Romans 3

No One Is Righteous

1 So, what is the point of being a Jew, What is the point of circumcision,

2 Listen, it is a big deal! Jews were trusted with the very words of God.

3 But hold up, just because some did not believe, you think that is going to cancel out God’s faithfulness,

4 Nah, no way! God stays true, even if every human’s a liar. Like the Scripture says, “You are right when you speak, and You are just when You judge.”

5 But if our mess-ups make God’s righteousness look better, does that mean God’s wrong for getting’ angry, (I am talking from a human perspective.)

6 Of course not! If that were the case, how could God judge the world,

7 And if my lie somehow shows God’s truth even more, why am I still judged like a sinner,

8 Some people are saying we preach, “Do bad so good will come out of it.” That is a straight-up lie. Those people deserve their judgment.

9 So what is the deal, Are we better than others, Nah, not at all. We already said, Jews and everyone else, we are all caught up in sin.

10 Like the Scriptures say, “Nobody is righteous, not even one.”

11 “Nobody understands; nobody is really chasing after God.”

12 “Everybody is turned away, they all messed up; nobody does good, not even one.”

13 “Their throats are open graves; they tongues spit lies. Their lips are venomous, like snakebites.”

14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and hate.”

15 “They quick to pull up and shed blood.”

16 “Destruction and misery is in their path.”

17 “They do not know the way of peace.”

18 “And they do not have any respect or fear for God.”

19 Now, we know the law says all this to shut up anyone who thinks they can argue. The whole world’s guilty before God.

20 So do not think you can get right with God just by following rules. The law just shows you how messed up you are.

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now God’s righteousness is shown, and it is not about the law, though the law and prophets spoke on it.

22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for everyone who believes, no matter who you are.

23 Because everybody messed up and falls short of God’s glory.

24 But we all get made right freely by God’s grace through Jesus Christ, who bought us back.

25 God put Jesus out there as a sacrifice, through His blood, and we access that by faith. This shows God’s righteousness, because He let people’s sins slide in the past.

26 Now, in the present, He shows His righteousness, so He is both just and the one who makes people right when they believe in Jesus.

27 So where is the bragging, Is not none. What kind of rule shuts it down, Not the rule of works, but the rule of faith.

28 We are convinced that people get right with God by faith, not by doing stuff the law requires.

29 Is God just for the Jews, Nah, He is the God of everybody, even the Gentiles.

30 There is one God who makes both Jews and non-Jews right with Him, all through faith.

31 So, does faith cancel the law, Nah, it actually sets it up right.