Romans 3 Outline  

 

Verses:

 

Verses 1 – 8 : The stability of the Integrity of God.

 

Verses 9 – 20 : The Integrity of God rejects sinful mankind.

 

Verses 21 – 26 : The Righteousness of God.

 

Verses 27 – 31 : Results of the Integrity of God.

 

 

Romans 3:1

 

Τί οὖν τὸ περισσὸν τοῦ Ἰουδαίου, ἢ τίς ἡ ὠφέλεια τῆς περιτοµῆς;

 

What, therefore, is the advantage to the Jew?  Or what is the benefit from circumcision?

 

 

1. The exclusion of man’s self-righteousness through the function of divine integrity has caused some Jews to be deflated and maybe a bit discouraged. (There were Jews who had now read the first two chapters of Romans what were the benefits of being a Jew.)

 

2. Because Paul has done such a great job in the second chapter of Romans, they can see no advantage in possessing the Mosaic Law. Why have it?

 

3. The maladjusted Jews in reversionism were blinded to the spiritual role of the racial Jew and the nation Israel in history. Their maladjustment blinded them, and it does today.

 

4. Paul has demonstrated that the Jews are just as spiritually dead as the Gentiles.  The justice of God has condemned the Jew with the Law just as He has condemned the Gentile without the Law.

 

Israel’s Preeminence or advantages:

 

The preeminence of the Jew is related to certain principles that are developed in the Word of God. The first has to do with the racial uniqueness of the Jew. There were initially three post-diluvian races in history namely the Semitic, the Japhetic and Hamitic. The Semitic race was eventually split when Abraham became the father of the Jewish race.  So, there became four races namely the Arab Semites (all Semites apart from the Jews), the Japhetic, Hamitic and the Jewish race. The Jewish race is the only race that began with three generations of believers. To be a racial Jew, one had to be the descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So, the advantage of the Jew is first a racial preeminence.

 

Secondly, there is the unique nation of Israel. The unique origin and purpose of national Israel gives preeminence to the Jew. The Jews came out of slavery, a landless people who had to conquer the Canaanite in order to form a nation. A people cannot become a nation without land, and in order to gain land and to keep it, there must have a strong military. They were made a client nation, a special nation under the authority of the Lord for the teaching of the Laws of Establishment, the spiritual life and to send out missionaries. They were also given custodianship of written revelation from God. They were the first client (priest) nation in history, a unique status.   

 

Thirdly, the integrity of God has made promises to the Jews that have never been made to anyone else—the unconditional covenants. Never in all of history, apart from those unconditional promises did God ever promise to a race, and then to a nation, a piece of real estate on this earth to be ruled by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Millennium, and for all eternity. That means they are preeminently unique.

 

The fourth point of preeminence is the unique discipline and restoration of Israel. The preeminence of Israel is related to the fact that even though severely punished several times under the 5th cycle of discipline they will be regathered and restored at the Second Advent. No nation has ever had the 5th cycle of discipline and still come back to be a nation again—only Israel. That is unique. Three times they have been a nation—the United Kingdom, the Divided Kingdom [Ephraim in the north and Judah in the south], then Judea. At the 2nd Advent, the Lord will regather the Jews to form the final client nation in history.

 

The fifth point of preeminence is the survival of the Jew under constant conditions of anti-Semitism. They have survived, and will survive, under the most concentrated of all Satanic attacks.

 

The sixth point of uniqueness is the Millennial Israel. The pre-eminence of Israel is related to the glorified status in the Millennium. Israel will be unique among nations—Zechariah 14:16-21.

 

With all these racial and national advantages, if the individual Jew does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, then all these advantages are for nought.

 

The Advantages of being a Jew:

 

1.  The salvation advantage of the Jew: There is no advantage in being an outward Jew as per Romans 2:28 unless one is an inward Jew of Romans 2:29. The advantage comes in adjusting to the integrity of God at salvation. There is no advantage in being a Jew by race or a Jew nationally. However, the spiritual heritage of Israel gave them an advantage.  For example, their animal sacrifices clearly taught salvation.  

