God is True - Rom. 3:1-8

Up to this point in Romans, we have learned some incredible truths. Many of these truths we hint at each week, because repetition is the key to learning.

Let’s see how it’s working so far:

Can anyone remember what Romans is all about?

Romans is all about the righteousness of God provided to the unrighteous through faith in the Gospel.

When reading through letters like Romans, it is important to read it like you would any other letter. Often we take snippets out and miss what Paul is trying to say in the whole.

So, up to this point we see Paul explaining that:

(1:1-7) God’s grace brought us to faith - and real faith always leads to obedience.

(1:8-17) The unrighteous are declared righteous by God’s grace alone through faith alone.

(1:18-32) Mankind's willful blindness to the realities of our Creator has led to wayward beliefs which have led to wicked behavior.

(2:1-11) We are poor judges because our perspectives are tainted by hypocrisy, but God is a just judge because His baseline is always truth.

Because God is the right and just judge of all, He alone is the one we are accountable to. And in the midst of what we deserve because of our depravity, 2:5 teaches that He is kind, forbearing, and patient with us. You see, God has been good to you, and his goodness has a purpose.

Do you remember what that purpose is?

To lead us closer to Him.

(2:12-16) God alone is our righteous judge. Thankfully the gospel fulfills the Law and spares us from judgement and is therefore our only Hope!

(2:17-29) Righteousness is not achieved through external considerations like race and religion. Therefore, we rest in the truth that God is at work in us on what matters most - heart change.

So, Paul is writing a letter from Corinth to a group he had never met, but wanted to. He is clarifying a huge issue within the church - and that is, that the righteousness of God is provided to the unrighteous through faith in the Gospel.

Now, as you come to Romans 3, you encounter Paul having a conversation with a Jewish objector. This very well could be a writing style that was used often during this time period called a diatribe - which is a rhetorical literary style that is a hypothetical conversation that provides instruction. We find this method throughout Romans to address possible objections from his audience.

And this cross examination answers four questions.

We find our first question following up from Paul’s principle in 2:17-29.

(2:17-29) Righteousness is not achieved through external considerations like race and religion. God is at work in us on what matters most - heart change.

So the question is posed in v. 1:

Romans 3:1 NKJV

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

Now from studying out the first two chapters of Romans you would expect Paul to say what?

___ - NONE! right?

Because we know that: Righteousness is not achieved through external considerations like race and religion. God is at work in us on what matters most - heart change.

But this was not Paul’s response. He said rather:

Romans 3:2 NKJV

2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

The Jew’s advantage was overwhelming, because they were entrusted with the OT scriptures.

You see God had revealed himself to His covenant people.

The psalmist explained it this way in Ps. 147:20

Psalm 147:20 ESV

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!

Moses said this in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 4:7–8 CSB

7 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? 8 And what great nation has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

The advantage of the Jew was much in every way. Paul, a converted Jew, understood first hand that all God entrusted to Israel with the OT was pointing to and was fulfilled in Christ. The Jews were entrusted to faithfully carry forth God’s truth.

So from this passage so far we affirm that:

1. It’s a really bid deal to have the gift of God’s Word!

And the objector continues with another question in v. 3.

Romans 3:3 NKJV

3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

While it was true that many Jews were unfaithful to God with what they were entrusted with, did this change the faithfulness of God?

Here we find the huge difference between God and man.

RC Sproul wrote:

The Gospel of God: Romans Advantages of the Jew (3:1–8)

As human beings, we are by nature covenant breakers. We do not always tell the truth. We do not always keep our promises. Does that mean that we should project on the character of God our own sinfulness and suggest that he might from time to time break his promises? To ask such a question is to answer it. No wonder the emphatic tone of Paul’s writing at this point:

in v. 4:

Romans 3:4 NKJV

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.”

Although God’s means of transporting His truth were flawed, it did not flaw Him.

It is utterly unthinkable that God would ever break a promise.

Here, Paul pulls from David’s penitent Psalm 51 to highlight that God is always righteous when He speaks and when He judges.

Even though God had made incredible promises to David and blessed him in incredible ways, he still chose to go against him and proclaims in his repentance in Psalm 51 - God you are just in condemning me.

So, to this point, in vv. 1-4 we see that:

1. It’s a really bid deal to have the gift of God’s Word.

2. The unfaithfulness of man does not alter the faithfulness of God.

The objection continues in v. 5

Romans 3:5 NKJV

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.)

Paul is addressing those who wrongly argued that because God is absolutely perfect, and when we sin, our sin, in a certain sense, bears witness to the greatness of God, for the more we sin, the more righteous God appears by contrast. So there is a certain sense in which by sinning we are exhibiting the righteousness of God. Our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God. And if God shows his righteousness by exposing our unrighteousness, are we not—and here’s the distortion—doing God a favour by continuing in unrighteousness? Are we not adding to Divine glory by sinning?

R. C. Sproul, The Gospel of God: An Exposition of Romans (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 1994), 61.

Paul addresses this same idea again in chapter 6

Romans 6:1 NKJV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

I mean if my unrighteousness magnifies the righteousness of God, aren’t I doing Him a solid by sinning?

In knowing that people typically would rather rationalize then repent, Paul brings up this question that makes it seem unfair for God to punish sinners.

Paul replies

Romans 3:6–8 NKJV

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.

God judges both the Jew and the non-Jew in complete righteousness because He is God.

He does not need to bend to society’s understanding of fairness - He judges according to His character - and no one will stand exempt.

Now, some were saying that Paul was teaching lawlessness (v. 8) because he was teaching that adherence to the law would not gain salvation.

But Paul was not teaching that the more we sin the better it is. In fact, those who taught that and those who lived that (according to v. 8) deserved to be condemned.

So, according to this passage, we know:

1. It’s a really bid deal to have the gift of God’s Word.

2. The unfaithfulness of man does not alter the faithfulness of God.

3. Sin is not justifiable, but will be held accountable by God.

It is no secret that there has been an ongoing theme the past several weeks in Romans. As Paul is proclaiming the righteousness of God, we learn that God is just in how He judges.

It is not our job to change His truth to make us feel better about our sin.

It is not ok to lessen the authority His Word has in our lives to better suit our society.

And it is equally not ok for us to be so discouraged by the faithlessness of others that it blinds us from the faithfulness of God.

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