Subject: Christians before Jesus came |
Bible Note: Greetings Country Girl! Fortunately, it is quite simple! :) Romans 1-3 is simply making the case that all are sinners. It is not making the case that some could be good enough to be saved. The Jews felt that they were privileged. Paul begins in Romans 1 by showing that the pagan is lost. Then, in chapter 2, he makes the case that the Jew is also lost. Finally, he sums it up in chapter 3 that all are sinners. This introduces the work of Christ and faith in the reminder of the book. The point is that chapter 2 is not claiming that someone can be good enough to be saved. Some may be judged apart from the Law, but all will be found in the state that Rom. 3 describes - apart from Christ. Pay careful attention to the following two verses: Rom. 3:9 - "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one;'" And, Rom. 3:19 - "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." With or without the Law, we are all sinners and cannot be saved apart from faith in Christ. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |