What shall we conclude?
In the first two chapters of Romans, Paul established that Jews and Gentiles are sinners, and neither has an excuse for it. Neither one has an advantage concerning righteousness from God. However, God loves the equally. The Gentiles, despite having testimony by nature, did not seek God. Jews, even though they had the revelation about God and had the law, did not obey the spirit of the law. “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that both Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin.” Romans 3:9, NIV.
Even the most powerful law and the best possible obedience could not change the sinful nature and cleanse the conscience of humankind. Even the best efforts by humans are evil in God’s eyes because human life, or spirit, is evil irrevocably. God and only he could change the sinful nature of humankind. The sin in the garden of Eden made the entire humanity “worthless.” “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10, 11, NIV.
The above should have been evident for the Jews because they had the oracles of God and the Mosaic law. The Jews, however, failed to realize that God gave them the oracles not because they were better than other people but because they were to proclaim the will of God to the world. They were to inform the world’s people that God would restore them to him as his children at just the right time. Also, the Jews should have realized that God gave them the law and the revelation because their nature, or spirit, was sinful, not because they were righteous. The good and righteous ones do not need the law for instruction. “But we know that the law is good if one uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for the righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers.” We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers.” 1 Timothy 1:8 -9, NET. The fact that the Jews had the law signified their nature, or spirit, was unrighteous and sinful. God sent us the Redeemer and the Savior, not because we were worthy but because we needed him. Jesus Christ is our righteousness from God, and no law could quantify it because God is the lawgiver. The created things could not define the nature of the Creator ever.
What is the core of the problem? Read the next blog.
