Romans, Lesson 4b, The Universal Corruption of Mankind Chapter 3:9b-21

I. With or without the Law, Jew and Gentile alike are bound up under sin (3: 9-20).

A. The verdict of God on all men (v. 9)

a. The character of the verdict – sin

b. The dominion of the verdict – under captive

c. The extent of the verdict – all

II. The Verdict Proved (vs. 10-12)

B. Sin in human character (vs. 10-12).

a. There is none righteous

b. There is none that understands

c. There are none that seek after God.

e. There are none that do good.

C. Sin in human conduct (Anatomy of evil) vs. 13-18).

1. Sin in words (vs. 13-14).

a. Throat – vile talking

b. Tongue – lying

c. lips – slander (gossipers)

e. Mouth – blasphemers

D. Sin in their deeds (vs. 15-17).

a. Feet – swift to carry them to the place where blood is shed.

b. Ways – Where ever they go they leave destruction and misery.

c. Source of sin – (v. 18), no fear of God before their eyes.

E. Sin and the law (vs. 19-20).

1. Basically the law given to:

a. stop boasting mouths

b. bring the world under judgment.

2. Negative and positive relationships of the law to sin.

a. Negative – Law cannot make men righteous.

b. Positive – does give knowledge of Sin.

Romans 3:21-5:21, Paul and the Doctrine of Justification by Faith.

I. Righteousness manifested – witnessed – obtained – needed.

A. The characteristics of God's righteousness (3:21-26).

B. Glorying is therefore excluded (3: 27-31).

C. The scriptural proof (4: 1-25).

D. The effects of justification by faith (5: 1-21).

1. To the individual (5: 1-11).

2. Universally (5: 12-21).

II. The characteristics of God's righteousness excludes glorying (vs.3: 21-31).

A. Characteristics of God's righteousness (vs. 21-26)

B. Therefore, Glorying is excluded (vs. 27-31).

III. Characteristics of God's righteousness (3: 21-23).

A. righteousness manifested (v. 21a) Found apart from the laws and imparted by the gospel.

B. Righteousness witnessed (v. 21b) Bears the stamp of the law and the prophets. Chapter 4 will prove this.

C. Righteousness Obtained (v.22) – Key is seen in the words by faith. It therefore is a gift and not something we work for.

D. Righteousness Needed (v. 23) – The word all measures the vast need for humanity.

E. Righteousness Provided (v. 24) Provided historically in the fact of the cross. Provided experimentally faith in the blood of the cross. Must know the fact and the faith.

F. Righteousness declared (v. 25). Effect of the cross was retroactive. Faith is the condition of their salvation and ours.

G. Righteousness satisfied (v. 26). God is set forth in all His justness by the fact that He justifies the sinner through the redemption of the redeemer.

So, Where then is the Glorying (3: 27-31).

1. It is excluded (How! 27 -

A. By Works – No – a law of works causes a person to glory in their own works. The opposite is also true. Anytime a person is glorying they are following a law of works.

B. By faith – yes – following the law of faith we glory in nothing except God who gives faith.

2. The Divine conclusion (vs. 28-31).

A. There is no advantage in Race (v. 29).

B. Faith is demanded above all other claims (v. 30).

C. The law is only established through faith (v. 31). Justification cannot be by works of the law for the law is an unestablished thing with out faith. The law is not established by my acts of keeping law but by Christ fulfilling the law (Rom. 10:4 – Matt. 5: 17-18).

Short Olutliine by Lane Rogers