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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verses of the day for April 13th are Romans 3:23–24. The title of the book Romans is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Romans” and “The Letter of Paul to the Romans.” Romans was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire (which was also called Rome). The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital. The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C. Rome eventually became a kingdom. That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom. Then Rome became a republic. That republic is known as the Roman Republic. After that, Rome became an empire. That empire is known as the Roman Empire. The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.
Below is a link to a map that shows the location of the capital city Rome. Jerusalem is also on the map. At the time that the apostle Paul wrote the book Romans, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire. At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].
https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-1.jpg
Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Romans 3:19–31.
Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God
Note: In this verse, the content related to closed mouths refers to people being unable to provide arguments. The two instances of the word Law in this verse refer to the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Israelites were under the Mosaic Law until the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Regarding all the world, the ancient Israelites were supposed to share with other people information about eternal life by means of faith that God the Son would take the form of the sinless Man Who would be judged for the sins of humanity. While the ancient Israelites might have been unaware that the judging of the Lord would occur while He was on a cross, they could still believe that He would be judged for the sins of humanity.
Romans 3:20
because by means of the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes the epignōsis knowledge of sin.
Note: The phrase epignōsis knowledge found in the above translation is a translation of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun ἐπίγνωσις [pronounced eh-PEE-know-sees and transliterated into English as epignōsis]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐπίγνωσις [pronounced eh-PEE-know-sees and transliterated as epignōsis (some people leave the macron off the o and transliterate the word as epignosis)]. In the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995) and New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB 2020) translations of various verses, the word epignōsis is translated as “knowledge,” “real knowledge,” and “true knowledge.” Sometimes, the NASB 1995 and NASB 2020 translations also have footnotes indicating that epignōsis can be translated as “recognition.” When precisely translated, rather than simply referring to knowledge, the word epignōsis refers to that which is above or beyond ordinary knowledge. The Koine Greek word for ordinary knowledge is γνῶσις [pronounced KNOW-sees and transliterated as gnōsis or gnosis]. In the Bible, epignōsis is used to refer to knowledge of the Word of God.
Romans 3:21
However, now apart from Law, righteousness of God has been manifested, to which being borne witness / about which being witnessed / about which being given testimony / about which being testified by the Law and the Prophets,
Note: The phrase the Law and the Prophets refers to the Old Testament. The Old Testament contains prophecies about the Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled Old Testament prophecies by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.
There is an absence of a definite article in front of the first instance of the word Law in Romans 3:21. The absence of a definite article in front of a noun is known as an anarthrous construction [an-AR-thruhs kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn]. When there is an anarthrous construction, the quality of the noun is what is being emphasized in the grammar of the Koine Greek. Also, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the word righteousness in this verse. Regarding the foregoing, the contrast between the quality of the Mosaic Law and the quality of the righteousness of God the Father is being emphasized in this verse.
The righteousness of God the Father has been manifested by the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for the sins of humanity is an action that manifested the righteousness of God the Father because the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for the sins of humanity provides the means of eternal salvation. That providing of the means of eternal salvation is done without the involvement of the Mosaic Law. In that regard, adhering to the regulations of the Mosaic Law is not a means by which a person receives eternal salvation.
While adhering to the regulations of the Mosaic Law is not a means by which a person receives eternal salvation, the Mosaic Law has a valuable function in a different way. That valuable function involves the Mosaic Law indicating that God the Father is righteous. In addition to the Mosaic Law indicating that God the Father is righteous, the rest of the content of the Old Testament also indicates that God the Father is righteous.
Regarding the Old Testament indicating that God the Father is righteous, the Old Testament is personified in Romans 3:21. That personification involves the Old Testament metaphorically bearing witness to the righteousness of God the Father. In other words, the content of the Old Testament functions like a witness that gives testimony about the righteousness of God the Father, and in testifying about the righteousness of God the Father, the Old Testament indicates that God the Father is indeed righteous.
In Romans 3:21, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “to which being borne witness,” “about which being witnessed,” “about which being given testimony,” or “about which being testified” is μαρτυρουμένη [pronounced mahr-too-roo-MEH-nay and transliterated as martyroumenē]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word μαρτυρέω [pronounced mahr-too-REH-oh and transliterated as martyreō]. The inflected form martyroumenē is present passive participle. In the phrase present passive participle, the word present refers to the present tense, the word passive indicates that the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb, and the word participle refers to a verb used as an adjective. Regarding the present tense, Paulʼs use of martyroumenē in this verse indicates that continues to indicate that God the Father is righteous.
Romans 3:22
even righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction,
Note: The content of this verse involves another anarthrous construction. In that regard, the quality of the righteousness of God the Father is being emphasized in this verse. The righteousness of the Trinity can be referred to as +R. The righteousness of mankind falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity; therefore, the righteousness of mankind can be referred to as −R. Isaiah 64:6 covers the matter of the −R being contrasted with the +R of the Trinity. In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 64:6.
Isaiah 64:6
However, all of us are like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags / menstrual rags. All of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Note: The Hebrew word translated as “filthy” or “menstrual” in Isaiah 64:6 is עִדִּים [pronounced eed-DEEM and can be transliterated as `iddiym], which is an inflected form of the root word עִדָּה [pronounced eed-DAH and can be transliterated as `iddah]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew word `iddah refers to something filthy in the sense of being soiled by menstrual flux—in other words, soiled by menses, which is blood and other matter that is discharged from the uterus of a woman during menstruation. The Hebrew word translated as “rags” in Isaiah 64:6 is בֶגֶד [pronounced VEHG-ed and can be transliterated as veged], which is an inflected form of the root word בֶּגֶד [pronounced BEHG-ed and can be transliterated as beged]. Regarding the content of Isaiah 64:6 containing the phrase `iddiym veged, the content of that verse indicates that in comparison to the righteousness of the Trinity, the righteousness of mankind is yuck, yuck, yuck!
