Bible Study Series - The 1st General Epistle of John Chapter 2

 

1 John 2 Authorized (King James) Version

 
Diving in chapter 2, we notice John starts out by addressing his audience here, he says "My little Children" this is Johns affectionate phrase to the brethren, to all believers in Christ; so when he says this, he is talking to the justified in Christ.

 

1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ² and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

 
John says, my little children, I write to you that you sin not. What does that mean?
The bible teaches us that, even though we are born again, that moment, that instance, that one point in time that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, in a twinkling of an eye we get saved; but did our body change at that moment, did anything change about our physical selves?
Paul writes to the Galatians in Chapter 5 the following:

 

Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

 
The flesh is at war with the spirit, at the moment of Salvation the spirit is quickened, made alive and now wars against the flesh. What your flesh would do your spirit would not do, even though we have been saved, we will still sin, and if we do sin, John says we have an advocate (supporter) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: he is the propitiation of our sins, the word propitiation means to soothe, pacify, to appease, and not just for us only, but for the world also.

That does not mean everyone in the world is forgiven, you have to have the Son, if you don't have the Son, you don't have forgiveness of sins and ultimately; you don't have the Father.

This is a generic term, referring not to every single individual, but to mankind in general. The pardon for sin is offered to the whole world, but received only by those who believe. There is no other way to be reconciled to God.

John reminds us, for that reason we can go on trusting God and not ourselves and not therefore fall into sin.


 

1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

 
Ok, I'm going to stop here to take a moment to explain something, many people will read verse 3 and say, see, we have to KEEP his commandments, and they'll use it to say you have to DO his commandments to promote a works based religion.

My dear friends, Satan has gripped the world in a counterfeit religion, his devices are subtle and if you're not in the inspired Words of God through the KJV bible you will be deceived by the wolves out there. (Don't start me on the modern perversion bibles!)

The common theme we see in all religions besides true biblical Christianity is a network of systems based on works and self or personal effort. This can be seen through their ideas about God or many gods, the afterlife, reincarnation, and exaltation to becoming a god themselves; these diverse religions will always contain (albeit differing in ways) steps you must take "to progress" or "to make it" upon personal effort.

Remember that the diverse religious scene spawned from the tower of Babel (Genesis Chapter 11), where God went down to disperse and confound (confuse) the people because of their ambition to exalt themselves.

Satan loves to sow confusion and contradiction, his subtle attacks on the Word of God can be really hard to detect to the unsuspecting person, but if we KEEP and HOLD dearly to the Words of the Lord we will not be easily deceived. Satan's false belief systems all contain these common elements of personal effort and works.

Unfortunately, we find many self-professing Christians in the same boat, deceived and in ignorance because they are not continually in the Word. Many of these Christians find themselves unable to enter into spiritual rest by the grace of God and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our saviour and redeemer.

Christians are unable to rest spiritually due to the legalistic prophesying or preaching by these false teachers and is further instigated by the massive influx of modern bibles in which the way they are translated.

Now before I turn this piece into another article of its own, I want to explain what it means to KEEP vs OBEY.

So the KJV Bible renders the reading:

 

1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we KEEP his commandments. ⁴ He that saith, I know him, and KEEPETH NOT his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoso KEEPETH his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

 
The 1984 NIV renders the verse like this:

 

1 John 2:3-5 "We know that we have come to know him if we OBEY his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does NOT DO what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone OBEYS his word, God's love is truly made complete in him."

 
And here is the 2011 NIV, notice the subtle changes they made in this edition compared to the 1984 version:

 

1 John 2:3-5 "We know that we have come to know him if we KEEP his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, "I know him, "but does NOT DO what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone OBEYS his word, love for God
is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:

 
OK so what's the difference between KEEP and OBEY? For starters it's a BIG Difference. 

Every well trained bible student will use the bible itself to act as its own dictionary, an online concordance can help and also referrals to the underlying Hebrew or Greek text in the KJV's case we can look at the Textus Receptus online.

 
Now listen, the word translated "TO KEEP" in both Hebrew and Greek does not mean "to obey" or "to do".

The Hebrew word "Shamar" (Strong's #8104) is translated as to keep, to observe, to take heed to, to preserve, to regard, or to be a watchman.