 

2.  The doctrinal advantage: The Jews have been recipients of both written and oral revelation from God. The Jews as a Client Nation were the custodians of the canon of scripture. All doctrine resided in Israel.

 

3. The dispensational advantage:  In the dispensation of Israel the Jew had the whole realm of doctrine except the mystery doctrines of the Church Age. He had the unconditional covenants and the establishment principles delineated by the Mosaic Law. In the dispensation of the Church the Jew becomes royal family of God through faith in Christ just as the Gentile does. In the dispensation of the Millennium the Jew has maximum benefit from the fulfilment of the unconditional covenants; Israel will be the Client Nation throughout the Millennium and forever. They will have the advantage of the greatest government administration in all of history, Jesus Christ will rule from Jerusalem as king for one thousand years and then forever.

 

4. The establishment advantage: Every nation has the advantage when it has establishment. The Mosaic Law not only defined freedom, but it set up a constitution for national government which included principles of establishment. The Jews always benefited from their observation of establishment doctrines under the Mosaic Law.

 

5. The Client Nation advantage: As long as they were faithful to the Lord, they came under the protection of the Lord.

 

Regarding circumcision, the only advantage of circumcision besides a health advantage, was a constant reminder of how to adjust to God’s integrity first at salvation and then at spiritual maturity. Every time Jewish men looked at their circumcision, they were reminded that Abraham believed in the Lord, and righteousness was accredited to him. Then, by studying Abraham’s life and how he grew in his faith, established a pattern for all Jews to follow.

 

Romans 3:2

 

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον. πρῶτον µὲν [γὰρ] ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ θεοῦ.

 

 

Much in every way for since, in the first place, they were entrusted with the instructions from God [Old Testament Canon].

 

 

Being the writers and custodians of the Old Testament Scriptures gave Israel tremendous opportunity along with having the greatest men of doctrine in all the world.

 

Romans 3:3

 

τί γὰρ εἰ ἠπίστησάν τινες; µὴ ἡ ἀπιστία αὐτῶν τὴν πίστιν τοῦ θεοῦ καταργήσει;

 

 

Well then, if certain ones [Jews] refused to believe [in Jesus Christ], and they did refuse, their lack of faith will not cancel-out the faithfulness of God, will it? No, of course not. [the question introduced by the Greek negative particle me expects a negative answer] 

 

 

Man’s unfaithfulness versus God’s faithfulness. The failure of certain ones in the human race to respond to the gospel and to believe in Jesus Christ never abrogates or cancels the faithfulness of God. In faithfulness, God provided everything needed for mankind to be saved. So, man’s rejection of this work, does not cancel the faithfulness of God. Not only is immutability a guarantee of His faithfulness, but also is His perfect integrity. Put the two together and one has the perfect guarantee. ***

 

Romans 3:4

 

µὴ γένοιτο· γινέσθω δὲ ὁ θεὸς ἀληθής, πᾶς δὲ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης, καθὼς γέγραπται, Ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου καὶ νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε.

 

Definitely not, rather let God be proved truthful [reliable], though every man a liar; as it stands written [Psalm 51:4b], "In order that You [God] might be demonstrated having integrity by means of Your pronouncements [words, doctrines] and that You might prevail when You are being slandered."

 

 

Psalm 51:4b, “So that You are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge.” (In the Hebrew: Psalm 51:6b)

 

Rejection of the gospel is declaring God to be a liar. When an unbeliever understands the gospel and exhales faith in Christ, he recognizes the integrity of God, but if he rejects the gospel message, in effect he is calling God, a liar.

 

Lack of integrity in mankind does not cancel the integrity of God. When man superimposes his lack of integrity on God, the character of God rejects it. The integrity of God is inviolable. Even though every rejection of Christ declares God to be a liar, the integrity of God continues, regardless of this blasphemy.

