“The Cases Against All Humanity”

We are nearing the CONCLUSION of a lengthy argument of the “…godlessness and unrighteousness of people” which began in (Romans 1:18) and finishes in ( Romans 3:20)!

“…God’s wrath is being revealed” to THREE GROUPS thus far:

Depraved Gentile Society - (1:18-32)

Critical Moralizers - (2:1-16)

Self-Confident Jews - (2:17-29)

This morning we will finish our study of “God’s wrath” by exploring some final issues: Four Objections to Paul’s Teaching- (3:1-8), and the Case Against Humankind - (3:9-20)!

I. Four Objections to Paul’s Teaching - (3:1-8)

John Stott: “It is not difficult to imagine the reactions of at least some of Paul’s Jewish readers. They will have responded to him with a mixture of incredulity and indignation. For his thesis will have seemed to them an outrageous undermining of the very foundations of Judaism, namely God’s character and covenant.”

Paul’s METHOD of handling Jewish objections to his teaching takes the form of a ‘diatribe’, as we have seen earlier—a literary technique where a teacher would set up a dialogue with his critics, first posing and then answering their questions.

The questions Paul uses are not necessarily imaginary. It seems probable that he is recalling actual arguments which Jews have used with him during his missionary journeys.

Acts 17:1–3 CSB

After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”

Acts 17:17 CSB

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

Acts 18:4 CSB

He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:8 CSB

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

“What were the arguments against Paul?”

Objection #1: Paul’s Teaching Undermines God’s COVENANT — (3:1–2)

1. The Objector’s QUESTIONS — (v.1)

“So what advantage does the Jew have?…”

“…Or what is the benefit of circumcision?”

2. Paul’s ANSWERS — (v.2)

“Considerable in every way…”

Ephesians 2:12 CSB

At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.

“…First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.”

Deuteronomy 4:7–8 CSB

For what great nation is there that has a god near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Nehemiah 9:13–14 CSB

You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, and good statutes and commands. You revealed your holy Sabbath to them, and gave them commands, statutes, and instruction through your servant Moses.

Psalm 147:19–20 CSB

He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and judgments to Israel. He has not done this for every nation; they do not know his judgments. Hallelujah!

Objection #2: Paul’s Teaching Nullifies God’s FAITHFULNESS — (3:3–4)

1. The Objector’s QUESTIONS — (v.3)

“What then?”

Romans 3:3 ESV

What if some were unfaithful?…

Romans 3:3 NKJV

For what if some did not believe?…

“…If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?”

In other words, “Is God’s faithfulness nullified?”

2. Paul’s ANSWERS — (v.4)

“Absolutely not!…” - (μὴ γένοιτο) - lit., ‘not happening’ - (KJV - “God forbid…”)

“…Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar…”

Psalm 51:4 CSB

Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.

Deuteronomy 32:4 CSB

The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.

Psalm 100:5 CSB

For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.

Psalm 119:160 CSB

The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever.

Lamentations 3:22–23 CSB

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!

Rather than nullifying the faithfulness of God, Paul’s teaching ESTABLISHES IT!

2 Timothy 2:13 CSB

if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Objection #3: Paul’s Teaching Impugns God’s JUSTICE — (3:5–6)

1. The Objector’s QUESTIONS — (v.5)

The two questions in (v.5) are closely connected in that the first leads to the second!

Q #1 - “Does human unrighteousness promote God’s righteousness?” - (v.5a)

Paul has just stated that God is our “judge” (v.4), and therefore if our unrighteousness makes God more righteous, “…what are we to say?” (v.5b)

Which leads to the next question…

Q #2 - “…Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?” - (v.5c)

In the words of Stott, “Would it not be unfair of him to punish them for something which is to his advantage?”

2. Paul’s ANSWERS — (v.6)

Like the questions in (v.5), the two answers are tied together!

A #1 - “Absolutely not!…” - (μὴ γένοιτο) - ‘not happening’ - (KJV - “God forbid…”)

A #2 - “…Otherwise, how will God judge the world?”

As Schreiner asks, “If God is unjust in judging the Jews, how can he judge the Gentiles as well?”

What’s at stake (by the objector) is God’s ABILITY and RIGHT to judge!

Genesis 18:25 CSB

You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?”

Objection #4: Paul’s Teaching Negates God’s TRUTH — (3:7–8)

1. The Objector’s QUESTIONS — (vv.7-8a)

Q #1 - “…why am I also still being judged as a sinner?” - (v.7b)

Osborne: “…if sin is used positively to bring glory to God for his righteousness, then the sinner should be applauded for doing so rather than punished. So if human lies highlight the truthfulness of God, they are a good thing.”

Stott: “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness, just as our unrighteousness displays God’s righteousness more brightly (v.5), and so increases his glory, then surely God ought to be pleased, even grateful?”

Q #2: “And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, ‘Let us do what is evil so that good may come’?…”

C. H. Hodge puts it well: “According to this reasoning, says Paul, the worse we are, the better: for the more wicked we are, the more conspicuous will be the mercy of God in our pardon.”

This is so illogical that it scandalizes Paul! This is also not the last time we will see this addressed by Paul!

Romans 6:1–2 CSB

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

2. Paul’s ANSWER — (v.8b) - “…Their condemnation is deserved!”

II. The Case Against All Humankind — (3:9–20)

A. PROPOSITION: Jews and Greeks are BOTH Under Sin! - (v.9)

1. Jews have NO ADVANTAGE! - (v.9a) - “…Are we [Jews] any better off? Not at all!”

2. Jews and Greeks are BOTH UNDER SIN! - (v.9b) - “…we have already charged”

From προῃτιασάμεθα (proētiasametha) - ‘accuse beforehand’

B. PROOF: OT Teaching! - (v.10a) - “as it is written…”

Paul supplies a series of seven OT quotations, the first from Ecclesiastes, then five from the Psalms and one from Isaiah, all of which bear witness in different ways to human unrighteousness.

1. Their HEARTS/MINDS Condemns Them - (vv.10b–12)

Ecclesiastes 7:20 CSB

There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.

Psalm 14:1–3 CSB

The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.

2. Their SPEECH Condemns Them - (vv.13–14)

Psalm 5:9 CSB

For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.

Psalm 140:3 CSB

They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s bite; viper’s venom is under their lips. Selah

Psalm 10:7 CSB

Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

3. Their ACTIONS Condemn Them - (vv.15–17)

Isaiah 59:7–8 CSB

Their feet run after evil, and they rush to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths. They have not known the path of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks on them will know peace.

4. They DO NOT FEAR God - (v.18)

Psalm 36:1 NASB95

Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.

C. IMPLICATION: The Law Makes Accountable and Exposes Sin! - (vv.19–20)

1. The Law Makes ALL Accountable - (v.19)

2. The Law Brings the RECOGNITION of Sin - (v.20)