Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

This verse of scripture is confusing because of the general understanding of establish which in modern terms means; set up (an organization, system, or set of rules) on a firm or permanent basis. God has already done that so reusing that definition becomes redundant. Man cannot make the laws that God has already established, in the modern sense.

We have to once again look to the Greek with its multifaceted definitions to see which tense this word applies in context.

Histemi in its third tense means to set or place in a balance; to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)

The law was heavily weighted towards punishment. Death was required for all violations against God. There were lesser penalties for wrongs done against another person, but punishment was the primary focus.

There was no way to bring law into balance, nothing that could balance the heavy weight of death. There was nothing that created life to offset the weight of sinning against God.

John 3:3,7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Only being born again establishes life on the other side of the scales of justice. God, being a just God, had to create a just answer to a just law that could bring the law back into balance.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Law without grace is out of balance and there is no justice. Paul’s establishment is bringing balance to the law by preaching grace, a way to get on the right side of the scales of justice by being born again.

Romans 3:9 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;

All of mankind will be divided into two groups. They all came together, were in one group and then divided.

Revelations 20:12, 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Now imagine you are in one group and you look over to the other group; one led by Jesus Christ, and you see the man who raped and murdered your daughter. Now you look to the leader of your group and you find Satan bound in chains. If all were guilty and all sinned, then how is it murders and rapist ended up in the saved group and you who are nowhere near as bad as they are condemned?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

All mankind was in one group and those who escaped only did so because they placed their faith in Christ and not in the works of their own hands.

Scream that is not fair all you want. Was it fair that the Son of God should die for all mankind’s sins, yours included?

Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The names in the book of life are those found in Christ.

Where are you?