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AUGUST 1

3:2 oracles. This Greek word is logoin, a 3:11 none…understands. Man is unable to
diminutive form of the common New comprehend the truth of God or grasp His
Testament word logos, which is normally trans- standard of righteousness (Pss. 14:2; 53:3; 1
lated “word.” These are important sayings or Cor. 2:14). Sadly, his spiritual ignorance does
messages, especially supernatural ones. Here not result from a lack of opportunity, but is an
Paul uses the word to encompass the entire expression of his depravity and rebellion (Eph.
Old Testament—the Jews received the very 4:18). none…seeks. This verse clearly implies
words of the true God (Deut. 4:1,2; 6:1,2; Mark that the world’s false religions are fallen man’s
12:24; Luke 16:29; John 5:39). The Jews had a attempts to escape the true God—not to seek
great advantage in having the Old Testament, Him.Man’s natural tendency is to seek his own
because it contained the truth about salvation interests (Phil. 2:21), but his only hope is for
(2 Tim. 3:15) and about the gospel in its basic God to seek him (John 6:37,44). It is only as a
form (Gal. 3:8). When Paul said “preach the result of God’s work in the heart that anyone
Word” (2 Tim. 4:2), he meant the “oracles of seeks Him (Ps. 16:8; Matt. 6:33).
God”(1 Pet.4:11) recorded in Scripture.
mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
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9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at become guilty before God. Therefore by the
all. For we have previously charged both Jews deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His
and Greeks that they are all under sin. sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
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10 As it is written: But now the righteousness of God apart
from the law is revealed, being witnessed by
“There is none righteous, no, not one; the Law and the Prophets, even the righ-
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There is none who understands; teousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
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There is none who seeks after God. to all and on all who believe. For there is no dif-
They have all turned aside; ference; for all have sinned and fall short of
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They have together become the glory of God, being justified freely by His
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unprofitable; grace through the redemption that is in Christ
There is none who does good, no, Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by
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not one.” His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His
“Their throat is an open tomb; righteousness, because in His forbearance God
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With their tongues they have practiced had passed over the sins that were previously
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deceit”; committed, to demonstrate at the present time
“The poison of asps is under their lips”; His righteousness, that He might be just and
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and
14 the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
bitterness.” 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
15 what law? Of works? No, but by the law of
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Destruction and misery are in
16 faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is
their ways; justified by faith apart from the deeds of the
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And the way of peace they have
17 law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He
not known.” not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the
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“There is no fear of God before
18 Gentiles also, since there is one God who will
their eyes.” justify the circumcised by faith and the uncir-
cumcised through faith. Do we then make
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19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it void the law through faith? Certainly not! On
says to those who are under the law, that every the contrary, we establish the law.
DAY 1: As sinners, how are we justified before God?
In Romans 3:24, the verb “justified”is a legal or forensic term that comes from the Greek word
for “righteous” and means “to declare righteous.” This verdict includes pardon from the guilt and
penalty of sin and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to the believer’s account, which pro-
vides for the positive righteousness man needs to be accepted by God. God declares a sinner righ-
teous solely on the basis of the merits of Christ’s righteousness. God imputed a believer’s sin to
Christ’s account in His sacrificial death (Is.53:4,5; 1 Pet.2:24),and He imputes Christ’s perfect obedi-
ence to God’s law to Christians (5:19; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).The sinner receives this gift of
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