 

Since God is infinite, eternal, invisible, and incomprehensible it is necessary for God to reveal Himself to mankind through Bible doctrine which vindicates the integrity of God. This integrity of God is demonstrated through the perception of Bible doctrine. Hence, the importance of the daily perception of God’s Word.

 

Romans 3:5

 

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡµῶν θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦµεν; µὴ ἄδικος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.

 

But if our [Paul identifies with the Jewish unbeliever] wrong-doing [in the Greek adikia: sin, human good and evil] demonstrates [promotes, commends: to express an opinion or attitude; to recommend as worthy to] the [no article in the Greek: emphasizing the high quality in comparison to the ignorance of these people] integrity of God [and we assume it does; accepting for the moment the thinking of the self-righteous unbeliever or by application a believer who is attacking divine integrity, a debater's technique]. To what conclusion are we forced [Paul is using logic] is the God who inflicts wrathful punishment, [on the unbeliever at the Last Judgment] unrighteous [the blasphemous assertion of the self-righteous unbeliever]? Of course not.  I'm presenting the human viewpoint [as the strawman in a debater’s technique].

 

The self-righteous unbeliever superimposes some system of morality, or a wholesome lifestyle, taboos etc. on God’s plan. He rationalizes that God must accept his system of works for salvation. Paul then accepts this position; sets up a strawman and then destroys it, the self-righteous rationalism. Like one very moral Jewish unbeliever told me that he was confident in his acceptance by God, but when I pressed him a bit on that issue, he said, “Well, if I am rejected it will be God’s loss, not mine.”  

 

1. Divine integrity has always existed in eternity past, long before there was any wrong-doing (adikia) in the human race. God’s integrity is eternal and immutable.

 

2. Neither man’s self-righteousness nor unrighteousness can add anything to the integrity of God. In fact, God’s righteousness totally rejects man’s self-righteousness as well as man’s sinfulness.

 

3. The self-righteous Jew uses debater’s technique by implying that God would be wrong and unjust to judge or punish anyone who was promoting His glory or integrity. The self-righteous Jewish unbeliever like the Rich young Ruler wrongly believes and asserts that he is promoting God’s integrity through his good accomplishments. This then is wrong-doing (adikia). In effect he compares his moral accomplishments with the immoral degeneracy of others. So, God would be wrong and unjust to punish such a person as himself.

 

4. Therefore the self-righteous Jew concludes that God could not condemn him for his lifestyle of wrong-doing even though it functions outside of God’s plan. God does not accommodate himself to our plans; we must accommodate ourselves to God’s plan.

 

5. The wrong-doing of the unbeliever includes sin, good and evil. His sin he rationalizes away; his human good and sometime even his evil is used to recommend himself to God.

 

6. Since righteousness demands an equivalent righteousness and justice demands justice, God must condemn all members of the human race who reject the cross.

 

7. God demands integrity namely imputed righteousness at salvation and experiential righteousness after salvation. Anything short of these demands will be condemned and punished.

 

8. God in grace provides all that His integrity demands from the human race. He provides imputed righteousness at salvation. Then He provides doctrine after salvation for the development of experiential righteousness. We need God; He doesn’t need us.

 

 

Romans 3:6

 

µὴ γένοιτο· ἐπεὶ πῶς κρινεῖ ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσµον;

 

Definitely not [a full denial of the false assertion], otherwise [if it were true that is the false thinking of the arrogant unbeliever] how shall [a liquid future] God [the Lord Jesus Christ as per John 5:22, 27] judge [indicative mood: a future reality] the world?

 

If man’s wrong-doing with emphasis on his self-righteousness promoted the integrity of God, then God could not judge unbelieving mankind at the Last Judgment. Self-righteousness only impresses the one possessing it and stupid people, but never God. So, at the Last Judgment the Lord will judge these unbelievers from perfect integrity as per Revelation 20:11-15.

