Questioning the Witness
Notes
Transcript
INTRO:
INTRO:
AG:Short Meditations on the Bible and Peanuts" (the cartoon comic strip, Peanuts). If you’re familiar with these children characters, Lucy and Charlie Brown, you will be able to picture this scene. Lucy is sitting behind what looks like a sidewalk lemonade stand, labeled "Psychiatric Help."
Charlie Brown asks Lucy, "How can I correct some of my faults?"
Lucy replies, "You know why you have faults, Charlie Brown? It’s because of your weaknesses! It’s all those weaknesses that you have that cause your faults!
Charlie Brown innocently asks, "Well, how can I cure my weaknesses?
Lucy spouts, "You’ve got to get rid of your failings! It’s those failings that are holding you back!"
TS: In Romans 3, Paul asks and answers a series of questions designed to contrast most Jews’ practice with what they knew and taught.
RS: As we examine this series of questions, we’re going to explore some reasons for why we fail to live as God intended. It’s not that we lack the knowledge. We know. Most Christians would tell you that we fail because of sin in us. But what can I do about sin? That’s what we’ll look at this morning.
I. FIRST QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:1–2)
I. FIRST QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:1–2)
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
A. Question (3:1): What are the advantages of being a Jew or of being circumcised?
Paul’s audience had been taught the Jews had an advantage.
They were God’s chosen people
They were correct and wrong at the same time.
They thought their genetics and religion made them acceptable to God regardless of how they lived and what they believed.
Paul had just addressed this
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Who we are inwardly is who we really are.
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
B. Answer (3:2): The most important advantage is that Israel has been entrusted with the Word of God.
The Word of God is their advantage!
They were set aside and through them the world was blessed
Written Word
lit oracles of God
important sayings or messages.
Paul is referring to the whole Old Testament
The sum total of the entire word of God (at that time)
The OT contained the truth about salvation
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The OT had the gospel
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
Living Word
That blessing came to the word as Jesus, God incarnate
The OT had pointed to Him and given many details of His life
That is a great advantage! And WE have it too!
II. SECOND QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:3–4)
II. SECOND QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:3–4)
A. Question (3:3): Will Israel’s unfaithfulness nullify God’s promises?
For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
The fact that some don’t believe is a puzzle
Nature declares there is a God
Scripture declares there is a God
History declares there is a God
we see evidence of His intervention throughout hx
As puzzling as it is, it doesn’t negate the faithfulness of God!
Part of the issue Paul is addressing is the belief held by many Jews that God was going to bless every physical descendant of Abraham.
They felt secure in their genetics, but God declared it was much more than that.
He never said all physical descendants would be saved
Look at the Northern Kingdom!
Taken captive by Assyria and scattered around their empire.
B. Answer (3:4)
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.”
1. Paul’s testimony (3:4a): “Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true.”
God will never renege (re-NIG) on His promises
They had forgotten that God has always judged His people.
There were numerous historical examples that not every child of Abraham in the flesh was redeemedd.
2. David’s testimony (3:4b): Paul quotes from Psalm 51:4 to prove his point.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Ps 51 is a prayer of repentance
David had committed a series of sins: adultery, deception, murder
When confronted, he repented.
God’s judgment against sin and sinners is consistent with His nature: He is just.
III. THIRD QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:5–8)
III. THIRD QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:5–8)
A. Question (3:5): If our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness, isn’t he unfair to punish us?
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
From a fleshly perspective, the argument goes: My unrighteousness lets us see God’s righteousness more clearly. Therefore, since it benefits God, why would He display wrath? That isn’t just!
IL: a Jewler will display a beautiful diamond on a black cloth to make it stand out more.
God’s righteousness shows up more clearly against the backdrop of our sin they argued.
That is some STINKIN THINKIN!
B. Answer (3:6–8)
Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
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.
1. The reprobation (3:8b): Paul has been falsely accused of teaching this very thing—that is, do evil that good may result.
Paul’s message of salvation by grace through faith alone was being twisted into a license and encouragement to sin
2. The reply (3:6–8a): Paul responds, “If you follow that kind of thinking … you might as well say that the more we sin the better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.”
IV. FOURTH QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:9–20)
IV. FOURTH QUESTION AND ANSWER (3:9–20)
A. Question (3:9a): Are the Jews better than all other people?
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
B. Answer (3:9b–20): in short NO!!!
1. The corruption (3:10–18): Paul describes the cancer of sin that has infected the human race.
a. Human conscience is depraved (3:10–11): No one even desires to know and follow God.
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
All are sinners, that is all people sin
There are none who are righteous of their on accord
There are none who think clearly about these things and nobody goes looking for GOD on their own.
All man made substitutes in our own religions are not really seeking God, they are seeking to replace Him or to escape His justice
They are placebos to make themselves “feel better”
b. Human character is depraved (3:12): All have left the path of good and have became worthless.
They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
“turned aside” leaning the wrong way
Used to describe a deserting soldier, fleeing battle
c. Human conversation is depraved (3:13–14): People’s talk is foul and filthy, resembling:
“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
Graves were sealed to hide the corruption of decay
The conversation coming from fallen humans is revealing that corruption and decay.
Cursing quotes
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
caustic, derisive language
bitterness
open and public expression of hostility against an enemy
d. Human conduct is depraved (3:15–18).
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Murder, destruction, misery!
We damage or destroy everything
God created the family
look how humans have messed it up
God created society
Yes, we destroyed that through oppression
NO FEAR
God is not feared
2. The conclusion (3:9, 19–20): After presenting all the terrible facts, Paul reaches this twofold conclusion:
a. Both Jew and Gentile have sinned against God (3:9).
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
b. Both Jew and Gentile stand accused before God (3:19–20).
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Conc
Conc
We are sinners
ALL people are sinners
Apart from God, we remain in our sins and justly suffer the wrath of God.
No amount of rationalizing, good works, or man made religion will overcome it.
Works Cited.
The Outline Bible (Section Outline Three (Romans 3))
