But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Rom 2:29

Paul concludes his discussion concerning the religious practice of circumcision by defining it as an outward sign of an inner commitment. It is a matter of the heart not a legal loophole to escape the consequences of sin. While religious Jews mistook circumcision as an act that produces righteousness, it was from the beginning proof of agreement to uphold the covenant that God made with Abraham. Gen 17:1-14

In Romans 3 Paul ties the subject of circumcision into some of the most common apologetic arguments challenging the validity of the Gospel.

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Rom 3:1

Paul illustrates the fact that God had to choose a people group through whom He would work out His plan of salvation, reconciliation, and restoration. Apart from the tested faithfulness of Abraham, Gen 15:6 we do not have a definitive answer to why He chose the Jewish people to preserve the scriptures for millennia. All we know is that He did. Paul addresses the first common anti-gospel argument with

Does the faithlessness of the Jewish people nullify the faithfulness of God?

Why should anyone believe the Gospel when even God’s chosen people don’t believe? A similar argument that we see today is, “Why would anyone want to be a Christian? I mean just look at how Christians behave!” This is a logical fallacy known as a False Equivalency. The validity of scripture and the resulting Christian faith is based on the life and teachings of its founder Jesus, not the failings of His followers. Hence Paul declares,

Let God be true though every one were a liar…Rom 3:4

Next Paul addresses another False Equivalency

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Rom 3:5-8

While I have read that he eventually repented, Martin Luther is credited with declaring “Love God. Sin Boldly”. This is heresy. Evil does not produce good any more than darkness produces light. Evil and darkness are not “things”. They are the absence of things namely goodness and light. God is a holy and just God. He made a way for all of those who are already condemned to be saved. Either we choose the gift of salvation or we don’t. That God’s truth shines more brightly amidst man’s darkness and lies only further proves God is who HE says He is and His word will accomplish what He intended. Isaiah 55:6-11

Charles A Beard poetically albeit unwittingly described God’s sovereign Rom 8:28 hand amidst the recurring pattern of man’s rebellion in real time.

“Whom God would destroy, he must first make mad with power.
The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small.
The bee fertilizes the flower it robs.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.“

We don’t pursue darkness or do evil that good may come. We pursue God and His truth because we know they will prevail.  God will prevail with or without us and despite, anything we do. Rest assured that He will use anything and everything to further His plan of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration of His creation to its original state.

Paul says those who would slanderously accuse him of preaching this False Equivalency of evil producing good are justly condemned. That’s not to say they are condemned because they don’t understand. Rather apart from Christ, all men are justly condemned. Eph 2:1-10 There is nothing inherently good or righteous about any person or people group.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8-10

Paul emphasizes our state apart from Christ in Rom 3:10-20 First of all,

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have becom worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

At the end of the day the law, (Ten Commandments / Old Covenant)  is our school teacher. All of our very best attempts at being righteous and good in our own eyes only prove that we are not. Try as we may we can not fulfill the law. We are not good and if Jesus doesn’t save us we are condemned for all eternity.

Granted some of us need more time in school than others.

Paul goes on to clarify that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Rom 3:22-25

This is where Paul addresses the next common argument against God and His plan of salvation. Namely the accusation of divine child abuse. What kind of Father offers His one and only son as a blood sacrifice? A truly omnipotent God would be able to make man perfect and sin-free from the beginning. Even if He didn’t He should simply cancel the effect of sin and allow His children to live happily ever after. The very existence of evil, they say, is proof that God does not exist. If God does exist, He cannot be good. Yet Paul declares that,

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Rom 3:26

God is both perfectly loving and perfectly just. While I could present a long abstract theological contrast of love, justice, mercy, and grace, beginning with the Garden of Eden, I have found that an African folk tale is shorter and often more effective in explaining how God could be just and our justifier.

There once was an African King who ruled over a poor kingdom as is so often the case in Africa. One day his counselors came to him and declared that there was a chicken thief in the village where they lived. Anyone who has spent time in poor nations like Mozambique knows that chickens are a matter of life and death. As one boy in  Mozambique once told us in no uncertain terms,

You steal chickens, you die!

So the king made a decree.

“When the chicken thief is caught he will receive one hundred lashes with a cane!“

The next day the counselors approached the king. “King!” they began. “We have captured the thief.” “Bring him here!” Exclaimed the King. Much to his dismay, the thief was the king’s mother. “Tie her to the whipping pole and beat her!” exclaimed the King. “And if I even suspect that you are easing up or holding back I will have you executed!” 

“One more thing!” Exclaimed the King.

Silently he stood up and walked to his mother. Removing his shirt he wrapped his body around her.

“Proceed!” said the king.

This is a picture of what it means to show his righteousness at present so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Like the King, God had to keep His perfect word and truth. Otherwise, He would be a liar.

I’m pretty certain you all understand.

A common error today is for believers to dispense with the law entirely. “It doesn’t matter if I sin.” They say. “I’ll just confess it afterward and be good.” They aren’t entirely wrong. Still, the root of the issue is in the heart. What would these same people say if after taking the one hundred lashes, the king’s mother immediately went back to stealing chickens? “Thank you for taking my beating son. That was nice of you. I hope you don’t die from your injuries.

Now where were those chickens?…”

Once justified we are obedient because we love Jesus.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

The purpose of the law in the lives of believers is alignment with the will of God, which produces holiness. We are called to be holy as He is holy. We aren’t saved by following the law. We are saved by grace through faith. Still, Paul concludes this chapter with,

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The law remains. Even if its purpose changes in the life of believers who are by faith in Jesus alone more righteous than the Pharisees.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:17-20

As we’ve said in previous posts. “Fulfill” Does not mean “to overthrow or do away with”. It means “to give the correct or full interpretation.”  The law and prophets provided a proverbial photo of Jesus. His coming in person was the fulfillment. If we read the Sermon on the Mount carefully, we soon realize that the requirements of Jesus are often more stringent than the law of Moses. Mat 5:27-28 Even so, it remains an inward journey – a matter of the heart that produces fruit. Gal 5:22-23 We can know a tree by its fruit. Mat 7:15-20

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Rom 2:29

Chew on the paradox.

Maranatha