Then what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the benefit of circumcision?
Much in every way. First of all, because they were entrusted with the words of God.
What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief nullify God’s faithfulness?
Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though every person is a liar, as it is written: so that you will be declared righteous in your words and will prevail when you are judged.
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what are we to say? Is God unrighteous when he inflicts his wrath? (I am speaking from a human perspective.)
Absolutely not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
But if by my lie the truth of God is amplified to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
And why not say, just as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let’s do evil so that good will come”? Their condemnation is deserved.
No One Is Righteous
What then? Are we Jews any better off? Certainly not! For we have already brought the charge that both Jews and Greeks are all under the power of sin,
as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.
There is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.
They have all turned away; together they have become worthless. There is no one who shows kindness; there is not even one.
Their throat is an open tomb. They deceive with their tongues.The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood.
Ruin and misery are in their paths,
and the path of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth is silenced and the whole world is held accountable to God,
because by the works of the law no flesh will be declared righteous in his sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
But now a righteousness from God has been revealed apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets testify to it,
namely, the righteousness from God that comes through trust in Jesus Christ to all those who believe, since there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles,
because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Butthey are declared righteous freely by his grace through the redemption that is accomplished by Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an atoning sacrifice through trust in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in God’s restraint he passed over the sins previously committed,
planning to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he can be righteous and declare righteous the one who trusts in Jesus.
Where, then, is there room for boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, but by a law of trust.
For we maintain that a person is declared righteous by trust apart from works of the law.
Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
since there is only one God, who will declare righteous the circumcision by trust and the uncircumcision through the same trust.
Do we then nullify the law through trust? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.