So, continuing on in Romans 3, further debunking the false teaching that the law is our foundation. Beginning with verse 27.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.
Oh oh. There goes the opportunity for pride to come in. We can’t brag about how well we keep the rules, how good we are, how spiritual we are because we look so good. Scripture says that we can do nothing to be accepted by God, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.
Now if you’ve been paying attention, everything that God has said that points to Jesus is a promise of our righteousness through faith. So again, we are not accepted by God based on our performance, we are accepted by God based on His promises.
28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Look. Here again it’s as if Paul is saying. “Oh, did you miss what the Holy Spirit just said? Well, let me say it again clearly”.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
Only by faith. Not by works, performance, adherence to rules, being obedient to follow the law of tithing, praying 3 hours a day, making sure you’re in the church building every time the doors are open, and on and on. NO. It’s only by faith. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. There’s nothing wrong with praying and going to church, but it won’t make you right with God. It’s for your benefit you do these things, not God’s benefit.
31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Wow again. So, looking at verse 22 which says it’s by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, then vs 31 emphasizes that by saying only when we have faith…WHAT FAITH???? Faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the only way to fulfill the law.
Just taking those two verses and ignoring the rest of them where we saw it’s by faith in Jesus only, we have destroyed the premise that the law is our foundation. But just for kicks, lets keep going.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11. This is Paul Speaking.
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Whoops. That didn’t help the argument that the law is our faith foundation. Now what? How does someone support that error? We already have the only foundation that is needed. No one can lay any other foundation. Oh, they’ll try, but faith has a right to have an attitude, so let me just say with attitude that any other foundation other than Jesus Christ is false teaching. And yet, there’s even more truth. Hebrews 10:1-3.
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. (why would we want to chase shadows when the best was to come?) The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.
Acts 18:1-15.
1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. 4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
I love this next verse, because the Lord tells Paul, don’t quit, keep preaching grace, don’t be put off track.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. 12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” ……EXACTLY!!!!! Notice the statement here “our law”, not the law. 14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.”
This entire set of scriptures sets the stage for Paul’s preaching to the Gentiles and reveals, even from the mouth of the leaders of his day that the law is their law and a Jewish law. It is not a law for the Gentiles.
I’ll let you study that for yourselves, because prior to this Acts insert, there has been very clear and distinct truth in volume to dispel and refute the false notion that our foundation for faith is built on the law. If you want more truth, just go to Romans Chapters 6, 7, and 8. It just gets worse as the truth completely destroys the wrong teachings regarding the law and it’s application to us today.
In closing, remember it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, not for bondage to legalism or religion. As I stated earlier in this teaching, others will find it threatening when you learn how to live free. Once you get a complete revelation of the truth in the Grace of God, you’ll drive religious people crazy. Grace and Peace.
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