The Free Gift

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (3:1). If circumcision can't get me points in heaven, then what advantage do I have as a Jew? Paul said, Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God (3:2). God committed His Word to the Jews in their native language. Those who read Hebrew could read God's Word.

We owe a great deal to the Jews for preserving the Word of God with such diligence and accuracy. Prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament was dated about A.D. 900. The Dead Sea Isaiah Scroll is dated about 200 B.C. When the Isaiah Scroll was translated, it was found to have no major changes from the text we already possessed. The Jewish scribes had faithfully and accurately copied the Word of God throughout the Old Testament period.

What if some [of them] did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (3:3). This is an interesting speculation. A man may claim to be an unbeliever. That doesn't change the truth. Suppose that he went into a math class. The teacher had written on the board, "2 + 2 = 4". He says, "Wait a minute! I don't believe that two plus two equals four." His opinion won't change the fact. Whether he believes or not doesn't alter the truth.

The truth will stand, and it isn't without effect because a person doesn't believe it. Similarly, a man cannot add to God by accepting the truth. When a sinner repents and accepts Christ, God doesn't say, "Goody! Another one on our side." He doesn't need us. He can live very well without us. He loves us, and because He loves us He draws us unto Himself. We're the ones who gain and are blessed. It's so wonderful that God pursues this relationship with us when He has nothing to gain by it.

For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) (3:3-5).

A person may claim, "God said that we're all sinners in Romans 3:23. By being a sinner I'm only proving that God told the truth. Why should God take vengeance on me because I'm proving His truth?" Oh, the stupid reasoning of man! How often we find ourselves facing these nonsensical arguments. Paul said, God forbid [perish the thought]: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? (3:6-7).

Some preachers tell stories packed with emotion in an attempt to turn people to Christ. There's no truth to the story, but it's persuasive and turns people from their sins. Some might say, "Why would God judge a preacher for lying? Look at the good that has come from it." But the end doesn't justify the means. Jesus said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Some Christians were slanderously reported to have said, "Let us do evil that good may come." Paul characterized such people as those whose damnation is just (3:8). The evil of man and the righteousness of God stand in brilliant contrast. Take the case of Tex Watson, a convicted murderer and former member of the Charles Manson family. Tex Watson is now a brother in Christ. How his conversion magnifies the grace of God. But should we do wicked things so we can magnify the grace of God? Never! One of the most glorious of all testimonies is obeying God's will. That kind of testimony thrills God's heart.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (3:9-10).

Paul goes on to describe these deceivers who encouraged evil so that more of God's grace would be given.

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 doeth 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 what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (3:11-20).

No one can be justified by the Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. We're already guilty before we even start. The Law wasn't given to justify us, but to expose our innate sinfulness. It reveals the fact that the whole world is guilty before God.

The Jews had misinterpreted the Law to such an extent that they felt self-righteous. The religious leaders were teaching that a man could actually keep the Law, because their idea of obedience was by outward observance only. But in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus pointed out that the Law was spiritual and that all men had already violated it. Jesus showed that the Law governs the inner attitudes of men as well as their outward actions. Though the Jews' actions may have been blameless, their attitudes were evil. For example, though they hadn't committed adultery, they had lusted in their hearts. So, they were guilty of violating the Law.

The Law condemns all of us, and it points all of us to the only hope of salvation that we have - the grace and mercy of God and the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (3:21-22). No difference exists between Jew and Gentile in terms of salvation. Each one who believes in Jesus Christ is justified from all the sins he has ever committed.

"Justified" is a beautiful word meaning "just as if I never did it." When I stand before Him cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, God looks at me as though the disobedience and sins of the past had never happened. God credits my faith in Him as righteousness. My hope is in the sustaining power and grace of God through His Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Apart from Christ I have no justification before God.

When I abide in Christ, my salvation and relationship with God doesn't vary. Years ago my relationship with Him was unstable in my own mind, because I tried to make it depend upon my good works. As a child I was taught that I shouldn't go to movies, dance, smoke cigarettes, or drink liquor. So I have abstained from all those things, but as a child I couldn't understand why God was blessing some kids at church more than He was blessing me. They were sneaking off to the Saturday matinee and smoking cigarettes. "God, I'm so good and they're such sneaks!" I was approaching God on the basis of my good works, but I wasn't so good in my thoughts. When the other kids were heading to the matinee, I really wanted to see Pinocchio or Snow White with them. How I wished I hadn't been brought up in that strict church. I longed for those things in my heart, but I wouldn't do them.

My Sunday school teachers told me the story of a little boy who went to the movies and said, "Jesus, please wait outside. I'll be back in about an hour and a half." I was told never to go anywhere I couldn't take the Lord. "If the Lord should come while you're at the movies, He'll leave you behind. When you come out, you may find the Church is raptured and you've been left." The first movie I finally went to see was agony. The whole time I thought, "What if the Lord comes while I'm sitting here? What if the rapture takes place?" I wanted to get up and leave!

Eventually, God in His grace caused me to realize that true righteousness isn't based on rules but on my faith in Jesus Christ. My relationship with God then stabilized. I certainly don't do the right thing in every situation. For example, I don't always tolerate abuse and won't always turn the other cheek. Thank God that my faults don't alter my faith in Jesus. I still believe in Him and love Him with all my heart. When I do wrong He speaks to me about it, and He teaches me to lean a little harder on Him instead of on myself.

God has brought me into a new righteousness based upon His faithfulness to keep His Word. There's never a problem on that basis, because I know that God is faithful and will always keep His word.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (3:23). Some may come closer than others, but all have come short of God's standard. As an illustration, suppose that we're sailing to Hawaii and the boat capsizes midway. We start swimming for shore. Some are very weak swimmers and sink within the first hundred yards. Some don't go down until the first mile. Some are strong enough to swim five miles before they go down. But all come short of reaching land.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (3:24). We can only be justified before God by His grace in the redemption purchased for us by Jesus Christ.

Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (3:25-26).

In order to forgive you, God must have a just basis of forgiveness. That basis of forgiveness is the substitution of Christ for you, the sinner. Jesus took your sins and bore your guilt. God had declared, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus died in your place and bore the judgment of your guilt. Thus, He can offer the forgiveness of your sins and the cleansing of your past. He can justify you before God of any wrong you have ever done. That's God's good news. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16a).

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (3:27-28). Salvation is by faith and it completely eliminates any boasting by us.

And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete, "Jesus died my soul to save," my lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.[1]

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus presents me "faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24b). I won't be able to say, "I was such a faithful and strong Christian! I really held on to the end!" No! Boasting is eliminated, because my salvation has become God's work.

The Bible says, "Ye are complete in him" (Colossians 2:10a). "Complete" means "perfect" You can't improve on perfection. Having begun in the Spirit, you must continue to walk in faith. God sees you in that state of perfection as you abide in Christ.

Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one God, who shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith (3:29-30). The Jews thought that they possessed God exclusively. Not so. All men may approach God now. The rituals of the past no longer matter, for faith in Christ is the key to justification.

However, faith doesn't cancel the Law of Moses. It actually supports the purpose of the Law. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law (3:31). The Law was given to show that all the world stands guilty before God. Salvation by faith eliminates all human boasting and shows us that we cannot save ourselves by works. Faith brings us to the same realization as the Law, and so it establishes the Law.

[1] From Jesus Paid It All by Mrs. H.M. Hall.