At the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, +R is imputed to that person. In other words, that person is credited as having righteousness, which means that that person is declared sufficiently righteous to have an eternal relationship with the Trinity. This crediting of righteousness is a free gift that occurs at the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. The content of Romans 3:22 covers the matter of +R being imputed to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation. Also, there is nothing in this verse about a personʼs works being involved in the imputation of +R to that person. Instead, the content of Romans 3:22 indicates that the imputation of +R to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is through faith in Jesus Christ—in other words, by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged for the sins of humanity. In addition, the phrase there is no distinction in this verse indicates that the means of eternal salvation is the same for everyone.
The content of Romans 3:22 is repeated below for reference.
Romans 3:22
even righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction,
Romans 3:23
for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Note: In this verse, the word all refers to every human except the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:24
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in / by means of Christ Jesus,
Note: In this verse, redemption refers to the paying of a ransom in order to save someone.
Romans 3:25
Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation by means of His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed
Note: God the Father being satisfied with the work of the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity can be referred to as propitiation. The phrase He passed over the sins previously committed refers to God the Father waiting until the Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross before God the Father delivered judgment for those sins. The phrase His blood in this verse metaphorically refers to the spiritual death that the Lord Jesus Christ experienced when He was being judged for the sins of humanity. The reason that a metaphor involving blood is used to refer to the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross is because of the sacrifice of certain types of animals before the Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites and also during the time period when the Israelites were under the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. When animals were sacrificed, there was blood involved, and that blood is a teaching illustration that metaphorically represents Jesus being judged for the sins of humanity. Now that Jesus has been judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled, and the requirement of sacrificing animals has ended.
Romans 3:26
for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the Justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus.
Note: At the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, God the Father justifies that person. Being justified means being qualified to have a relationship with the Trinity and therefore being qualified to go to Heaven. In that regard, justification is a result of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
Romans 3:27
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law?—of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Note: In the content of this verse, Paul indicates that the works of a person are unable to provide eternal life for that person. In addition, Paul indicates that it is faith that results in eternal life.
Romans 3:28
Indeed [one early manuscript reads Therefore], we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of Law—
Romans 3:29
or is God of Jews only? Is He not of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
Romans 3:30
if indeed that—and it is indeed that—one God is Who will justify the circumcision by means of faith and the uncircumcision through / by means of that faith.
Note: The phrase the circumcision refers to Jewish people, and the phrase the uncircumcision refers to Gentiles. This verse indicates that there is one God the Father Who justifies both Jews and Gentiles instead of there being a god for the Jews and a god for the Gentiles. Also, Paul uses a play on words in this verse, and with that play on words, Paul focuses on different aspects of having faith that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior.
In this verse, both instances of the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “faith” are πίστεως [pronounced PEES-teh-ohs and transliterated as pisteōs]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word πίστις [pronounced PEES-tees and transliterated as pistis]. There is an absence of a definite article associated with the first instance of pisteōs in this verse. That anarthrous construction involving the first instance of pisteōs in this verse calls attention to the quality of faith contrasted with the quality of the works of Law that are referenced in verse 28.
In calling attention to the contrast between the quality of faith and the quality of the works of Law, the Koine Greek preposition that Paul uses in association with the first instance of pisteōs in verse 30 is ἐκ [pronounced EHK and transliterated as ek]. In the context of verse 30 and the surrounding verses, the preposition ek can be translated as “by means of.” In the context of those verses, ek can also be translated as “by” in the sense of “by means of.” Also, the preposition ek can have a connotation of emphasizing from what source something comes. Regarding the foregoing, by using an anarthrous construction and the pronoun ek in association with the first instance of pisteōs in verse 30, Paul emphasizes the fact that it is by means of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior rather than by adhering to the regulations of the Mosaic Law that a person receives eternal life. That emphasis could be useful for communicating the true means of obtaining eternal life to a person who tries to obtain eternal life by means of adhering to the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
Regarding the phrase that faith at the end of verse 30, the word that in that phrase is a translation of the Koine Greek definite article τῆς [pronounced TAYSS and transliterated as tēs]. That definite article is an inflected form of the root word ὁ [pronounced HAH and transliterated as ho]. In verse 30, the definite article tēs is in front of the second instance of pisteōs.
In front of the definite article tēs in verse 30 is a Koine Greek preposition. That Koine Greek preposition that Paul uses in association with the definite article tēs and the second instance of pisteōs in verse 30 is διὰ [pronounced dee-AH and transliterated as dia]. That preposition is an inflected form of the root word διά [pronounced dee-AH and transliterated as dia]. In the context of verse 30 and the surrounding verses, the preposition dia can be translated as “through” or “by means of.” In that regard, the usage of the preposition ek with the first instance of pisteōs in verse 30 and the usage of dia with the second instance of pisteōs in verse 30 both indicate that it is by means of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior that a person receives eternal life. Using the word through instead of the phrase by means of conveys the same message.
The distinction in Paulʼs usages of the prepositions ek and dia is that the preposition that Paul uses when referencing Jewish people has a connotation of emphasizing from what source something comes, and that emphasis could be useful for communicating to people who try to obtain eternal life by means of adhering to the regulations of the Mosaic Law. In contrast, for Gentiles, who typically did not grow up under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, an emphasis on the contrast between faith and adhering to the Mosaic Law for eternal salvation would typically be unnecessary.
Romans 3:31
Do we then nullify Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold Law.
Note: When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that person thereby upholds what the Mosaic Law reveals about all humans except the Lord Jesus Christ being sinners who need salvation through faith that the Lord was judged for the sins of humanity.
Sincerely,
John
