Righteous in WHO HE IS Righteous in WHAT HE DOES Psalm 11:7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.

Righteous in WHO HE IS Righteous in WHAT HE DOES Psalm 11:7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.

The gospel reveals the righteousness of God by saving all who believe. Big Idea: God is proven right by making all things right through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

- RIGHTEOUSNESS INTRO (1:1-17) - RIGHTEOUS in judgment (1:18-3:20) - RIGHTEOUS in justification (3:21-5:21) - RIGHTEOUS in sanctification (6-8) - RIGHTEOUS in history (9-11) - RIGHTEOUS through our lives (12-16)

RIGHTEOUS in judgment (1:18-3:20) - Gentiles’ Need for Righteousness (1:19-2:16)  Jews’ Need for God’s Righteousness (2:17-3:8)  ALL Need God’s Righteousness (3:9-20)

Jews’ Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8)

Jews’ Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) - Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) - But Guilty of Not Obeying the Law (2:21-24) - Circumcision (2:25-29)

Jews’ Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) - Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teache r of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth…

Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) - Access to God’s Law - Know His Will - Discernment from God Available - Instructed by God - Guides to the Blind - Correctors of the Foolish - Teachers of the Immature

Jews’ Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) - Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) - But Guilty of Not Obeying the Law (2:21-24) you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

Jews’ Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) - Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) - But Guilty of Not Obeying the Law (2:21-24) For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

But Guilty of Not Obeying the Law (2:21-24) 5 Condemning Couplets... - Teach others, but not yourselves - Tell others not to steal, but you steal - Condemn adultery, but commit adultery - Condemn idolatry, but practice idolatry - Boast in the Law, but dishonor God Result: God’s name is blasphemed!

Jews’Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) - Teachers of the Law of God (2:17-20) - But Guilty of Not Obeying the Law (2:21-24) - Circumcision (2:25-29) For indeed circumcision is of value, if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circum- cision has become uncircumcision. (2:25)

Circumcision (2:25-29) - Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 17) - Key distinction of the Jews - “Cutting away” imagery - But...

Circumcision (2:25-29) But… THE RITE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE IS UNRIGHTEOUS And… OBEDIENCE WITHOUT THE RITE IS RIGHTEOUS

Circumcision (2:25-29) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (2:29)

Jews’Great Privilege Not Enough (2:17-29) God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8) In 3:1-8 Paul makes the case that, despite Israel’s failure of unfaithful- ness, God’s covenant program and His inclusion of the Jews was NOT a mistake.

God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be!

God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8) Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”

God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8) - Israel entrusted to represent God - But Israel: unfaithful & disobeyed - But Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises.

Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises. Here is answered a basic error of many modern theologians—disobedience does not cancel the promises, it postpones them. To put it another way, God’s covenant promises are sure, but individual participation in them depends on faith and obedience.

Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises. Paul is saying, “Their unbelief shall not void the faithfulness of God, shall it?” No, disobedience cannot do that. The promises rest on the divine character of God. Their disobedience only seems to affect when and how the promises are fulfilled, or who has a share in them—but not if they will be fulfilled.

Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises. God has sworn to it and will not repent— the gifts and callings of God cannot be repented of. If we cannot believe that the promise to Abraham rests on God’s faithfulness and not on collective obedience of the nation, then how can we believe the promise of John 3:16?

Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises. The people of the New Covenant have been anything but faithful. No, God is faithful to keep His promises, even if we are unfaithful, for He cannot deny himself. Allen Ross

God Remains Faithful & Righteous (3:1-8) - Israel entrusted to represent God - But they were unfaithful & disobeyed - But Israel’s disobedience does not cancel God’s promises. - So, let God be true & every man a liar!

RIGHTEOUS in judgment (1:18-3:20) - Gentiles’ Need for Righteousness (1:19-2:16)  Jews’ Need for God’s Righteousness (2:17-3:8)  ALL Need God’s Righteousness (3:9-20)

Human Depravity Touches Every Aspect of Human Life (3:9-20) - The Charge (3:9) - The Proof (3:10-18) - The Verdict (3:19-20)

The Charge (3:9) What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,

The Proof (3:10-18) as it is written, - THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; - THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, - THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; - ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; - THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, - THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

The Proof (3:10-18) - THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, - WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING; THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS;

The Proof (3:10-18) - THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

The Proof (3:10-18) - Proof comes from God’s Word - Why? Because God’s Word is the standard for “right” living - Like a lawyer citing relevant cases, Paul cites 7 distinct sections from Psalms & Isaiah to make his point.

The Proof (3:10-18) Every aspect of humanity is proven to be unrighteous: - Moral: none righteous, not one - Intellect: none understand - Will: none seek for God - Actions: none do good

The Proof (3:10-18) All actions of humanity are proven to be unrighteous: - Hands: do no good - Mouth: lies - Feet: seek harm & not peace

The Verdict (3:19-20) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

The Verdict (3:19-20) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

The Verdict (3:19-20) No one can fully keep any Law code. The human race is guilty before God. The Law shows our sin. The Law shows need for righteousness. What is to become of us?

- God does not avoid unpleasant news; He tells us the truth. - If there is no awareness of sin, then no need for a remedy. - Privilege can have its pitfalls. - Only God can fix this mess.

My hope built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.