 

Romans 3:7

 

εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐµῷ ψεύσµατι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁµαρτωλὸς κρίνοµαι;

 

But if the truth of the God through my untruthfulness [lies and deceitfulness] has abounded for the purpose of His glory and let’s assume it does [but it doesn’t], why therefore am I still being judged as sinful? [because untruthfulness is a sin]

 

1. Paul is setting himself up as a strawman in this debater’s question. In other words, this is not Paul’s argument, but the thinking of the self-righteous irrational Jewish unbeliever.

 

2. Lies and falsehood are sins. Sinfulness does not and cannot advance the glory of God. Nothing can advance or improve the glory of God since God’s glory consists of His attributes which are perfect and immutable.

 

3. God’s veracity is a part of God’s glory. God’s righteousness in harmony with His veracity condemns all untruthfulness, and then His justice punishes that which is condemned.

 

4. What are some of the lies, the untruthfulness of a self-righteous moral unbeliever?

 

a. One is saved by attempting to keep the Mosaic Law.

b. One is saved by keeping the Mosaic Law and circumcision.

c. One is saved automatically by being born a racial Jew.

d. One is saved by performing good deeds and by being moral.

e. One is saved by a combination of faith in Christ and water baptism.

f. One is saved by a combination of faith in Christ and the public confession of that faith.

g. One is saved through asking or pleading for salvation especially if tears are added.

h. One is saved through self-flagellation etc.

i. One is saved through relative righteousness.   

 

5. Only God’s truth glorifies God. Truth in the form of the gospel or in the form of the spiritual life.

 

6. When the unbeliever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, then God is glorified since salvation is the work of God. When the believer subsequently advances to spiritual maturity, God is glorified by distributing His Escrow Blessings to that believer.

 

The aorist tense is a constative aorist, it gathers up into one entirety every time Paul who set himself up as the strawman of the self-righteous unbeliever, sought to advance the glory of God by means of a lie.

 

Romans 3:8

 

καὶ µὴ καθὼς βλασφηµούµεθα καὶ καθώς φασίν τινες ἡµᾶς λέγειν ὅτι Ποιήσωµεν τὰ κακὰ ἵνα ἔλθῃ τὰ ἀγαθά; ὧν τὸ κρίµα ἔνδικόν ἐστιν.

 

In fact, not true as we have been slandered and certain ones [self-righteous legalist] keep alleging that we [Paul and his team] say, ‘Let us do evil things that good things may come.’ Their punishment is deserved.

 

Paul’s critics, especially the Judaizers who are ultra-self-righteous in their attempts to keep the Mosaic Law. Principle: Arrogant self-righteousness is always critical of grace-oriented doctrinal teaching. But all the slander and maligning in the world cannot destroy the ministry of anyone who communicates Bible doctrine.

 

They contend that every day Paul teaches and without exception every day he says, “Let us do evil.” The active voice: Paul is alleged to produce this evil. Furthermore, they put it in the hortatory subjunctive which implies that Paul exhorts others to join him in this same course of action.

 

1. This phrase, “let us do evil things that good things may come,” is slander. Paul does not contend that the means justifies the end, nor the end justifies the means. If the means is evil the end is evil—always. The means determines the quality of the end, or the result.

 

2. The end can never be any better than that by which the end was achieved. Consequently, God never uses evil to accomplish good. This is incompatible with the integrity or holiness of God.

 

3. Under the integrity of God, grace is the means, and grace is the result. The integrity of God is the means, and the glory of God is the result.  

 

4. Consequently, only the integrity of God can glorify the essence of God.

 

5. There is no place under grace for the intrusion of man’s self-righteousness or Satan’s policy of evil. The only reason it ever intrudes at all is because people are ignorant of doctrine.

 

6. Paul’s ministry and communication of doctrine was totally compatible with the integrity of God and the principle of grace.

 

7. Those who slander grace slander the integrity of God.

 

8. Those who malign the communicator of doctrine malign the Word of God. The Word of God comes from the integrity of God.

