Romans 3:1 (NKJV)1What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

Transcription

1 Introduction Paul the prosecutor has brought charges against mankind. In chapters 1 & 2 Paul brought indictments against the blatantly immoral; the insidious self-righteous and the outwardly religious. What Paul concludes is spiritually devastating: From a spiritual standpoint human beings are lost in their trespass and sin. All stand condemned and are under the wrath and judgment of God. Apart from God s redeeming grace--we are dead in our sins completely without eternal hope. At the end of chapter 2 (vv.17-29) Paul demonstrates that even the most religious person on the whole planet earth could never stand before God apart from Christ. Even the Jew--with the claims of heritage, good deeds and the Holy Law is lost in sin! Paul is going to take out his Holy Spirit hammer and select nails that will insure the coffin of the religious person remains closed. In Romans 3 Paul deals with a series of questions and answers. In our study we will look at three of those questions and Paul s answers: What are the advantages of being a Jew or being circumcised? (vv.1-2). Will Israel s unfaithfulness nullify God s promises? (v.3-4). If our unrighteousness reveals God s righteousness is it fair to punish the sinner? (vv.5-8). Paul will argue against those who claim a racial advantage; or religious faithfulness or we might even say unfaithfulness; and finally Paul will overturn the ridiculous argument that if sin gives God an opportunity to demonstrate His goodness then why not sin even more so that God can manifest His goodness? In essence sin does not glorify the holy righteous perfect self-existent God of the Bible. If that were the case we would have to abandon the Bible doctrines of judgment and wrongdoing and the wrongdoer would go unpunished! God would have to recuse Himself as a righteous impartial judge and Paul s second answer (v.8b) is short and penetrating: Their condemnation is just. What does Paul mean? Their accusation is slander against God pure and simple--and they stand self-condemned--because of the illogical nature of their charge. Their reasoning is like the person who pray for more crisis--more disaster--more tragedy--so that police fire and paramedics would have the opportunity to display their skills! The Advantage Of Being A Jew (vv.1-2) Romans 3:1 (NKJV)1What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Who is Paul s audience? Jews who have converted to Christ, Romans who have come to Christ, Jews and pagans who are investigating Christianity and Christ. Many of these people had varied backgrounds. Many Jews and pagans imagined themselves to be clothed in righteous garments that were non-existent. Some were deluded with false religious confidence. 1

2 What Paul does to his original reader he does to us! Paul peels back the layers of religious affiliation and religious ritual and strips us of our false confidence in religion, ritual and affliation. Do you remember the story of the Emperor who had no clothes? Paul has the nerve to say that religious people--robed in self-righteousness are in fact naked! There are seven specific items found in these first eight verses: (1) The people of God (v.1) (2) The oracles of God (v.2) (3) The faithfulness of God (v.3) (4) The truthfulness of God (v.4) (5) The righteousness of God (v.5) (6) The judgment of God (v.6) (7) The glory of God (vv.7-8) The People Of God The religious Jew who hears the gospel asks the question; what are the advantages of being a Jew and keeping the commandments feasts and festivals if like every Gentile I must come to Christ? What are the benefits of being a Jew? Why identify with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? The Jewish people had a glorious past--and the Bible promises a glorious future. 2Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. Paul answers the question: the Jew has every advantage since they possessed the Word of God. The word chiefly means first in order. This suggests other advantages--but Paul will return to those advantages in Romans 9:4-5. The Oracles Of God Paul argues much in every way! They believed because they possessed the Word of God they were safe. Paul has already proven that having God s Word is not the same thing as believing it or obeying it and therefore cannot be source of confidence in personal salvation! The oracles of God (the revelation of God in the Bible) revealed Jews were in fact born into blessing. An oracle was a message or voice. The Jews received the oracles of God and served as writers and keepers--custodians of Holy Scripture. Having the Word of God is advantageous. Reading, hearing, seeing obeying multiplies those advantages. Living in a society or environment that has been informed and then transformed by God s Word is advantageous. 2

