January 30 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 3:19-21 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;

In the previous passage Paul discussed the incredible sinfulness of mankind. He used several Old Testament passages to prove his argument. Now he points out to the Jews, who considered themselves to be "under the law", that the Law, which they were resting in for salvation, actually condemned them. The purpose of the Law was not to provide salvation, but rather it was to prove that the Jews needed a Savior. Gentiles are included in this predicament as well, for he states in verse 19 that all the world is guilty. As mentioned previously, Gentiles may not have had the Mosaic law, but they certainly violated the law written in their hearts. To be "guilty" means to be "under sentence". In other words, the law doesn't save you, it sentences you.

Two other passages can help us understand the purpose of the law. James 1:23-25 teaches that the law is a mirror. When we look into it, we see ourselves for what we really are. It has been said that "the mirror doesn't lie", and that is true of the mirror of the law. When someone reads the commands of Scripture that deal not only with actions, but also with attitudes and emotions and affections, one can not help but see himself as the sinner that he is. Galatians 3:24 states,

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

Since the law only finds men guilty, then trying to keep the law can not possibly bring justification. To be "justified" is to be declared "Not Guilty", yet all the law can say is "Guilty". This is why it is so foolish for people to think that they are going to Heaven because they "keep the Ten Commandments", or "never went to jail", or "keep the Golden Rule". No man was ever declared Not Guilty because of the good things that he did. He can only be declared Not Guilty if he has never done anything wrong. For example, if a man is accused of robbing a bank, the fact that he has never murdered anyone or committed adultery or sold drugs, doesn't matter. The laws that the man kept do not override the laws that he broke. The law of God must be kept completely from the moment of conception to the moment of death or else that law has been broken and therefore can not provide justification. All it does is show men how truly sinful they are.

So what hope does mankind have? According to verse 21 there is a righteousness that can be achieved apart from the law. Tomorrow we will look at Paul's explanation of that.