Family Study Guide for Romans 3

September 15 – September 21, 2005
(Read Romans 3 Online)
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Reflections on Romans 3 by Mark Chesner, Coach

Super-hero movies are all the rage these days with heroes such as Spider-Man, Batman, the X-Men, and others receiving the big-screen treatment that only ancient mythical heroes received previously. There are a few rules to a successful super-hero movie. First, the hero - of course - has to be larger than life. Second, he has to be someone we can relate to. And finally - and most importantly - he has to face his polar opposite in the main bad guy of the movie. For Superman, it is Lex Luthor - a man lacking all of the heroes power but more than making up for it in his ambition for personal gain. For Spider-Man, it is the Green Goblin - who is as insane and lacking of a grip on reality as Peter Parker is rooted in everyday concerns.

In scripture, we usually think of the good guy/bad guy battle as God vs. the Devil. But in Romans 3, Paul draws a very different parallel of the usual super-hero dual. He says it is God on the one side, and humanity on the other! Consider the following, in light of the good, righteous, and true God spoken of in Romans: “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." (Romans 3:12-17) Talk about villains! And it is easy to forget that every one of us is included in that group: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10) We are the bad guys in this story, and we all know the natural end of every good comic book movie - the villain is defeated in spectacular fashion.

But God does not allow Himself to be constrained by a human plot line. He has instead decided to offer the bad guys a shot to join the winning side! “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24) Through Jesus Christ, we have a doorway to the good side, a way to redemption, and the deal is not just for a special few, but is for everyone. The most horrible person on the planet can turn and change sides, by simply turning themselves over to Jesus, where they can be transformed into something completely new.

Questions to Consider from Romans 3:

• When have you been the “bad guy” in the story of your life?
• When has “the poison of vipers” been on your lips?
• Why would God decide to take in people like us, who have been villains like this?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

• Condemnation against unfaithful Jews (2:1-3:8)
• Condemnation against all humanity (3:8-20)
• God’s Righteousness Revealed in Justification (3:21-5:21)
• Righteousness explained (3:21-31)

Finish the Verses for Romans 3:

As it is written: "There is no one righteous,// not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12

Therefore no one will be declared righteous// in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20

This righteousness from God comes through faith// in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. 2 Part : There is only one God, who will JUSTIFY whom?
2. Much in every way why?
3. God PRESENTED him as what?
4. Reference : According to Romans 3:19, we know that what?
5. Some CLAIM that we say what?
6. 3 Part : (All) are justified how?
7. He did what to demonstrate his justice?
8. Their THROATS are what?
9. Who UNDERSTANDS?
10. God PRESENTED him as a SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT how?
11. What is DESERVED?
12. Their TONGUES what?
13. Reference : According to Romans 3:9, not at all what?
14. Reference : According to Romans 3:12, not even one what?
15. Let God what?
16. Who have sinned?
17. 2 Part : What MARK their ways?
18. 2 Part : (Boasting is EXCLUDED) on what PRINCIPLE?
19. We UPHOLD the law how?
20. A man is justified by faith apart from what?

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