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Romans

Paul's letter explaining salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the importance of living a holy life.

Chapter 3

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1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

*What benefit does it give, then, to be a Jew? Or what good is it to be circumcised?

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

*In many ways, mainly because they were given the messages from God.

3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

*Even if some people don't believe, should their disbelief stop God's faith from working?

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.

*May it not happen! Yes, God is truthful, but people can be deceitful. As written, this helps you be right in your words and victorious when judged.

5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

*But if our wrong actions show God's righteousness, what should we say? Does God act unfairly when he takes revenge? (I am just a person talking)

6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

*Let's hope not, because if that happens, how will God be able to 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?

*If telling a lie about God brings him more praise, why am I still considered a sinner for doing it?

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.

*And not like the false reports about us, or what some people say we believe, should we choose to do bad things in order for good results to happen; instead, their punishment fits their actions.

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;

*So what does this mean? Are we better than them? No, not at all. We've already shown through proof that both Jewish and non-Jewish people are all under sin.

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

*As the text says, nobody is good; there's not even one person who is.

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

*No one understands, no one looks for God.

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

*Everyone has gone astray, they have all become useless; nobody does good, not even one person.

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 wide open, like a grave; they use lies with their tongues; they have venomous snake's mouth.

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

*Whose mouth is filled with insults and bitter words:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

*They quickly cause harm and shed blood.

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

*Destruction and suffering are found in their actions.

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

*They didn't know the path of peace.

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

*They aren't afraid of God's judgment.

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.

*Now we understand that whatever the law says is for those who follow it. This way, everyone's arguments are silenced and all people are considered guilty in God's eyes.

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.

*So, doing good deeds can't make anyone right with God; instead, the law shows us what sin is.

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

*Now, God's righteousness is clear without the need for laws, proven by both the law and prophets.

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:

*God's righteousness, gained through Jesus' faith, is given to everyone who believes, with no differences.

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

*Everyone has done wrong things, and they haven't reached the greatness of God.

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

*By grace, we are made right with God for free through Christ Jesus's redeeming power.

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;

*God has provided a sacrifice to forgive past sins by believing in His blood, showing His fairness and kindness, all because of God's patience.

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

*I say now to show his fairness: so he can be fair, and the one who makes things right for those who trust in Jesus.

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

*So, where does bragging fit in? It's not allowed. Which rule says so? The one based on actions? No, it's the law of believing.

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

*So, we believe that a person becomes right with God through trusting, without needing to follow the rules.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

*Is he just the God of Jewish people? Isn't he also the God of non-Jews? Yes, he is the God of non-Jews too.

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

*Since there is only one God, He justifies both those who are circumcised and those who aren't through their belief.

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

*Do we cancel the rules by believing? No way! Instead, we strengthen the rules with our faith.

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