The Greek word "Teereo" (Strong's #5083) is translated to keep, to guard, to watch, to reserve, to hold fast or to preserve.

An example would be this, if I wanted to go swimming, I would take out my wallet, my car keys and ask one someone to keep them for me; in other words I want that person to hang on to them and not lose them!

 
Take heed, Satan has his hands in the modern bible versions, think about this; we've had if not, the best and inspired version of the bible given to us in the English language in the form of the KJV bible for around 400 years (where millions of saints lost their lives for) and suddenly the Word of God is being attacked by these counterfeits?

This fact alone proves that the KJV is the inspired Word of God in English, otherwise if it were NOT inspired, there would be no reason to bring out other versions would there?

You say money? 

Who is the God of THIS world?

 
Honestly, if your bible version is truly the inspired Word of God, why isn't it being attacked? Why aren't other versions attacking your so-called inspired version? Why are they all attacking the KJV bible?

You might say this is an extreme view but, why don't you do a study for yourself, these changes aren't in your face, that would be stupid of them, these changes are subtle and in very strategic places. Think about it, if Satan were to completely reveal himself and his true motives, would you not run in the other direction immediately?

 
The NIV translates the Old Testament word "Shamar" as "to obey" 29 times and as "to do" 5 times. It also translates the New Testament word "Tereeo" as "to obey" 21 times and "to do" 3 times.

Satan's hand is at work here to promote a works oriented religion, throw in some careless preaching, and hey! All these people end up in hell…

There is too much at stake to let yourself be deceived, please be vigilant!

 
To bring this message home, I will give some examples in the Old Testament of where the word "Shamar" is used and see if you can fit "Obey" or "to do" in the statement in place of the English word "KEEP".

 
Genesis 2:15 "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to KEEP it."
Genesis 4:9 "And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's KEEPER?"
Isaiah 62:6 "I have set WATCHMEN upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,"

 
And some New Testament examples of the word "Teereo" is used, see if you can do the same as before.

 
John 2:10 "and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast KEPT the good wine until now."
Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was KEPT in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

 
The bible also makes a distinction between the words "to keep" and "to do", we find an example in Deuteronomy:

 

Deuteronomy 5:1 "And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them."

 
To KEEP and to OBEY are two very different concepts, when the bible tells us to KEEP the commandments of the Word of the Lord, God is telling us NOT to forsake, let go of, forget, or turn away from, God is telling us rather to guard, preserve, hold on to and cling to them.

 

1 John 2:6 "He that saith he abide in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

 
Verse 6, what does this mean? If you remember from verse 5, it said whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

In light of other scriptures, this is telling me that if we say that we abide in him and by God's grace we hopefully will not only keep them but also should do and obey them.

I don't want to go into this in more detail, as this would be an entire 5000+ word article in itself, but I reckon I've put a handle on this subject so we can continue with the rest of the intended bible study.
BTW, John is talking to fellow believers here, moving forward!

 

1 John 2:7-11 "Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ⁸ Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹ He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."

 
John is talking to all believers, the word brethren is synonymous with the word believers, which is an archaic term for brother. John says he writes no new commandment, but an old one which ye had from the beginning, and what is this commandment?

 

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

 
So the commandment to love one another, this is not referring to the Laws of Moses or the 10 Commandments; but to love one another is the fulfilment of the Law.

1 John 2:8 "Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."

Verse 8 says near the end of the verse it says the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. What does it mean darkness is past?

The Law made us aware of our sins, it showed us that we are living in darkness, dead in sins, the law was there to make us realise that we needed a saviour, and now that saviour has come, the Light, the Life, Jesus Christ.

At the moment of salvation, our sins are forgiven, not just past sins, but ALL sin you will ever commit will be remembered no more, you are no longer in darkness you now have the light, the true light that shines, the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

1 John 2:9 "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."

 
Those who profess that they are in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. This is just saying, those who hate others are not walking in the Light. The perfect Light provided for believers leads us into His perfect love. It does not allow hate of any kind. Hate is of the devil and is surrounded by darkness.

 

1 John 2:10 "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

 
Loving your brother causes you to have no desire to do him harm in any way. The lust of the flesh causes sin. The Light of God helps us see things more clearly, and causes us not to lust.

