Bible Studies

More Teaching on Law and Grace From the Book of Romans

by John Clark 
07/21/18
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In my previous article I shared teachings on law and grace from the Book of Galatians. Romans also has quite a bit to say about this subject. Some of it would take exegesis to decipher it. I am simply going to take just a couple of passages that say a lot, in a very clear way. 

     Romans 3:19-24 says:

     "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."

     So, what do these six verses tell us?

     One, the Law makes people accountable to God (vs. 19).

     Two, through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (vs. 20).

     Three, it is impossible to be made righteous by trying to follow the laws of God (vs. 21).

     Four, the righteousness of God is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ (vs. 22).

     Five, all have sinned. There is not one single person on the planet who has not sinned in thought, word, deed, motive, or atttitude (vs. 23).

     Six, justification is only a gift of God's grace, through redemption in Jesus (vs. 24).

     Now, skip down to verse 28. It once again emphsizes, "For we maintain that a {person} is justified by faith, apart from the works of the Law."

     I end this discussion with Romans 11:6. "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

     Now, let's make it personal. Dear reader, if you are trying to be religious, or do good deeds, or live up to some kind of law to be righteous in God's eyes, or to earn your way to heaven, stop it now. It won't get you anywhere. When you accept that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead for you, and enter into a personal relationship with him as you Lord and savior, you are declared righteous, my friend, no matter what you may have done or what kind of past you have had.