Addressing the Doubts ( Romans 3:1-8)

Romans 3:1-8

GBCCR DATE \@ "M/d/yy" 3/28/26

Introduction

There is no such thing as a bad question,

But there is a bad heart behind some questions

The kind that are asked because you want to understand…

and the kind that are asked because you don’t want to obey.”

You know the examples

A child:

Good: “Why should I eat vegetables?”

Bad: “Why do I have to eat vegetables?”

An employee:

Good: “Can you help me understand what success looks like here?”

Bad: “Do I really have to do it that way?”

A Christian:

Good: “Is it wrong for me to do this”

Bad: “Did God really say I couldn’t do this?”

God is not against good questions, the laments are full of them

But He condemns the ones that excuses for sin

This is a hard passage, which fits in line with what Peter said

2 Peter 3:15–16- beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, There are some things in them that are hard to understand

John piper wrote about this passage

My brain almost broke trying to understand the complexity of that paragraph. So I stepped back and asked, “What was unleashed in the world by the fact that Christianity not only declares salvation through faith in Jesus but also builds its arguments and fixes its message in a book, the Bible, and in letters like the Letter to the Romans, and in paragraphs like Romans 3:1–8?”

Review

Chapter 3 off with another, “therefore”, showing Paul is building his argument each sentence and paragraph

So we cannot ignore what is around this passage when trying to understand it

Perhaps one of the greatest theological mistakes some make about the righteous of God is seen in that

Let’s remember what we’ve seen

An outline

God’s Righteousness Revealed in Condemnation (1:18–3:20)

A.Condemnation against pagan humanity (1:18–32)

B.Condemnation according to divine standards (2:1–16)

C.Condemnation against unfaithful Jews (2:17–3:8)

D.Condemnation against all human beings (3:9–20)

This brings up some important questions, So let’s see

4 questions to address the doubts that arise reading the bible

If everyone is equal before God, what’s the point of growing up in church? (1-2)

Explanation

Paul knows someone would ask what advantage has the Jew?

Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

As we said, there was a lot of devotion involved in physical circumcision

And the whole Israelite identity was built around being a people who followed God’s law, as they were commanded

Deuteronomy 4:5–8- “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. ““Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

So, what’s was the point?

Paul says…. Oh so much! You jews had such a great blessing

Then he says First like he’s going to give a list, but stops

He actually does have a longer list that he will get to later

Romans 9:4–5- They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

But he stops here now because He must discuss justification by faith… and he’s saying, wait, there is a good answer to that question… but let me come back to that

Notice he doesn’t just say the law, but the oracles

It’s a fancy word for sayings

Psalm 147:19–20- He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

And these words included not just the commands, but also the promises of God

As God said to Abraham

Genesis 12:2–3- And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

The One true God is a speaking God and God gave his word through prophets and teachers

Hebrews 1:1–2- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

The Apostles regarded the Old Testament as the very words of God, just like Jesus did

Illustration point-What’s the point of growing up in church? You get to hear from God from a young age

I think in our internet world we forget how amazing it is to receive a message from someone important

A British friend of mine was so excited to show me a letter she had received in 1972 from Buckingham Palace

It said

I am commanded by The Queen to write and thank you for your message of good wishes on the occasion of Her Majesty's and The Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Wedding.

The Queen and His Royal Highness much appreciate your thought for them at this time, and I am to send you their sincere thanks. Yours’s sincerely Dory Dirrson, Lady-in-Waiting

This wasn’t even from the queen herself, but it was a treasured possession to this subject of the queen

The advantage is that we get 66 books from the king, written for us

Application

This bible is precious to us

And those of us who grew up with it need to listen to those who didn’t come to later what a sweet treasure it is to have this book read, studied, explained, and applied in our lives

Kids, your parents are protecting you and blessing you so much by building your life around these words

Adults, we need to see this as a gift that should be treasured

Your favorite teachers or counselors have to move onto others… your wise parents die, and you know of pastors who have moved to other states

But God’s word is always there for you… never changing, like our God

I know some of you struggle with studying your bible because it feels like that’s a smart person thing to do.