In God all things are clear, so true intimate fellowship is possible in Him and with Him when we are in the light. But we can also have intimate fellowship with one another when we are in the light.
In fact, John indicates that fellowship is only possible in the light. When there is deceit, true fellowship cannot occur.

A friendship can only go as far as there is trust and trust must be based on the truth.

It is impossible to trust when there is deceit, if trust grows in a relationship that has had some deception in it, it is certainly not on the basis of that deception, but on the basis of assurance that the deception has now ended.

 

1 John 2:11 "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."

The person who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, we cannot see that person clearly. When we hate even ourselves we cannot see clearly.

And when we proceed to relate to another then out of hate, we proceed blindly. Here is a wonderful reason to turn our troubled relationships over to God.

We cannot possibly move forward when we are looking at a distorted picture of reality.

Hate is a product of the devil. 

The devil is in darkness.

This is what Jesus said in John 12,

 

John 12:35 "Then Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."

 
In the darkness, we cannot see clearly and do not see things that cause us to stumble.

 
In the following next verses (12-14) we read the reason why he is writing this letter…

 

1 John 2:12 "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."

 
This is John stating his reason for writing the letter to them. Their sins are forgiven, so they are Christians. They are sons of God. They are not full grown, because he calls them little children. God forgave us our sins, because Jesus paid our debt.

What is interesting about this section is that John says he is writing because of things that are already true about each of these groups. He does not say here that he is writing in order to get them to do something new of change the direction of their lives.

It seems to me that he writes to remind them of what is already true about them because of what is true about who Jesus is and what He has done.

John wants to remind them again of this truth, this reality because, I would think, in the midst of their present circumstances they are being tempted to forget.

And remember the little rant I was on about "to keep" and "to obey", and that we established that to keep is to not forsake, let go of, forget, or turn away from, God is telling us rather to guard, preserve, hold on to and cling on to them.

 

1 John 2:13 "I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father."

 
When we look at the three groups this is spoken to, it is the progression of spiritual growth in our belief. We come to Christ as little children.

We grow to young men as we learn more about God, and are better equipped to resist the devil and overcome him. Then lastly, we rest as old men in the knowledge of God.

 

1 John 2:14 "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

 
The difference in this verse is being that the little children are omitted. Those remaining have learned to overcome the devil. They have matured by the study of the Word of God.

They are not overcome of the devil, because they are grounded in the Word of God. Again, speaking of fathers is just a further knowing of God.

Think about it, most of us were taught or heard about God and Jesus, among other things as we were young, I was exposed to God and Jesus at a young age, the seed was sown, but it was delivered by evil trees, those false prophets, I didn't even get become like a little child until 8 months ago (considering I'm in my 30's), you could say I'm a young man now in terms of spiritual growth, the group that has overcome (overcome by the way is synonymous with salvation, getting saved) working our way to become fathers, who are spiritually mature, and as I stated above, the way we achieve this is by constantly reading and studying the Word of God.

 

Love not the World

 

1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

 
One of my favourite verses in the bible, I always use this on people who start to talk about their worldly possessions and the babble on about how when we do good works that God will bless us with material things, God knows what we need, and he will provide them for us.

There is, of course, one sense in which Christians should love the world, since God Himself did and does. - John 3:16

But what it is that is being talked about here is for us to not devote ourselves to the things of this world and forsake the Father, we are to love God first and not put anything before or above him.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5 "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"

 
Christians are in the world, but not of the world. Our home is in heaven. We need to keep our thoughts and desires set on things above. Jesus said the following in Matthew chapter 6:

 

Matthew 6:19-23 " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ²² The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

 
Loving the world, in this sense, would be trying to please the desires of our flesh. To love the world, would make us a carnal man. Christians should be spirit men. The world and the things of the world are carnal.

This does not mean that we cannot enjoy the families God has given us, or the blessings we have received from Him. It does mean that we should not be caught up in worldly living. God must be first in our lives. We should not be hanging on to the world, but should eagerly await our home in heaven with Him.

No middle ground between these two alternatives exists for someone claiming to be born again. The false teachers had no such singular love, but were devoted to the world's philosophy and wisdom, thereby revealing their love for the world and their unsaved state.

