v1:What advantage then has the Jew? Paul uses a series of questions to develop his argument; v9, 27; 4.1, 9; 6.1, 5; 7.7, 13; leading him to the climax of 8.31-35.

v2: The great privilege of the Jew; to them were committed the very word of God (9.4-5), and each book of the OT was written by Jews. This privilege necessarily brings responsibility to obey that word, see chapter 2.

v3-4: Man's responsibility is to believe and obey. But many don't; that reflects badly on men, not on God; for He remains faithful and true. The truth of scripture is not affected by man's disobedience. But we do see that the unbeliever's view of God is distorted by disobedient believers; see 2.24 also.

v5: Our unrighteousness even demonstrates the righteousness of God; He is seen as he just judge. When we look at the rotten-ness of mankind, we see that God is perfectly righteous. We also see the mercy of God, 11.32; for unless God is merciful, all mankind is doomed.

v6: Paul uses "human argument," he says, 'I speak as a man,' bringing the question that natural man would ask.

God is not wrong to bring wrath upon any man, or upon many people, as in 1.18-32; and that wrath is often observed in this life.

v7-8: Dealing with error; in spite of the accusations of others, Christians do not promote evil; Gal 5.13.

v9-18: The unequivocal testimony of scripture; "All ... no one ... no exception." We are corrupt, in thought, in word, in deed. Wherever we examine a man we find corruption; sinful attitudes produce sinful actions; the root leads to the fruit. Such a contrast with the righteousness of God manifested in Jesus Christ; and the righteousness of God which ought to be displayed in us. Contrast v13-14 with Luke 4.22; Eph 4.29.

"As it is written;" this diagnosis is not human opinion, but what God has said. His dark diagnosis leads us later to the glory of the remedy. Paul's style here is called "pearl-stringing." He uses the same method in chapters 9 to 11. It is a powerful demonstration of the unity of scripture, and its application and relevance for God's people in every age.

No one righteous	Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.1	Christians 1 John 3.7
Understands	Luke 24.45	1 Cor 14.20
Seeks after God	John 4.34	Col 3.1
Turned away	John 14.61	1 Cor 12.31
Worthless		Eph 4.29
Does good	Acts 10.38	Eph 4.28
Throat - open graves	John 6.63	2 Cor 2.15-16
Tongues - deceit	1 Pet 2.22	Eph 4.25
Lips - poison	Luke 4.22	Eph 4.29
Cursing and bitterness	1 Pet 2.23	Eph 5.4
Feet - shed blood	Is 52.7	Rom 10.15
Way of peace	John 14.27	Rom 5.1; Phil 4.7
No fear of God	Is 11.2-3	1 Pet 2.17

v19-20: The conclusion is that each one is guilty before God; both Jew and Gentile. And by observing the deeds of the law, no flesh can be justified in the sight of God.

The law actually has a different purpose;

• for it is for lawbreakers and rebels, see 1 Tim 1.9-11;
• it brings a knowledge of, of a consciousness of, sins, 7.7-12;
• and it is a restraint, Gal 3.22-25.

Any 'good works' only contribute to the righteousness of the law (Phil 3.9), but that cannot save. It is therefore foolish to trust in such works; we find it also encourages pride.

There is a view that God has created mankind with a powerful capacity for moral willing; and that it is sufficient for God to declare His plans in the Bible. (This is known as Pelagianism.) In contrast, the Bible states that mankind is wholly impotent to rescue himself. And, only through the power and Spirit of God can we even begin to walk in the way of truth.

v21 – 8.39: the remedy for sin; God's righteousness. This long section addresses such key issues as faith, promises, justification, and ending with an explanation of life in the Spirit, being the practical daily outworking of true righteousness.

v21: The righteousness from God;

• not by the law, which has been made known;
• predicted by the law and prophets in the OT;
• part of the mystery now revealed, Eph 3.6;
• Jesus Christ the righteous;
• something better than before.

v22: Our response is faith in Jesus Christ; we receive God's righteousness by believing in Jesus Christ; this is His gift to all who believe. This is God's fairness, for it is not by personal effort; and that all receive 'equal' righteousness. 'His totally righteous life of magnificent decisions, perfect holy choices, steadfast purity in the face of fierce temptation, is freely credited to my account (Terry Virgo, God's Lavish Grace, p 113).

v23: Since all are guilty before God, all need His righteousness through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be acceptable before God; and there is no other way to reach the standard of God's glory.

v24: Justified freely, for the price has been paid; 1 Cor 6.19-20, no price on my part. Our repentance and faith does not earn salvation, but do receive salvation. The ground of justification is the free grace of God; it all starts with Him. Eph 1.6 and Rom 8.30 teach that justification ends with glory; glory first for God, and our glorification.

Our redemption is in Jesus Christ, Col 1.14, again implying that a price was paid. He paid the price of His life, and we are justified.

v25: God presented, or set forth, Jesus Christ as our propitiation (atoning sacrifice); this is of God, John 1.13, at His initiative,

• not in response to anything in man;
• neither our desperate need,
• nor our cries for help,
• and certainly not our worthiness,
• from good works,
• or that we are made in God's image.

God's righteousness is thus seen as the root of the gospel, as in 1.17-18; it is not love, but righteousness, or there is a danger of sentimentalism or universalism.

Propitiation is not as in primitive idolatrous society, where the hapless worshipper made an offering hoping to appease the angry deity. Here it is God who has presented Jesus Christ as His own propitiation. In this, His anger is turned away completely. His ongoing forbearance in leaving sins unpunished is wonderful, see also Acts 17.30, but cannot be the basis of secure salvation. Again, we can do and contribute nothing; no sacrifice from our hands is sufficient, either to bring redemption, or to answer God's wrath towards sin.

God could have publicly punished mankind's sins, perhaps in a periodic worldwide flood, but He has refrained from so doing, see 2.4. Yet we do not despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance and long suffering.

v26: All this demonstrates His justice, which cannot be broken by anything, for God is God. Further, He is able to justify any who have faith in Jesus Christ.

v27: The gospel gives no room for boasting; this is the insistence of the 'law of faith.' We have no ground either for boasting over another believer.

v28: The conclusion; that justification is solely by faith in Christ. The deeds of the law can do nothing to contribute to our justification. Our only response is to have faith in Christ.

v29-30: The gospel also opens the door equally to Jews and Gentiles, of which more in chapter 4. The same God will justify all we believe, Acts 13.39.

v31: The law is established; in Christ it has a special role, but not an end in itself, but part of the gospel, see 1 Tim 1.8-11.