But the point is not having to be an academic, but to love the scriptures and dig into them

Psalm 1:2- But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 119:97- Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

May I encourage you to meditate on how precious these truths can be to your soul

But, remember, the Romans have just had a bunch of scripture thrown at them, and Paul assumes some of them are going to say… “hey! That doesn’t make sense”

Having to think deeply is not a bad thing

Saying our doubts and questions gives more value to our Bibles because we look there for answers

One of the best ways to learn is to ask good questions

The Now Old Dead guys- Timothy Keller “A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. ― 

So do not be ashamed.. come up and say… well, what about this Pastor

And I may say… I don’t know, and we can go look together

Trans: But this is only question 1, another question flows because the jews had the Old Testament, but they didn’t follow the messiah, so

If God’s chosen people do not believe, will God keep His promises to me? (3-4)

Explanation

Sadly, a majority of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob do not believe

This was the response even of the disciples afterall when they first heard the testimony that Jesus was alive again

Luke 24:10–11- Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

To nullify means to render inactive or useless

So, logically, If God made promises to Israel and it doesn’t look like those promises are coming true, God must be unable or unwilling to keep His promises, right?

God must be unable or unwilling to keep His promises, right?

No way Jose, as we may say

It could be translated “God forbid!,” “By no means!,” or “Absolutely not!”

Instead, even if every person lies, God will always be true to his word

God is faithful

God’s character is faithfulness, the assurance that He will do what He says

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).

Let’s talk about future of Israel

Did Paul reject and replace Israel? No

As we will see in later, Israel is just a remnant now

Romans 11:1- I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

But an important day of salvation is coming

Romans 11:26- And in this way all Israel will be saved…

Did Jesus reject Israel?

No, he corrected them but he promised his discples there would be 12 tribes in Israel in the future

Luke 22:28–30- “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials… you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

God is true

Paul doesn’t say God tried but couldn’t

Nor did we misunderstand the promises given to Israel

God’s word is true

His proof is interesting because he quotes David in his darkest moment

This is from Psalm 51, written when David was confronted with this Sin against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah

Our bibles say

Psalm 51:4- Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Here David admits that God is right to pour out wrath on him

and ‘the righteousness of God’ is shown not only in blessing his people when they are faithful, but also in cursing them when they are not

Here, Paul is taking it and applying it to say that when anyone tries to speak against God, they will find him correct

Thus it is translated in the passive

in Psalm 51, God is right in judging David, while in Romans 3:4 God is right in evaluating unbelieving Israel

God’s faithfulness and truth can’t be confined to his saving righteousness.

He’s not just a god of mercy, but also justice

He is faithful to his promises when he judges people

Those who are his People

And those who hurt His people

Even though God has promised salvation to the Jews, no individual Jew should presume upon those promises and think their salvation is guaranteed.

Illustration point- Will God keep His promises?

Of course, God keeps his promises, and that includes his judgement…

Like merciful judge who grants bail

The accused goes free

But instead of rectifying his ways when he is released, he goes and commits the same crime, trying to steal something out.

He is caught and the judge keeps his promise

now the man will face the full weight of the law

Thus it is for those who receive God’s blessings, but do not repent

God keeps his promises in judgment, and everyone will recognize he is right

Application

This truth of God’s judgment must seal the last exit points of any religious person who thinks they can wiggle out of God’s unbearable standard

That nominal Christianity… a type of Christianity that is not completely dependent on God’s mercy but thinks salvation is Jesus + Anything

God is just in bringing judgment upon us

David had every reason to say that he had done enough good to outweigh this one bad deal

If you think you’re good deeds, your baptism, your bible study or church attendance gives you enough to be saved… God says no

But there is the hope… what that the end for David?

No way

Just as David was condemned for his sin, yet could be restored by God, the same is true for Israel.

And this means for us too… God will work in your repentance

Yet, you may have some intellectual doubts that come about

And remember the words of Jude 22- Have mercy of those who are doubting

Sometimes if it because of ignorance and misinformation

Is the bible true? Yes

But what questions do people come up with?

People hear, “No intelligent scientist accepts the Genesis account of creation.” “No biblical scholar believes that an apostle wrote a Gospel.””