 

1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

 
Pretty self-explanatory really, while the world's philosophies and ideas and much that it offers may appear attractive and appealing; that is deception.

Its true and pervasive nature is evil, harmful, ruinous, and satanic. Its deadly theories are raised up against the knowledge of God and hold the souls of men captive. 

 

2 Corinthians 2:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

 
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are what got Eve in trouble in the garden. She looked, desired, and wanted to be as God. Lust of all kinds fall into the category of flesh and worldliness.

 

1 John 2:17 "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

 
This physical world will pass away, and the lust thereof, meaning all sin: but he that does the will of God will abide for ever, God's will is permanent and unchangeable. Those who follow God's will abide as His people forever. While God offers eternal life to His children, the present age is doomed.

 

Denying the Son

 
In the next handful of verses we are going to read about the warnings of us denying the Son.

 

1 John 2:18"
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."

 
John tells us it is the last time, why does he say that?

He said we have heard that antichrist shall come, singular, the Antichrist, this person that is coming is going to be the ultimate opponent of God, God's plans and God's people. - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and Mark 13:14


John then goes onto say that there are many antichrists, those false teachers that are seeking to pervert the Gospel of Christ.

That is how we know that it is the last time, meaning we are living in the last time.

 

1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

 
This is giving us characteristics of those false prophets, they went out from us, meaning they were among the faithful, amongst the church, but they were not of us; they arose from within the church and departed from true fellowship and lead people out with them.

Many times these false teachers and prophets, who are really opposed to Christ, pretend to be Christians. Can you imagine how much worse for you it would be if you end up in a church full of antichrists?

What about ending up in a church that doesn't believe in the Jesus or God of the bible?

Make up their own views of God according to their own lusts of the flesh?

What about a church that tells you too can become as a god, isn't that what Satan told Eve in the beginning?

What about one that says there certain things you must do behind closed doors, and certain handshakes and passwords that you cannot disclose to the public?

Has God hidden the essential message of salvation in the bible?

Ask yourselves these questions, if you're in anyone of these churches that teach this stuff you should get out of that place very quickly.

 

1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."

 
The word "unction" means anointing, this would mean an anointing from the Holy Spirit of God; the Oil of Gladness. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide.

 

1 John 2:21 "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth."

 
John is writing to the church, and not to the world. Notice the word "know" which is so apparent in John's writings, he reminds them that no compromise of the truth will do, this verse says what it says!

 

1 John 2:22 "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

 
Another characteristic of antichrists, whosoever denies that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ is a liar! These people are antichrists, they who deny the Father and the Son.

Their blatant rejection of Him as the Messiah is also a rejection of His incarnate deity.
This includes any perverted unbiblical view of whom the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

1 John 2:23 "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."

 
John goes onto expound on verse 22 that whosoever denies the Son, does not have the Father: but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father as well. You can't have one without the other!

And that just totally kills the Oneness Pentecostals and the Jesus only movement, they say it only Jesus, there is no trinity, there is no 3 in 1 God and stuff like that, but if you don't have the Son, you don't have the Father; a very clear distinction indeed.

 

1 John 2:24 "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."

 
The pure gospel message that had been brought to them was to be kept at all cost. Let this gospel message live continually in you.

This is simply saying for us to reject the false message of the antichrist.

To hang on to the teachings of Christ, and bring the Father and the Son into your life.

 

1 John 2:25 "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

 
We see from this that eternal life is in Jesus. To have Him is to possess eternal life, which is the promise. You can read more about the promise in my article called "Eternal Security" here.

 

1 John 2:26 "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you."

 
John makes it clear that much of his discourse has been called forth by opponents of conventional teaching. This is identifying another characteristic of false prophets and teachers.

"Them that seduce you" is speaking of those who are opposed to Christ who with flattering words is trying to draw you away from the Truth.  John is writing to us to be aware of these false teachers.

 

1 John 2:27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

 
The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, this is the Holy Spirit, he stays with us, he dwells within us to teach us all things, John says the Spirit will teach us, and that we do not need any man to teach us the things of God.

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things that are true, there is no lies being taught by the Spirit.