 

9. The Word of God is the verbalization of the integrity of God.

 

10. Therefore, these slanderers and maligners of Paul’s ministry are answerable to divine justice.

 

11. Since they are maladjusted to the integrity of God, God can only condemn them.

 

12. The slanderers are liable to punitive action from the integrity of God.

 

Paul knows that the Lord will punish such slanderous attacks against his ministry. Paul says, “whose punishment is just.” He just steps out of the way and lets the lightning bolt go right to its target. Whenever doctrinal teaching is maligned, it is taken for granted that the integrity of God will deal with the culprit. The indicative mood is declarative for the reality of such condemnation and punishment.

 

3:9. Therefore, how are we [Paul again identifies himself with the extremely self-righteous Jewish unbeliever] to understand the situation [as a Greek idiom, the translation must be expanded a bit]? Do we possess anything which might shield us from the justice of God?  No, not at all, for we have already indicted both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin [the condemnation of sin].

 

Τί οὖν; προεχόµεθα; οὐ πάντως, προῃτιασάµεθα γὰρ Ἰουδαίους τε καὶ Ἕλληνας πάντας ὑφ’ ἁµαρτίαν εἶναι,

 

A postulate is defined as a proposition which is taken for granted, an essential prerequisite. The axiom or postulate which is taken for granted at this point is the universality of man’s sin and his state of total depravity. Total depravity elicits both condemnation and spiritual death for the entire human race.

 

The extremely self-righteous unbeliever is very difficult to deal with since he in his mind doesn’t need to hear about a grace solution, a solution for what? I don’t have a problem!

 

1. As long as any person in the world thinks that there is any system of human righteousness, talent, ability, planning or system of works which can satisfy the integrity of God and clings to his system of self-righteousness, whatever it maybe, he has no chance of ever having a relationship with God.

  

2. No human factor, including Jewish self-righteousness, can therefore provide or add anything to salvation adjustment to the integrity of God. The first issue we face in the human race is salvation and there is nothing that we can add to what the grace of God has already provided.

 

3. No Jewish rationalism of being better than the Gentiles will provide salvation or spirituality, or maturity. All the way through this chapter, the Jews are in view and are used as the illustration.  

 

Jews and Gentiles are under the condemnation of sin. At birth, each member of mankind is born with a sin nature which was passed down to him in copulation. At the instance of birth, God imputes Adam’s Original Sin to that person and condemns him to the Lake of Fire. Romans 5:12, “ For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [the Sin Nature] entered into the world, and so spiritual death through the sin [Adam’s Original Sin was imputed to the Sin Nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam  sinned [Since we were seminally in Adam when he sinned, we receive the sin nature through his seed and consequently receive the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin].”

 

Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I [David] was born in iniquity [Adam’s original sin imputed] and in sin I was conceived [sin nature passed down in conception].”

 

Romans 5:19, “For as through one man’s disobedience [Adam] the many [human race] were made sinners [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin at birth], even so through the obedience of one [the humanity of Christ], many [those who believe] will be made righteous [imputed righteousness at salvation].”

 

Romans 3:10

 

καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Οὐκ ἔστιν δίκαιος οὐδὲ εἷς,

 

As it stands written [quoted from Psalm 14:1-3], "There is not a righteous one, not even one. [not one righteous reversionistic unbeliever; in context the Judaizers]"

 

Psalm 14:1-3, “For the director of music, a Psalm of David. 1 Nabal [the meaning of his name is fool, the husband of Abigale and a descendent of Caleb] has said  in his stream of consciousness, ‘There is no God’ [rejection at God-consciousness and at gospel hearing] They [the wealthy unbeliever-reversionists] have become perverted [in their souls], they have done a detestable deed [the singular noun is a reference to Nabal’s refusal to pay the debt owed David; the plural verb indicates that the wealthy reversionists do this all the time and enjoy it as per James 5:1-5]; there is not one [wealthy reversionists] who does good. 2 The Lord out from the heavens looked down [for someone to bless] upon the human race [the sons of man] to see [the Lord does a reconnaissance] if there were anyone who had been caused to be wise [from doctrine], anyone who has kept on seeking after God [like Abigale and David]. 3 All [reversionistic unbelievers] have deviated [have become apostate], all [reversionistic unbelievers] have become morally corrupt; there is not one [reversionistic unbeliever] who produces good [because there is no truth in their souls], not even one.” [the story of Nabal is found in 1 Samuel 25]

 

Related points:

 

1. No one has the integrity of God at birth, and no one acquires the integrity of God by any system of works-righteousness, self-righteousness, any system of emotional activity, asceticism or tabooism. 

