Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Romans

March 19, 2006 #20 in series

THE HEBREW NEEDS THE GOSPEL

Verses 2:17-3:8

Conclusion

In our previous studies concerning the guilt of the Hebrew we’ve seen

1. The Truth About Their CLAIMS in 2:17-20

2. The Truth About Their CONDUCT in 2:21-24

3. The Truth About their CIRCUMCISION in 2: 25-29

and now……

The Truth About Their CONDEMNATION

3:1-8

This is probably one of the most difficult passages in Romans.

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 some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

Condemnation Based Upon Their Privileges - vs. 1-3. The Jew had the unique privilege of being the recipients of the oracles or promises of God. However, this privilege increased their responsibility to keep the law (2:13) and at the same time demonstrated their inability to measure up.

In chapter two Paul categorically eliminated the possibility of the physical rite of circumcision as having any part in making the Jews acceptable to God. He has reminded them that for an Israelite to be a true Jew in God’s sight, circumcision of the heart –not of the flesh, is necessary. Righteousness, not ritual, is required. However, the Jew would have a very serious question. What was the reason or purpose for God separating the Jewish people from other people and furthermore, why did He institute circumcision? This brings us to chapter three and Paul’s brilliant and logical answer.

Since Paul seems to have rubbed out the distinction between Jew and Gentile in his argument in chapter two – their question now would be, “Well, is there any advantage in being a Jew or any benefit in the rite of circumcision?” After all, if there is no merit in them, why in the world did God give them in the first place? Paul’s answer comes to them in a very distinctive mode of expression. Great, in every respect. There is tremendous benefit in being a Jew and in the rite of circumcision. First and foremost, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. This amounts to God’s total revelation. As such they were responsible for knowing and obeying it and sharing it with others. This revelation also included God’s promises to them and His covenants with them. But wait just a minute. What if some of those to whom it was given didn’t believe it and were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness cause God to be unfaithful to what He said? Will He break His covenant and promises with the Jew?

Condemnation Based Upon Their Presumption – vs. 4-8. Israel presumed that because they were a privileged people – God would excuse their sin. That their sin would actually bring glory to God. This reveals the wickedness of the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

Paul responds with a resounding, “May it never be!” God is not like men. He is true to what He said. Paul confirms the faithfulness of God with a quotation from Psalm 51, David’s great penitential psalm, to hammer home still further convicting truth. The psalm shows that David was willing to condemn himself utterly so that God might be seen to be righteous in His judgment of him; and the quotation proves Paul’s point that although God had given His promises to Israel, those promises did not mean that the unrepentant Jew could escape doom.

But they would say, if our badness demonstrates God’s goodness, wouldn’t He be wrong in judging us? Paul is speaking from their vantage point. This could never happen. For if this were true how could He judge the world? The world is sinful. If God operated by the principle proposed by the Jew, how could He judge that which makes Him look good, hence the whole world? This is preposterous! He now asks basically the same question from a personal point of view. “If my lie brings out God’s glory, why am I being judged as a sinner?” Some were claiming that Paul was teaching, “Let’s continue to do evil in order that God’s goodness may keep on coming.” He says of the ones who made these accusations, “Their condemnation is just. Dr. McGee writes, “some had falsely accused Paul of teaching this absurdity. It was ridiculous for it was Paul who insisted that God must judge sin. As surely as there is sin, there must be judgment.”

If not careful, we can easily disarrange God’s truth and misapply it in order to justify our sin. This, my friends should not be! We take God’s truth as we find it and apply it as God intended. Let’s be careful not to presume upon our privileges. Read Romans 3:9-20 for our next pen pulpit. So until next time, God bless.