 

1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

 
For when this day comes, when the Lord appears in the clouds! It shall be a glorious day when the Lord returns!!!

 

1 John 2:29 "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him."

 
If ye know that he is righteous, who? The Lord Jesus Christ, we can know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him…such a wonderful truth!

This concludes Chapter 2.

Go to 1 John Chapter 1 2 3 4 5

Bible Study Series – Romans Chapter 3

Continuing on from chapter 2, in chapter 3 Paul begins with asking a series of questions.

 

Romans 3:1 "What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?"

Now we know that being born a Jew doesn't make you one of God's people in light of Romans Chapter 2:28-29. And we also know that circumcision profits nobody, and being so does not make you part of God's people either according to Romans 2:28-29 as well.

So what advantages does being a Jew have, Paul gives the answers in the following verse.

Romans 3:2 "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."

Paul here is saying that the Jews had a greater exposure of God's word, it was delivered to them via the prophets through visions and revelations, and they really experienced what God said he would do in his prophecies!

Romans 3:3-4 "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? ⁴ God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

Paul asks a series of questions here about what if some of them did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? The fact that some reject the Truth does not make it any less the Truth. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

God will fulfil all the promises He made to the nation of Israel, even if individual Jews are not able to receive them because of their unbelief.

If some did not believe, it doesn't nullify God's faithfulness, it doesn't impact the faith of God at all, Paul answers his questions by saying absolutely not, he says let God be true, but every man a liar.

 
As it is written:

           Psalm 116:11 "I said in my haste, all men are liars."

Psalm 51:4 "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."

We see above that men are liars, but it is impossible for God to lie, since He is the Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Every man and woman shall stand before this absolute Truth and be judged. We will be justified by Jesus Christ when we Christians stand before Him.

Those who rejected Jesus as their personal Saviour will be without excuse!

 

Romans 3:5-8 "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) ⁶ God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? ⁷ For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? ⁸ And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just."

What we're reading here in verse 5-8 is that Paul is anticipating and then answers the objection that his teaching actually impeached the very holiness and purity of God's character.
Verse 5 says we have no righteousness except that what was purchased for us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we are unrighteous, do we presume to judge God for taking vengeance on our unrighteousness?

Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour will not take on His righteousness; and they are they, whom are without excuse and deserve God's vengeance.


Verse 6 says for then how shall God judge the world? Well, if God condoned sin, He would have no justifiable, righteous basis for judgement would He?

Verse 7, for if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 

We might try to justify our sin before God, telling God that our lie makes His truth even greater, but He will not go for that poor, weak excuse.

Verse 8, Paul is saying that some liars are going around saying that He says to do evil so that God's good will be greater. Paul just simply says they are lying, they not only lie, but their condemnation is just.

Heartbreakingly, the apostle's gospel message of salvation by grace through faith alone had been perverted by his opponents who argued it provided not only a license to sin, but outright encouragement to do so. 

In no way does the true gospel encourage us to do sin, and that is what you will hear from the opponents who reject the simplicity of the gospel.

 

No One is Righteous

Romans 3:9 "What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;"

The "We" Paul is referring to would be fellow Christians in Rome; Christians do not have an inherently superior nature to all the unsaved people which Paul has shown to be standing under God's condemnation. 

Both Jew and Gentile are ALL under sin, meaning completely enslaved and ruled over by sin, ALL unbelievers are appointed to Wrath.

 

Romans 3:10 "as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

 
The verse should always be part of a soul winners arsenal, short quick and cuts deep, it says what is says, there is none righteous, no, not one!

The Jews could not and did not keep the law and the heathen did not even have a law to keep. All have sinned, but praise and all glory be to the almighty living God, He provided us a Saviour named Jesus. His righteousness is what we must have. 

Our righteousnesses is but filthy rags.

 

Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Continuing on…

 

Romans 3:11 "there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

 
This verse clearly implies that the world's false religious systems are clearly a result of fallen man's attempts to escape the true God, not to seek Him.

Man's natural tendency is to seek his own interest, to appease his own pride and self-worth, but his only hope is for God to seek him. It is only as a result of God's work in the heart that anyone seeks Him.