 

2. No righteousness in man is comparable to God’s perfect righteousness.

  

3. Therefore, man cannot approach God on the basis of his own merits or his own integrity. Isaiah 64:6, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags [used menstrual cloth]; we all shrivel up like a leaf [from living in the cosmic system], and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 

 

4. Consequently, adjusting to the integrity of God is a matter of grace. God provides the means for such adjustment by the imputation of His righteousness at the point of salvation. From then on, we adjust to the integrity of God through advancing in Experiential Righteousness.

 

Romans 3:11

 

οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ συνίων, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἐκζητῶν τὸν θεόν

 

There is not one [unbeliever] who comprehends [the gospel without Common Grace], there is not one [unbeliever] who searches for the God.

 

The Greek word suniemi connotes cognisance of technical knowledge. It means to comprehend or to know the underlying laws and the meaning of an object. This means therefore to gain insight into something. “There is not one who comprehends”, referring to Bible doctrine and specifically to the fact that in spiritual death the unbeliever cannot comprehend spiritual phenomena. The unbeliever cannot understand the gospel, that is why it is necessary for the ministry of God the Holy Spirit under the theological category of common grace to make the information clear.

 

It must be understood that this phrase, seeking after God, has nothing to do with positive volition at God-consciousness. This is talking about something else. In between God-consciousness and gospel hearing there is no way that you can understand anything about God. In other words, because we are dead spiritually, we can’t seek. Dead people do not seek. This condition perpetually exists for mankind after God-consciousness. He may have been positive at God-consciousness, but he never learns anything more on his own. Mankind can reach God-consciousness through the function of his own intellect, but he does not have the ability to go beyond God-consciousness on his own.

 

Romans 3:12

 

πάντες ἐξέκλιναν, ἅµα ἠχρειώθησαν· οὐκ ἔστιν ποιῶν χρηστότητα, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός.

 

All [reversionistic unbelievers who have rejected God] have turned aside into reversionism, all at the same time have become depraved; there is not one who attains the integrity of God, there is not even one.

 

1. The unbeliever maladjusted to the integrity of God namely the one who refuses to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as savior will enter into the eight stages of reversionism just as does the believer who rejects the spiritual life.

 

2. The latter stages of reversionism result in depravity and degeneracy.

 

3. Without the integrity of God man is nothing, accomplishes nothing, improves nothing, reforms nothing, attains nothing.

 

4. Personally, collectively, historically, nothing is more important than the integrity of God and our relationship to it.

 

5. Either we adjust to the integrity of God, or the integrity of God will adjust to us.

 

6. No individual can attain salvation apart from the integrity of God, and no believer can have blessing with the integrity of God.

 

7. National, social, economic, and political reform is meaningless apart from the integrity of God. By meaningless, we mean that it not only fails to accomplish its objective, but it creates more problems.

 

8. No nation can enjoy freedom and possess prosperity apart from the integrity of God. This has been demonstrated by the ridiculous concept of ‘Nation Building’.

 

9. Socialism, liberalism and the resultant welfare state is the illusion and fantasy which comes from maladjustment to the integrity of God.

 

10. Obviously, you cannot have salvation, eternal life, temporal prosperity with capacity, happiness, or eternal blessing without the integrity of God.