3 There were covenants of blessing. The Jews were given the advantage of bringing forth the Messiah. The Jews had the additional promises of God and previews of the future. And yet while having this great honor and privilege it brought with it enormous responsibility. To whom much is given--much is required. With honor and advantage comes an accountability for abuse and misuse. The person who has the advantages of living in a Christian home where the Bible is read loved honored and obeyed is left without excuse if they fail to live for the Lord. And what about Christians? Are there advantages to being a Christian? Much in every way! We have a book. We have the oracles of God and are given a sneak peek into the future! With these Scriptures Christians have laid the foundations of Western Civilization and the roots of modern science. Yet there are still millions without the Scripture. The Advantage Of Unbelief (vv.3-4) 3For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Will Jewish unbelief cancel God s faithfulness? Weymouth translates this: What if some Jews proved unfaithful? Shall their unfaithfulness nullify God s faithfulness? God promised the Jew a special place and special privileges through Abraham and his seed. Doesn t the mere existence of the rite or ritual and embracing the rite and ritual obligate God to accept us? What does this mean? Since some of the Jews proved unfaithful and squandered their advantages and privileges was God going to set His Word aside? Did the unbelief of God s people thwart the promises of God and derail God s plan in Christ? Will the Jew find himself or herself on the right side of eternity simply on the basis of national heritage? Will the moral man find himself or herself on the right side of eternity on the basis of being moral? Will the religious person find himself or herself on the right side of eternity because of their religion? Are the laws of life and eternity established by God or by peoples thoughts, ideas or opinions? This is exactly what it means when Paul writes shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Does unbelief negate truth? Will unbelief make something ineffective and void? If there is one thing in the universe that will remain constant, unchanging, immovable, it is God s faithfulness to His own promises! What He has said He will do. What He has promised He will fulfill. What He has ordered will be executed. God doesn t have a viewpoint. He simply has points to view. The Truthfulness Of God (v.4) 3

4 4Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged. Now Paul gives the answer: No way! The opposite is true! Rather it reinforces and reveals God s faithfulness and holiness and righteousness and truth. Why can t God just change the truth? Why doesn t God just choose to forgive sinners apart from the gospel and apart from Jesus Christ? Why doesn t God just let it go? Why doesn t God just wink at sin or forget sin or pretend sin isn t really sin? Why doesn t God altar His Word? Why won t God change His mind about sin and its consequences? Because it would destroy the whole fabric of truth! God won t change the truth. Paul says; Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. What does that mean? Does Paul suggest that God wants all human beings to serve as assassin s of the truth? I don t think that is Paul s point. I think Paul s point is that human beings in their human thinking and human wisdom should prove to be false--god will always be proved true. Human beings judge God to be either true or false. Yet in Ezekiel 12:25 we read; For I am the Lord: I will speak; and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD. If God has proved Himself repeatedly to be honest--true--precise in both character and nature; we do well to trust Him in the short course and the long haul. Blaise Pascal wrote; Unless we love the truth we cannot know it. Etiene Gilson wrote; It is not hard to find the truth. What is hard is not to run away from it once you have found it. Indeed, let God be true. God is vindicated by His character and His Word--not by your circumstance! I received a note this week from a self-described atheist/satanist. In the note he described an attempt to live the life-style of a Christian and in his words he described the experience as boring and repulsive. I wrote back and told him that the Christian life-style is boring and repulsive--if we attempt to live the Christian life based on our own resources and our own strength. But Peace and Joy can not be described as boring and repulsive. The Advantage Of Sin (vv.5-8) The Righteousness Of God (v.5) 4

5 5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Think about the question: If our sin commends His righteousness how can he judge us? Paul s critic accuses Paul of an absurd theology. If there is no difference between the righteous (the Jews) and sinners, any judgment must become meaningless (see The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary; p.1235). The righteousness of God stands in bold contrast to the record of wicked and evil mankind. What will the perfections of God do? Will it make God hate human beings? Will his holiness make our unholiness and his righteousness make our unrighteousness--the object of his burning wrath and awaken in God s heart a deep and profound sense of justice--which will make it impossible for God to anything other than punish us? Or will his love and mercy and purity result in love and mercy for the offender? Paul says I speak as a man. Paul in effect is saying--i am speaking like a human being addressing other human beings. God is righteous. God is right. God s power and character and attributes allow the universe to function. In the Civil War Lincoln was asked Do you think God is on our side? Lincoln s reply was shocking: After a thoughtful pause Lincoln said, I don t know. I haven t even thought of that. What I am really anxious to know is whether we are on God s side. Much of our religious efforts have been an effort to push God to our side. To coax God and compel God to adopt our standard of righteousness, purity, holiness, and goodness. The Judgment Of God (v.6) 6Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? The answer: we do not do evil that good may come of it. God judges the world in perfect righteousness. Look at how Paul answers the question or the suggestion--that God might reconsider some of His laws and refrain from Judgment. Paul in a literary sense throws up his hands and cries Certainly not! or God forbid! He is actually saying banish or away with that thought or don t go there! Remember the question: Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? Think it through: It is utterly impossible that God can look at sin and embrace sin and retain His Divine Integrity. 5