This describes our generation perfectly. It seems there is no one seeking after God; or at least very few. If we seek God we will find Him.

 

Romans 3:12 "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

 
Another self-explanatory verse, we have all gone out the way and certainly we have all at one point in our lives that we have been unprofitable, not one of us does good, no not one!

 

Romans 3:13 "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:"

 
Their throat is an open sepulchre, a sepulchre is a tomb or cave where a body is placed inside for the body to decay, and it is usually sealed at the entrance. 

Now this analogy is talking about a sepulchre that is open, and you can imagine the stench of the decaying body coming out of that tomb; absolutely putrid, he likens the open sepulchre to the vile putrid things that come out of their mouths.

"With their tongues", we read about our tongues being a little member of our body but can be used as an instrument of evil especially when it comes from someone with an evil heart. James explains this really well, let's take a look:

 

James 3:6-8 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 
In verse 8 we read a profound statement that no man can tame the tongue; when we receive Jesus as our Saviour, the very first member of our body that we should turn over to Jesus is our tongue. 

The natural tongue is very evil, if not controlled by the Spirit.

 

Romans 3:14 "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:"

 
Let me ask you something, which generation do you think from all human history would probably be guiltier in cursing and bitterness than any other generation in all the worlds' history?

I would tell you it is this generation we are living in now, this current period, when I grew up it was so bad, but now my heart sorrows for this generation we are living in now.

Every movie, every song, every idiot box we see it, cursing and bitterness are on every hand. Cursing and bitterness against parents is perhaps #1 on the list.

 

Psalm 10:7 "His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity."

 
The Psalmist is referring to wanting the worst for someone and publicly expressing that desire in scathing, scornful language.

 

Romans 3:15 "their feet are swift to shed blood:"

 
The wicked are swift on their feet to shed blood, some of the Jewish leaders wanted all followers of Jesus killed; they even thought they were doing God a favour.

 

Romans 3:16 "destruction and misery are in their ways:"

 
Man damages and destroys everything he touches, leaving a trail of pain and suffering in his wake. In fact, if we did things that were for the good of each other, we wouldn't have filthy rich people would we? 

And let's be honest, these people didn't get like that because they were God fearing Christians. In order to get to the top and stay at the top you've got to be ruthless, think of how many people would've gotten hurt and ruined along the way to being the number one person in the world?

It's like a politician, when they're running for candidacy they're smooth talking right? 

They tell you what you want to hear, and they'll even say the right things to different groups, even if the groups being spoken to have conflicts of interest…but when they get into power or that position of authority, they don't even care about what they said they would do, in fact most of them would do the opposite of what they promised to do!

 

Romans 3:17 "and the way of peace have they not known:"

 
Not the lack of an inner sense of peace, but man's tendency toward strife and conflict, whether between individuals or nations.

 

Romans 3:18 "there is no fear of God before their eyes."

 
Biblical fear of God is knowing that he is all powerful, all mighty, all seeing, all everywhere (can I say that, does that make sense?), and knows everything, and knowing this that there is also a penalty for transgressing His Holy character, His Laws; the wicked do not have this fear of God, the world has turned, they have all gone out the way.

 

Romans 3:19 "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."

 
What law? 

God's Law, them 10 commandments you keep hearing about, that's right, and the other laws that hung off it, Moses Laws, and what does it say to them that are under the Law?

Who is under the Law? Every single human being on this Earth who has not been redeemed by the saving grace of the Father through faith, through belief on his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just because the Jews had the Law didn't make them any more immutable to the convictions of the Law, they had the Law and didn't keep it, neither are the gentiles are without excuse, it was written on their hearts, you say what about the people that did not hear the Word, well I say, and the bible says it was written on their hearts.

The bible says in Hebrews Chapter 9 the following concerning what happens to man when he dies.

 

Hebrews 9:27-28 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ²⁸ so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

 
We are appointed once to die, but after this Judgement, now does this say that when we die we have a second chance to be redeemed after we die here without the Lord? 

No!

 
Every mouth will be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God, meaning there will be no excuse for anyone who will be judged guilty by God.

 

Romans 3:20 "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."

