Daily Scripture Reading Romans 3:7-31
Throughout world history, philosophers have debated whether humans are naturally good or evil. In other words, are humans born good and the only reason evil exists is because good people are corrupted? Or are people born evil and the only reason good exists is because they are taught to be good?
Related to that debate, there is a trend in modern evangelicalism to assume the best of people. In other words, they believe we should always assume that people are good and are doing the right thing. Sometimes when a Christian confronts something in the church that appears to be sin, they are told to assume the best.
Today’s passage teaches us that no human is good, which comes down on the side of saying that humans are born evil. Furthermore, if humans are inclined to do wrong, then we should not assume the best of people. In fact, it might be wiser to assume the worst.
At the end of yesterday’s passage we were reading that human unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God. However, that does not mean that God is unrighteous when He inflicts wrath.
Rom. 3:7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
Rom. 3:8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
We should not intentionally sin so as to make God look good.
Rom. 3:9 ¶ What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
The second chapter of Romans condemns Jews who taught against stealing and adultery, but then committed theft and adultery themselves. That does not mean those who do not do that are better because all Jews and Greeks are under sin.
Rom. 3:10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom. 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Rom. 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
Verses 10-12 are a quotation of Psalm 14 and 53. Those Psalms state that God looks down from heaven and concludes that no one is good.
There is a trend in evangelicalism which teaches that we should always assume the best of other people. However, if God concludes no one does good, then we should not assume that people always have good intentions and are always trying to do the right thing.
Rom. 3:13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
This verse is a compilation of phrases from Psalm 5:9 and Psalm 140:3. In both those Psalms, David was writing about his opponents.
Rom. 3:14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
This is a quotation of Psalm 10:7 in which the Psalmist described the wicked person who believes there is no God.
Rom. 3:15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
Rom. 3:16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
Rom. 3:17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
This is a quotation from Isaiah 59:7-8. Isaiah was describing everyone who sins against Yahweh.
Rom. 3:18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
This is a quotation from Psalm 36:1 in which David described the ungodly.
Rom. 3:19 ¶ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God;
Rom. 3:20 because by the works of the Law NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
No human will be justified through works of the Law. However, that does not mean the Law is pointless. The Law is what defines sin and teaches us what God expects from us.
Rom. 3:21 ¶ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
Jesus is the righteousness of God. He was manifested in the 1st century AD. Since Jesus fulfilled many predictions in the Law and Prophets, the Law and Prophets give witness that Jesus is the righteousness of God.
Rom. 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Every human is a sinner. Since every human sins, it is not wise to assume the best and that people always have good intentions and motives.
Since every human is a sinner and falls short of the standards needed to enjoy the glory of God, then every human is destined to spend eternity in hell.
Rom. 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
The word justified means to be declared righteous. Even though every human is a sinner, we can be declared righteous because Jesus redeemed us. Redemption is the idea of paying a ransom to release someone from captivity.
Rom. 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
Propitiation is the act of appeasing a deity. The blood of Jesus appeased God.
Due to the shed blood of Jesus, God overlooks previous sins.
Rom. 3:26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Just is the idea of being innocent. God is innocent, and anyone who has faith in Jesus is declared innocent by God.
Rom. 3:27 ¶ Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Rom. 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
A man is declared innocent by faith, not by works of the Law.
Rom. 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
Rom. 3:30 since indeed God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith, is one.
Rom. 3:31 ¶ Do we then abolish the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
There is a trend in modern evangelicalism to assume the best of people. In other words, some Christians believe we should always assume that people are good and are doing the right thing.
Today’s passage reminds us that people are sinful. When God looks down on earth, He sees no one who does good. Therefore, we should not assume that anyone will always have good intentions. If we see something within Christianity that looks like sin, we should not assume the best and assume it is not sin. Instead, we should address what we see and base our conclusion on the facts, not assumptions.
To what extent has your pastor and church adopted the mentality of assume the best?
What are some examples of Christians using the “assume the best” mantra to cover up sin?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”