 

11. Freedom and prosperity in the nation can only be meaningful and permanent when related to divine integrity.

 

Romans 3:13

 

τάφος ἀνεῳγµένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν, ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν, ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν,

 

Their [reversionistic unbelievers’] throat [where the vocal cords are located] is a grave which has been opened [the horrible stench of decomposition; the stench of the sins of the tongue]; with their tongues they keep deceiving; the venom of Egyptian cobras is under their lips [reversionists spew out poison].

 

This is taken in part from Psalm 5:9, “There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.” The psalmist was under attack from gossip, maligning, judging, and he states to God that there is nothing reliable in what they say. They are irresponsible, they are arrogant, they are inadequate, guilty of inordinate ambition, jealous, vindictive, and they express their implacability through the sins of the tongue.

 

The lips are the secret to annunciation and used here to slander, malign judge etc. There are two categories of victims namely the ones being maligned and the ones listening and believing the maligning. However, though both groups are struck by the cobra, the venom only goes into those who listen and believe the gossip, etc.

 

Romans 3:14

 

ὧν τὸ στόµα ἀρᾶς καὶ πικρίας γέµει·

 

Whose [the reversionistic unbelievers] mouth is full of cursing [an oath or vow of revenge] and bitterness.

 

This verse is taken in part from Psalm 10:7, “His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is evil and wickedness.”

 

1. The maladjusted person enters reversionism. Such reversionism brings the maladjusted under the influence of evil.

 

2. Revenge and bitterness saturate his soul, and he seeks to build his happiness on someone else’s unhappiness through operation revenge.

 

3. Mental and verbal sins link up to form the revenge pattern.

 

4. The revenge pattern always involves two basic principles namely that one cannot build his happiness on someone else’s unhappiness and secondly that two wrongs make a right. 

 

5. Words are the first and primary weapon of the human race in operation revenge.

 

6. Words are like the venom of the cobra to destroy others.

 

Romans 3:15, 16

 

ὀξεῖς οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν ἐκχέαι αἷµα, (16) σύντριµµα καὶ ταλαιπωρία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν,

 

Their feet swift to shed blood [commit murder]. (16) Historical disaster and personal suffering are in their highways. [their way of life] Isa 59:7

 

Quoted in part from Isaiah 59:7, “Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; devastation and destruction are in their highways.”

 

Evil sponsors murder and violence as a means of problem-solving. Evil therefore contends that the end result justifies the means by which the result is attained. But the end never justifies the means.

 

The Greek noun suntrimma is derived from the verb suntribo meaning to shatter, to smash, to crush, to destroy. Both the verb and the cognate refer to breaking bones, smashing skulls, crushing bodies. It was originally used in the Greek for killing in battle, but it eventually came to mean ‘historical disaster’ in the sense of great violence. Mankind creates the evil by which he destroys himself or destroys others in historical disaster.

 

The second Greek noun, talaiporia means wretchedness, distress, misery, and mental illness. This noun connotes personal suffering rather than historical disaster.

 

Reversionistic peoples can only bring about personal and historical suffering and disaster.

 

Romans 3:17

 

καὶ ὁδὸν εἰρήνης οὐκ ἔγνωσαν

 

In fact, they have not comprehended the way of prosperity [relationship with the integrity of God].  

 

 

This verse is taken from Isaiah 59:8, “They do not know the way of prosperity, and there is no justice in their tracks; they have made their paths crooked; whoever treads on them does not know prosperity.” 

 

The way of prosperity:

 

1. This noun is obviously not referring to world peace, freedom from war. The way of prosperity is to have a relationship with the integrity of God.

 

2. The relationship is established through adjustment to the integrity of God under three categories: a) Salvation adjustment to the integrity of God; b) Rebound adjustment to the integrity of God; c) Maturity adjustment to the integrity of God namely executing the spiritual life and cracking the maturity barrier.

 

3. All of this adds up to prosperity, true blessing, and true security. This is the meaning of the Greek word eirene in this context.

 

4. There can only be one true security in life namely relationship with the integrity of God. Neither the individual nor the nation has any real security apart from the integrity of God.