 
Therefore, means for that reason or consequently by the deeds or works of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. If you try to come to God by your own works or deeds and say to him, but look at all my good works, I am righteous expecting to get into Heaven, expect to be very, very, very, very, very, very, very disappointed.

I mean how clearer do you need to read this?

For by the Law is knowledge of sin, this means that the Law is to show us that we are sinners, it is our school master our guide to show that we cannot measure up any way or fashion. Through the Law, we are made aware of our sins.

 

Romans 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"

 
The righteousness of God without the law, he is forever righteous, by his grace has been revealed being spoken of by the law (which was used to show that we are sinners and that we needed a saviour) and the prophets in the Old Testament all testify to the coming of the Messiah.

 

Romans 3:22 "even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

 
Interestingly, it is not because of our faith that saved us, but the Faith of Jesus Christ which is the whole reason why we can be saved. Our righteousness is but filthy rags.

Our righteousness that is acceptable to God is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we put on when we accept Jesus as our saviour and Lord.

And it says to all, everyone in the world, and upon all them that believe: there is no difference, no difference for what?

 

Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

 
For this, whether you are unsaved or saved, believer or non-believer there is no difference, no respecter of persons for ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God! 

No one can live completely free of sin. By the way, great verse to employ if you are soul winning!!!

 

Romans 3:24 "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

 
Being justified freely, meaning declared righteous freely by God's grace through the redemption, that is, through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 3:25 "whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"

 
This great sacrifice was not accomplished in secret, but God publicly displayed His Son on Calvary for all to see!

Verse 24 ended with a colon (:) meaning verse 25 is going to define or expound more on what he meant in verse 24. Whom? 

The Lord Jesus Christ of course, had been set forth or to give an account of, Jesus being the propitiation or appeasement through faith in his blood.

Christ's violent death satisfied the offended holiness and wrath of God which was appointed against those for whom Christ died.

Forbearance means to hold back. Rather than destroying every person the moment he or she sins, God graciously holds back His judgment. God's justice demands that every sin and sinner be punished. 

God would have been just when Adam and Eve sinned, to destroy them, and with them, the entire human race. But in His goodness and forbearance, He is withholding His judgment for a certain period of time.

 

Romans 3:26 "to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

 
To declare what? 

His righteousness, through the incarnation, sinless life, and substitutionary death of the Messiah, whom is Jesus. 

By the wisdom of God's plan allowed Him to punish Jesus in the place of sinners and thereby justify those who are guilty without compromising His justice.

 

Romans 3:27 "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."

 
Boasting is excluded, it plays no part in Salvation, our efforts play not part; do you get it?

God holds in contempt human wisdom, not only by not allowing it as a means to knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly. 

He does not call to salvation many whom the world would call wise, mighty and noble.

What was said to the Ephesians sums it all up perfectly:

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ not of works, lest any man should boast."

 
God came to reveal his wisdom to the poor, the meek and the weak, those who were considered by the so called "elites" of the world nobody's who place their faith, their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God clearly received all the credit and the glory for causing such lowly ones to know Him and the eternal truths of His heavenly kingdom.

No saved sinner can boast that he has achieved salvation by his own intellect or efforts.

 

Romans 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

 
Do I really need to explain this verse? It says what it says and you better believe it!

 

Romans 3:29-30 "Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: ³⁰ seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."

 
God is God of all, we are all part of God's family. There is one God and Father of us all. 

Keeping the ordinances of the law will not do away with sin and will not save anyone. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 

Hebrews 11 is the bible hall of faith, read through that chapter to get a grasp on what faith can do for you.

The circumcision are the Jews and the uncircumcision refers to the Gentile, and both can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

 
Salvation by grace through faith does not make the law any less of importance, but emphasizes its true importance:

1.    By providing a payment for the penalty of death, which the law required for failing to keep it;
2.   By fulfilling the law's original purpose, which is to serve as a tutor to show mankind's utter inability to obey God's righteous demands and to drive people to Christ; and
3.    By giving believers the capacity to keep it.

The law is not done away with by Jesus, but fulfilled in Him. The law is good, the law is perfect. The law declares the need to be righteous. 

Jesus makes it possible to be righteous in Him. The law showed us our great need for Jesus as our Saviour, THE MESSIAH!