Bible Study Snacks, Romans 3:21-31

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me again as we journey together through the Book of Romans. This time, we will be studying Chapter 3, verses 21-31. As always, it is my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening.

Before we move on with our study, we should briefly review the scripture that was covered during our last meeting together. I feel that reviewing what we previously learned helps to set the tone for our current study session.

This is what we learned:

As Paul continued to demonstrate the Jews' need of salvation, he proceeded to answer questions that he envisioned protesting Jews might ask. He explained the advantage of being a Jew, the faithfulness of God in spite of the Jews' unbelief, and the right of God to condemn the unrighteousness of man even though it magnified His Own righteousness (1-8).

Though the Jews had the advantage of possessing the oracles (the Holy Scriptures of God) Paul still concluded that the Jews as well as the Gentiles were in sin and proved his conclusion by listing a series of Old Testament scriptures that spoke to those under the Law (the Jews) as sinners (9-19). His conclusion: a law (like the Law of Moses) could not save, but only revealed the knowledge of sin.

As we take a look at this week's material you will learn:

-Paul now carefully begins to explain the "good news" of God's plan of salvation.
-to see the difference between a law of works and the law of faith.
-God's way of making man right through faith in Jesus Christ is now made clear, and made available to all who believe, whether Jew or Greek, for all have sinned.
-justification of man is explained in terms of redemption, made
possible through the blood of Christ, and offered to those who have faith in Christ.
-this "justification" is a gift of God's grace to those who have faith, which prevents anyone from boasting as though they, through the works of a law, deserved it.
-this does not void the need for law, but rather meets the requirement of law.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 3:21-31. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Since we aren’t justified in God’s sight by perfectly completing the law, how is it possible to attain the righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-22)?
2. How is this method different or similar to the way it is revealed in Romans 1:16-17?
3. For this method of being justified (declared to be righteous) to be effective, does it matter to which race or background you belong (Romans 3:22)?
4. Why is it that one’s background does not influence how one is saved (Romans 3:23)?
5. Explain what Romans 3:24 says about the way we are saved?
6. How did God display or present Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25a)?
7. Why is it that even though the blood and sacrifice of animals could never forgive anyone, that God didn’t judge everyone right on the spot before the time of Jesus (Romans 3:25b-26)?
8. What cripples a man’s attempt to boast before God about his righteous works (Romans 3:27-28)?
9. Is the Jew (circumcised) and the Gentile (not circumcised) justified and saved in the same way or in different ways (Romans 3:29- 30)?
10. All the laws in the Old Testament can’t save us. Should we then despise the law (Romans 3:31)? Why or why not?

Finally, after answering the study questions, read Romans 3:21-31 again. Pause and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around. As we go along in our studies together, I will pray that God’s message will continue to come through loud and crystal clear to you! Until next time...

God bless you!

Sheri