“Romans 3:1-20”

Friday, February 16, 2018

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, ‘THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.’

“But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), Let us do evil that good may come’? Their condemnation is just.

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.’ ‘THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING, ‘THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS’; ‘WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS’; ‘THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD DESTRUCTION 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 may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

---End of Scripture verses---

Paul had rebuked the Gentiles for a catalogue of sins in chapter one, and concluded that list by saying that those who commit such atrocities are “worthy of death” (1:32). Then in chapter two he proceeded to put the Jews in the very same category by chastising them since “they practice the same things” (2:1). He went on to scathingly rebuke his Jewish brethren in verses 17-29 for taking such pride in God’s law and will, but for not practicing what they preached. He even quoted Old Testament Scripture by combining Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:20 when he wrote, “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU” (2:20).

Paul used some very harsh words to criticize his unfaithful Jewish brethren in chapter 2, so he spent the entirety of chapter 3 answering objections that he anticipated some would raise (or maybe actually had been previously raised), because of his critique of the Jewish nation.

Paul posed the first question that a Jewish person might ask, or objection they might raise, in verse one. If both Jews and Gentiles stand condemned before God because of their sinful ways, was there ever really any big “advantage” or “benefit” in being a Jew? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” in verse 2. “Great in every respect!” “Much in every way!” “First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.”

The nation of Israel was chosen to be the stewards of the inspired “oracles” or “words” of the living God of heaven! What a great honor and privilege they possessed over all Gentile nations, that they be the standard bearers of the perfect revelation of the Almighty God! God hand-selected them over all other peoples to reveal His word to, and entrust its safe-keeping to.

Jack Cottrell wrote in his commentary about verse 2 the following: “Of special importance is the fact that the Jews knew God’s intention to send a Messiah, a Redeemer. They possessed the many predictive prophecies of his coming, and they nurtured the hope for his appearing. Thus those who happened to be living at the time of his coming would be the first to know him and to have the opportunity to believe in him and receive his salvation (1:16). Who could ask for greater advantages than these?”

Unfortunately, the vast majority of God’s chosen people rejected the very Savior that the “oracles of God” had prompted them to wait for with such great expectation. Being the chosen stewards of God’s word put them in a prestigious position, but it did not guarantee the salvation of each and every individual Israelite. Along with the honor of being entrusted with the word came great responsibility. God fully expected that their hearts belong to Him, and that they believe the prophecies and obey the commands, and that they be faithful in the execution of their duty toward Him. Unfortunately, throughout the long and privileged history of the children of Israel, they repeatedly rebelled against their loving Father in heaven.

The next possible question or objection is raised in verse 3. The unfaithfulness of the majority of God’s chosen people “will not nullify the faithfulness of God” will it? The continual unbelief and unfaithfulness of God’s people doesn’t mean that God has failed in His purposes or promises does it? The answer in this instance is a resounding “No!” “May it never be!” This is the Greek phrase “mē genoito” and Paul used this emphatic term repeatedly in his letter to the Romans. It means “Certainly not!” The King James translators render the expression, “God forbid!”

“Let God be found true, and every man be found a liar!” God is always true, and right, and just, and faithful! No matter how foolishly and pitifully His people may sometimes (often!) behave, and how hatefully and cruelly they may treat Him, God is always faithful!!!

The third objection is found in verse 5. The question might be asked (through purely flawed human reasoning), “If our unrighteousness” brings to light “the righteousness of God” in such obvious ways, is God unrighteous when He “inflicts wrath”? Jack Cottrell wrote, “The false inference suggested by the Jewish objector is this: ‘If our sin magnifies God’s righteousness, this is to his advantage and glory, and thus he really ought to reward us rather than condemn us. And if this is so, then God’s condemnation of us is really unjust.’”

Objection number four is found in verse 7 and is basically a restatement of the ridiculous objection found in verse 5. Paul emphasized the absurdity of these false complaints when he wrote in verse 8 that you might as well say, “Let us do evil that good may come!” It is never right to do wrong! It is never good to do bad! Righteous ends never justify ungodly means!

In this regard, the Jews are not “better” than the Gentiles (verse 9). Were the Jews privileged and blessed and honored because they were entrusted with the oracles of God? Most certainly! But will that make them individually any better off on Judgment Day if they are not found to be obediently faithful to God? Certainly not!!!

Paul went on verses 10-18 to quote numerous Old Testament verses (from the very oracles of God that they so proudly professed to possess) to prove that both unfaithful Jews and unfaithful Gentiles will suffer the same eternal fate.

“By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (verse 20). The Law revealed sin, but it could not remove sin! Only Jesus can do that!

Please read Romans 3:21-31 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

- Louie Taylor

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