Romans Chapter 3 Verses 1-8 - Messages In Romans – God Remains Faithful; Good Does Not Come From Evil Message 8 Series

ROMANS CHAPTER 3 VERSES 1-8 - MESSAGES IN ROMANS – GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL; GOOD DOES NOT COME FROM EVIL MESSAGE 8

[PART A]. INTRODUCING THE GREAT THEME OF THE CHAPTER

{{Romans 3:1 “THEN what advantage has the Jew, or what is the benefit of circumcision?

Romans 3:2 Great in every respect. First of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of God.”}}

Paul has just concluded Chapter 2, setting out the case against the Jews who failed through unbelief. The Law was despised and only token recognition was given to it. In chapter 1 the Apostle set out the case against the Gentile world so by the time you get to the start of Chapter 3, no one can be found who is righteous and that is the subject of Chapter 3.

At face value one might conclude that there is no difference whatever between Jew and Gentile, but that assumption would be wrong. To address that point, Paul then asks the question, “What advantage does the Jew have?” The second question about the benefit of circumcision, I think must relate to the covenant between God and Israel, for God has established an everlasting covenant with Israel, and that places the Jew in a very privileged class. However great privilege brings great responsibility and in that the Jew failed, but God does not deny Himself because Israel failed, but we know from all the prophetic scriptures that great blessing one day awaits Israel. Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant for Israel.

However in the present time, (the Church age) and in Paul’s time, he asks the questions in verse 1 and answers them in verse 2. The second verse is stating that the advantages of the Jew were/are great in every respect.

I wish people who write off Israel according to some in Covenant Theology would understand that. To “disinherit” God from His earthly people is tragic and will not carry the blessing of God.

The first point Paul makes regarding the advantage the Jew had, is that nation had the oracles of God. In explaining the oracles, I think this quote from Barnes is a good one – [[The oracles - The word "oracle" among the pagan meant properly the answer or response of a god, or of some priest supposed to be inspired, to an inquiry of importance, usually expressed in a brief moralistic way, and often with great ambiguity. The place from which such a response was usually obtained was also called an oracle, as the oracle at Delphi, etc. These oracles were frequent among the pagan, and affairs of great importance were usually submitted to them. The word rendered "oracles" occurs in the New Testament but four times, Acts 7:38; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11; Romans 3:2.]]

It is very clear from the four usages of this word that all references are to the inspired word of God, in other words, to the delivered scriptures of the Old Testament. God entrusted these scriptures to the nation both as His code of living, and connection with the living God, but the nation failed in their entrustment. They betrayed the will and purpose of God. Let me ask, “Has the Church in general also followed the way of the Jews in despising the holy scriptures?” What I see in too many churches is a lack and neglect and a dismissal of the Old Testament scriptures. I hear the words, “The Old Testament is for the Jews. The New Testament is for the Church.”

That can not be further from the truth. When you read the New Testament every reference to the word of God or the scriptures refers to the Old Testament as we have in this very well-known verse – {{2Timothy 3:16-17 “ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”}}

[PART B]. GOD IS FAITHFUL EVEN THROUGHOUT ISRAEL'S UNBELIEF

{{Romans 3:3 “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

Romans 3:4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You might be justified in Your words and might prevail when You are judged,”}}

Some agreements lawyers make, and written into them is a clause that if one party fails to uphold the points of the contract, then the whole agreement/covenant become null and void. That is the way that man works but it does not apply to God.

Israel was in a privileged state as we saw in chapter 2 and here in the opening of chapter 3, but was utterly faithless, breaking the covenant (Law of Moses) time and time again. In man’s economy the document would have been torn up, but not so with God, for you see, He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and that will ever stand. The faithlessness of individuals was not going to destroy the promises of God.