And the bible is a bit strange

Cultural StrangenessThere are weird things like men cutting off the foreskins

There are weird things like men cutting off the foreskins and cutting animals in half

and cutting animals in half

Is it disbelief to be confused by some of what is in there?

And there Supernatural Strangeness

Miracles are by definition not part of our everyday experience.

We should ignore the distance we have with that world

Answer to these doubts by knowing there is a good history of people defending the faith

1 Peter 3:15- but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Apologetics reminds us that every question we ask today has been answered by someone at some time…

For example… did you know for centuries there was no mention of King David outside the bible and so people thought he was made up

Then in the summer of 1993 archeologists found an impressive royal plaza

There was a stone slab that contained the the phrases "The King of Israel" and "House of David."

Many experts about Israel said there was no real David…

We say

let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.

Often, we don’t realize that our questions have probably be asked before & there are answers

But if you think, that’s the end of the objections, you’d be wrong

If God judges gets glory in judgment, isn’t that unfair? (5-6)

Explanation

The argument goes... Is God perfect right?

And our sin shows God’s greatness by contrast to us?

If God is shown faithful when he responds to our sin

Why are we being punished, since it’s all part of God’s plan?

And there is a sense that humanity’s sin is the backdrop that show’s god’s power and mercy

As Paul will later explain

Romans 9:14–17- For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”

Pharaoh’s rejection of God’s commands was there to show his power in the 10 plagues God’s power over the idols.

So it’s unfair for God to judge us because He benefits

Paul’s statement of talking in a human way is saying… well this makes sense in our sinful thinking

V6 makes the defense that God would not be able to judge anyone if this was unfair

Modern people are foolishly eager to accept the idea that no one will be judged

but it would be unthinkable for the Jews

They presupposed that God would judge the world, especially Gentiles like the Romans who oppressed them

If Gentiles were to escape the judgment, the covenant made with Israel would mean nothing at all.

And modern people do the same when we’re sinned against

See Judgment is good

A public event, such as a final Judgment Day, is a moral necessity

We want God to reward right and punish wrong

To do otherwise would be unjust

God’s justice needs to be vindicated

Psalm 146:7- who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

This is not evident anywhere in the wide world now or at any other time except to the eyes of faith.

God's justice awaits public vindication on the day of judgment

Illustration point- God’s glory in judgment shows he is righteous

I think all of us have seen a referee like this who won’t call fouls because he didn’t want to be judgy

Players cheat- Silence

Game devolves into chaos… he stands

The “ref” says: “Who am I to Judge”… You’re the reff man, judge the game

The integrity of the game depends on judgment.”

God’s judgment shows He is righteous who holds the standards for everyone.

Application

There are some questions that are ok… we don’t get it, or we’re seeking understanding

Good theologians use the phrase faith is seeking understanding

But then there is this type of question, which isn’t really a question but an accusation

Beware the questions that Satan asked… Does God not want you to be like Him… is he just hoarding?

He has proven that he hasn’t in the gospel

God could have justly punished all people, but He gave His only begotten Son of us, proving he is motivated by giving love

The accusation doesn’t make sense of justice and it doesn’t make sense of love

Some of you may struggle with these emotional doubts because it hurts

Os guisness wrote, “The problem is not that reason attacks faith, but that emotions overwhelm reason as well as faith, and its’ impossible for reasons to dissuade them. Doubt comes just at the point where the believer’s emotions… rise up and overwhelm the understanding of faith. Out-voted, out-gunned, faith is pressed back and hemmed in by the unruly mob of raging emotions.

Solution- Take your pain to God

Habakkuk showed us that well last year

Then preach to yourself

Psalm 42:4–6- These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

It is hard to trust, but we must listen to Jesus who said the father is good, so we can trust Him

Matthew 7:9–11- Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- 4 questions

What’s the point of growing up following the bible- God’s word is precious

Will God keep his promises- yes, even in judgment

Is it unfair to be judged? No way, God judges everyone rightly

IF God brings about good from sin, shall I just sin more? No, this gets sin so wrong.

We know we must (Resolution)-

This challenge should humble us because all have sinned and fallen from the glory of God

Why should we expect understanding him to easy

But it will be a great adventure, as we shalls ee