Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is. There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfil the law.
Romans 3:27-31
In order to track Paul’s thought take particular note of his word use. When you see a word being used over and over, know that you have found a theme word in action or at least are sensing what is in the mind of the author. Paul is still on about the same thing he was earlier in the chapter. How is it we are made right with God; it is through faith. He is trying to get his message across clearly and without any doubt. “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law” Paul says number of times.
Note the use of his rhetorical questions again used to give his argument structure:
- Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? 3:27
- Is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t He also the God of the Gentiles? 3:29
- Does this mean that we can forget about the law? 3:31
- Is there anything to be gained by seeking to be accepted by God by keeping the law?
- No says Paul because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It’s all based on faith.
Note that Paul picks up again on the matter of privilege for the Jew.
- God’s power of salvation is for Jew’s first but also for the non-Jews
- Suffering and anguish will flow to the Jew first and also to the non-Jew.
- Glory and honour and peace for the Jew first and also to the non-Jew.
Are the Jews any better off? No both Jews and non-Jews are in the same position; in the same boat. This is a theme Paul will return to. Rom 1:16, 2:9, 2:10, 3:9
Does this mean we can forget about the law? For many Christians today the thought is that we do not have to worry about the law, we are under the principle of grace. It is true we cannot be made right with God by means of the law but Paul makes it clear we cannot forget about the law. “Of course not!” he says. Then he makes an interesting statement: it is only when we have faith that we truly fulfil the law (3:31). It is not a case of fulfilling the law to be made right with God but rather fulfilling the law because we have been made right with God. When we have faith and know we are in right relationship with God then we want to fulfil the law in order to please the One who has done so much for us. Also in a sense it is by our faith that we fulfil the law. I still need to think about that one some more before I comment on it.
If you are not content with what you have, you’ll never be content with what you want.
Anon