“Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets” (Rom. 3:21). How are we to understand what this text means? This new righteousness is contrasted with the righteousness of the law, which was the righteousness with which the Jew was familiar. The new righteousness is called “the … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 3:19-20. What is Paul saying here about the law, about what it does, and about what it does not or cannot do? Why is this point so important for all Christians to understand? Paul is using the term law in its broad sense as the Jew in his day understood it. By the term Torah (the Hebrew word … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 3:19-28. Memory Text: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). In this lesson we come to the basic theme of Romans: justification by faith-the great truth that, more than any other truth, brought about the Protestant Reformation. And despite all the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Thus the biblical terminology shows that sin is not a calamity fallen upon the human unawares, but the result of an active attitude and choice on the part of the human. Further, sin is not the absence of good, but it is ‘falling short’ of God’s expectations. It is an evil course that the … Continue reading –>
“Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). What message is here for us in regard to the whole question of repentance? We should notice that God’s goodness leads, not forces, sinners to repentance. God uses no coercion. He is … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Human Condition” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
In Romans chapter 1, Paul was dealing specifically with the sins of the Gentiles, the pagans, those who had lost sight of God a long time ago and, thus, had fallen into the most degrading of practices. But he wasn’t going to let his own people, his own countrymen, off the hook either. Despite all … Continue reading –>
At the turn of the twentieth century, people lived with the idea that humanity was improving, that morality would increase, and that science and technology would help usher in a utopia. Human beings, it was believed, were essentially on the path toward perfection. Through the right kind of education and moral training, it was thought … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 3:23. Why is this message so easy for us as Christians to believe today? At the same time, what could cause some people to question the truthfulness of this text? Amazingly enough, some people actually challenge the idea of human sinfulness, arguing that people are basically good. The problem, however, stems from a lack … Continue reading –>
“I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’” … Continue reading –>
