The Faithfulness Of God

Alba 8-1-2021

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

Romans 3:1-8

Doesn't it seem that there are people who are born with special advantages over others? Some seem to be born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth.

Somehow, that sounds uncomfortable. But I think it would be better than having one's foot in ones mouth. That seems to be the situation that many of us have to deal with all too often.

Still, we who have been born in the United States of America have many advantages that most people in the world do not have. But, also there are many in this country today who don't seem to recognize the blessings of those advantages, even among some of our olympic athletes.

Such is the case of those God chose to bless with the covenant established with Abraham and his descendants. They were given the advantage of a relationship with the creator God in a special way.

In fact that is what the apostle Paul says in Romans chapter three. Still, all too many of those people did not act in a way that would demonstrate faith in what was revealed to them.

After he has made it clear the special place that God had given to the Jewish nation, and the things they believed gave them bragging rights over other people, Paul says that is not enough.

Yes, they had the advantage of receiving the law and the sign of circumcision, but if they did not believe what God said, or live up to what was required, they would not have any advantage over the Gentiles in the eyes of God.

That had to be a shocking message to those who trusted in those outward expressions of a relationship with God without the actual relationship of love and obedience to God.

So Paul writes the following in Romans 3:1-8 explaining this situation further. Turn with me to these verses.

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly 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.”

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And 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.

There could be some who would question that since God chose the Hebrew people as His own and established His covenant with them, how could He turn His back on these people?

Would God have done all the things He did for the people He called His own simply to say that none of that means anything now?

Paul wants his readers, and us, to know that God does not act in that way toward anyone. No, the Jewish nation did have advantages that others did not have.

Among those advantages is the fact that it was to these people that God revealed His Words and His Law.

The sacred writing of God with its teachings, commandments, predictions and promises had been entrusted to the Jewish nation. It was given to them that they might accept it by faith, obey it, hold it in high honor, and transmit it to others.

What greater advantage in life could one ask for than to possess the writings of God and possess the prophets, priests and scribes whose duty it was to explain, proclaim, and transmit them to the people?

Our text calls these things the “oracles of God.” The New International Version translates this “the very words of God”. In other words, the revelation of God to man.

It refers to the message of salvation that was made known to them through the Law and the prophets in the Old Testament Scriptures.

God had spoken, and the record of what He said was entrusted to Israel, and Israel only. That’s the awesome privilege they have.

They were given a great advantage because the truth was made known to them. But Paul says this alone did not assure them a place in heaven.

A modern-day version of this would be like those who are born into a Christian family, or those who have grown up in a church.