6 Some were saying in Paul s day that God s pardon of man s sin was such a beautiful and amazing thing--it would be for His greater glory--to pardon all sin--apart from the Gospel and Apart from the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ! Paul is in effect saying-- God forbid. It cannot be--if God is to remain God. God cannot overlook a religious man s sin--simply because he is religious. God cannot overlook a moral man s sin--simply because he is moral. God must be consistent with His character and His Word; and both His Character and His Word--are brought forth in the Oracles of God written, preserved and kept by the Jewish people. The Glory Of God (vv.7-8) 7For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? Paul gives voice to the religious person s objection: If my sin brings glory to God, if my lie vindicates His truth, if He causes man s wrath to praise Him, then how can He consistently find fault with me as a sinner? (see William McDonald; BBC p.1685). 8And why not say, Let us do evil that good may come? as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. Some charged Paul with teaching that sinful license had the net result of bring honor and glory to God! Paul condemns that nonsense. Sin is sin. Sin s nature doesn t change. You can t generate more goodness by creating or celebrating wickedness. If there is no theological possibility of a divine judgment, the ethical difference between good and evil becomes void (BIBC; p.1235). Does War sometimes result in peace? A fortune built on lies and dishonesty cannot result in peace and happiness. A life built on half-lies and whole-lies will not stand the test of time. A peace built on terror and aggression will not stand the test of time. Real Christian peace and holiness cannot be divorced from grace and truth. There are people who still make this argument. Some people suggest; well if you are really saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone--why you could go out and do whatever you want--sin as much as you like--since God s grace superabounds over man s sin, the more you sin the more grace abounds! The apostle answers this objection in Romans chapter 6. In short we must recon ourselves dead to sin--it is not enough to know our new position in Christ--we must by faith reckon it to be true in our individual lives. Reckoning is that step of faith that says what the Bible says about me is now true in my life. I am crucified with Christ. 6

7 Reckoning is faith in action--resting on God s Word in spite of circumstances or feelings. God does not tell us to crucify ourselves--but rather to believe that we have already been put to death--no one ever killed themselves on a cross. It always requires a willing partner to put you to death. Reckoning is that step of faith that believes God s Word and acts upon it. If a believer truly reckons themselves dead to sin--they will prove their faith by yielding themselves to God (6:12-23). We know our condition--and we act on our condition. Conclusion What is the secret of Christian living? You notice I did not ask you--what is the secret of escaping judgment? That is the low view--the cheap view--the easy view--but what if there is another way? A better way? What about obedience to God as an act of faith in the life of faith. All harmony and order in both the natural world and the supernatural world comes from fruitful obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Obedience is not the mark of a slave but the mark of the Master and the leader. Obedience is God s way to power. In health it is obedience to the laws of the physical world. In the spiritual world it is obedience to the laws of the Spirit. Do you know the will of God and do the will of God? The obedient will be obeyed--and the conqueror will be conquered. The follower will become the leader and the bond-slave will become the Master. What are we to make of all this? Argument can t save you. Legalism can t save you. License to sin can t save you. Many well meaning Christians want to keep the Law. Many well meaning Christians want to impose the Law on Christians. Their argument-- If you don t teach people moral restraint and keeping the law they will run around and sin like sailors on shore leave. The very Jews who rejected Jesus continued to accept the Law and the religious ritual. And so it is with the make-believer Christian. The make believer Christian who trusts being born in a Christian home, and having Christian parents, and going to a Christian church and reading a Christian Bible and engaging in Christian rituals--and clinging to the religious rules... Many are cold and a few are frozen. Mark Twain put it this way; Having spent considerable time with good people,i can understand why Jesus liked to be with tax-collectors and sinners. There is no refuge in religion, there is no refuge in church rules. Jesus is the way of escape. 7