Question

D.Romans 3:9-20
1.what is Paul’s conclusion about man’s condition apart from Christ?
2.what is one purpose of the law from these verses?
3.In 3:21 Paul begins” But now “ what is he contrasting ?
4.In verses 27-31 justification by faith excludes three thing. What are they( v 27,29,30 )?

Answer 1

Here are concise answers based on Romans 3:9–31 (esp. 3:9–20, 3:21, 3:27–31).

1) Paul’s conclusion about mankind apart from Christ (3:9–20)
- All people—Jew and Gentile—are under sin; none is righteous (v10–12).
- People are guilty, corrupt in speech and action, and deserving of God’s judgment (v13–18).
- The law simply exposes sin and provides the standard by which people are held accountable; no one is justified before God by law-keeping (v19–20).

2) One purpose of the law from these verses
- To make sin known and to show people are accountable to God (v20: “through the law comes the knowledge of sin”). In short, the law reveals transgression and silences human boasting by proving we cannot be declared righteous by law-works.

3) In 3:21 “But now” — what is being contrasted?
- Paul contrasts the condemned situation under sin and the law (3:9–20) with the new revelation of God’s righteousness “apart from the law” manifested in Christ and received by faith (3:21–22). In other words: condemnation by the law versus justification by the righteousness of God revealed in Jesus and received by faith.

4) In 3:27–31 justification by faith excludes three things (from vv. 27, 29, 30)
- v27: Boasting (no grounds for human pride).
- v29: Ethnic exclusivity / Jewish privilege (God is not only the God of Jews).
- v30: Justification by covenantal works like circumcision or law-works (both circumcised and uncircumcised are justified by the same faith).

If you want, I can give the verses quoted or walk through the Greek wording that supports these points.