Chapter III
What favor is there for the Jew?
Does circumcision profit you?
To them from God commandments fell;
Where is your faith, O Israel?
Let God be true and justified;
Let men be charged that all have lied.
If by my sin God’s pow’r commend,
Then why should God thus take revenge?
If when I’m false he’s glorified,
Am I a sinner, though I’ve lied?
Then shall I sin that good may come?
No, God forbid, just damnation.
We are no better than the Jew;
All Gentiles under sin we proved.
As it is written, None is right;
None search or understand the Light.
Out of the way have all men gone.
No man on earth does good, not one.
Their throat’s a grave; their tongue’s a snake;
Their feet have run t’ward blood to take.
Their way is full of misery;
And ruin will accompany.
The way of peace have they not known.
No fear of God their eyes are shown.
What things the law of God demand,
These must apply to sinful man.
That every mouth of man may stop;
Upon the world, God’s gavel drop.
No flesh shall stand before the throne;
For by the law all sins are known.
The way to God doth now appear;
The prophets and the law are clear.
God’s righteousness faith will provide.
No difference then, for all he died.
In sin has plunged all Adam’s kin.
God’s glory, no, he cannot win.
But by his grace He’s made us just;
Redeemed in Christ His blood we trust.
Set forth by God this offer stands:
Faith in his blood his grace demands.
I do declare, for God is just:
His righteousness to all who trust.
All boasting then by faith is vain;
By lawful deeds there is no gain.
One God shall justify the Jew.
By faith, he calls the Gentiles too.
Does faith make void God’s holy law?
Forbid it. Faith fulfills it all.