Good questions! But I suspect that because the questions are written as one continuous scream in scripture, we miss the totality of the intended context. So I thought, perhaps, we would try listing these same questions one at a time, and begin to understand the breadth and depth of these particular scriptures, using similar verses to determine a reasonable answer. Obviously, there are many more passages of scripture on this topic, but for now, allow this to serve as a starting point for learning and understanding. And, ask the Lord Jesus to guide you in these scriptures into His truth and wisdom and knowledge -- so that you too can stand fast therefore in the liberty wherein is Christ. (Galatians 5:1)
1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.
When we read Romans 3 in its entirety, we begin to understand that the old covenant of law -- although admittedly, a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ -- could not redeem us, and that if righteousness could have come by the law then Christ died in vain. Herein, we also see Paul slanderously reported, and people attributing statements to Paul which he did not say, which brings about this dialogue.
"What advantage then hath the Jew? Or, what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true and every man a liar; as it is written, "That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou are judged.
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? [Paul here is speaking as a man] God forbid; for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not [rather] (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come?" -- whose damnation is just. What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin. As it is written, "There is none righteous; no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery in their ways: and the way of peace have they not know; there is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight:for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
BUT NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference -- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare at this time His righteousness, that He might be just , and the justifier of Him which believe in Jesus.
Wherefore, is boasting then? It is excluded.
By what law? Of works? Nay, but by the LAW OF FAITH.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, seeing one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3:1-31; Deuteronomy 4:5-8; Hebrews 4:2; II Timothy 2:13; John 3:33; Psalm 51:4; Psalm 62:9; Galatians 3:8, 15, 20-22; Romans 5:20; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7; Proverbs 1:16; Isaiah 59:7-8; Psalm 36:1; John 10:34; Job 5:16; Galatians 2:16; Acts 15:11; John 5:46; I Peter 1:10; Colossians 3:11; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 9:12-18; Leviticus 16:15; Colossians 1:20; Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30; I Corinthians 1:29)
And what is that law?
"For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye WERE the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you, being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness ..." (Romans 6:14-18; Galatians 5:18; I Corinthians 9:21; II Peter 2:19; John 8:32)
As Jesus so clearly stated to those Jews which believed on Him in the 8th chapter of John -- "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32; John 14:15-23; John 1:14-17; John 14:6; Romans 6:14-22)
2. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even as we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor for I through the law am dead to the law, THAT I MIGHT LIVE UNTO GOD.
I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me. [This explains why] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:16-21; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 1:17; Psalm 143:2; I John 3:8; Romans 8:2; Romans 6:2-14; Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 5:15; Isaiah 53:12; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 7:11)
Similar to apostle Paul's example above, there will be those who judge, accusing those who believe of their sins. Nevertheless, even though we do fail, and fall short of the glory of God, it should never serve as a reason to stop living unto Christ who loved us, and gave Himself -- shedding His precious blood on a cross -- for you and I. Many times, I have used the analogy of a young child learning to walk. Sometimes, hanging onto the couch takes a little longer but walking upright in Jesus (recognizing throughout that the works of the law could never justify or sanctify us) should be our life-long goal.
As in "wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ..." (Galatians 3:24-27) In other words, we are no longer under tutors and governors, or as children in bondage under the elements of the world, because "when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law -- to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons, and because you ARE sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:1-6) The Holy Ghost renewed, the Comforter who will lead and guide you into all truth. (Titus 3:4-7)
3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
" ... But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ..." (Galatians 3:24-27)
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-38; Acts 8:16, 35-38; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; Acts 22:16; Acts 16:31-33; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, but every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming .... else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (I Corinthians 15:21-29)
And the conclusion summarized?
"Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:1-4)
"Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Him from the dead, and you, being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgive you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way , nailing it to His cross ..." (Colossians 2:12-14)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, neither uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6:15)
And as a consequence of repenting and believing in Jesus, and being water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of our Lord Jesus [God manifest in the flesh -- I Timothy 3:16] within.
Just as Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God ... but he that does truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." (John 3:1-21)
This is the reason why -- as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and adhering to His Word, "our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
Stand in the offering plate.
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