4 to Jn. 1:29) and forgiven on the basis of the blood of bulls and goats (Heb. 10:4) and God told Moses that when He gave him the law, (Ex. 34:7)! The words remission and redemption have been confused for so long (Heb. 9:15) that many well meaning Christians have applied (Heb. 9:22) "without the shedding of blood there is no remission", to the blood of Christ, when it is clearly OUT OF CONTEXT! In the death of Christ, the shedding of his blood, we have remission and redemption available. (See Matt. 26:28 and Heb. 10:16-19!!)

Let's say it one more time with gusto: In the Old Testament you have the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats and God is remitting sins all the way through the Old Testament, so when Christ cores to die on the cross, the blood he sheds is to redeem the transgressions under the first testament and this is for the redemption of the transgressions under the first testament, so Christ shed his blood because they have been remitted; forgiven but not taken away or cleared.

Putting it all together:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified , from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38,39)

See (Col. 1:14), compare with the new translations, redemption becomes forgiveness, there is a definite, important doctrinal distinction.

3:27 "Law of faith" - (Rom. 7:22,23; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16; Rom. 7:4)

3:28 (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Rom. 4:1-5; Acts 13:38,39).

3:30 "One God" - (Gal. 3:20)

3:31 Is the law void? No! You just can't keep it. It is established for the purposes commented upon in verses (19 & 20).