The Problem with Priveledge

Romans 3:1–20 ESV

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

What is the Jew’s Advantage?

What makes them extraordinary?

They are God’s chosen people, but chosen for what?

To be the example to the world of what happens to people who follow or don’t follow God’s law.

They were given the law, the very oracles of God.

And that, Paul says is an advantage in every way.

but Paul doesn’t spend time expressing this advantage, instead he moves off into a discussion of what the Jews did with the advantage and what effect it has had on the character of God.

Two Opposite Extremes

Paul moves right into a hyperbolic discussion of logic.

He says first.

In the covenant (the point of receiving the law) if some Jews were unfaithful will God then join them in their unfaithfulness?

discuss

Paul’s response is may it never be.

Hyperbole - god is true even if every man was a liar.

Then Paul quotes psalm 51:4

Psalm 51:4 ESV

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.

discuss the meaning and Paul’s adherence to that meaning

I think the NIV gets it right

Romans 3:4 NIV

4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

He then goes on to discuss the opposite.

Does our unrighteousness bring unrighteousness from God?

He says in verse 5 that if our unrighteousness “serves to show the righteousness of God” what shall we say?

Does the fact that our sin has brought Him glory by contrast mean he is then unrighteous to judge us?

Never! he says.

Why?

If that were a truth then God could not judge the world which would then make him glorified, but unjust.

Paul then gives us a personal example.

this, of course, is just a hypothetical.

If my lie makes God look true by comparison, and brings Him glory, why am I judged as a sinner for bringing Him glory.

Can I pause for a moment and just say simply that

Our sinfulness in no way brings God glory.

God is not looking to prove our sinfulness, cast us all into outer darkness and then move on.

Because that would be unloving.

He has a purpose for the law and His judgment.

Now, someone has evidently accused Paul of running around telling people to go ahead and do evil so that good may come.

Can you hear them saying it? (mock them)

Their condemnation is just.

What then is their advantage?

Are they at advantage because they were given the law?

Multi billionaire - wants to give money to the poor, through your account

10 years go by and no one is better off.

The recipients never cashed their checks, and you never made any withdrawals yourself.

Everything remains in the account.

did you have advantage?

Yes, access

But because you did not use your advantage you gained nothing.

And then when the poor didn’t cash your checks, you stopped sending them and hoarded the money.

This causes the blaspheme among the Gentiles (2:24)

God’s Judgment Expressed

the first set is from psalm 14 where the people don’t believe there is a God at all.

The rest come from Psalms and Isaiah and a mixed conversation about Jews and Gentiles and their sinful ways.

No one understands, which means to bring together, like a puzzle.

They either don’t keep it or they keep it from others.

they never understood what God wanted from them in either case.

No one has done right.

The hoarding and arrogance of the chosen.

The misunderstanding of the purpose of being made special.

What the law was meant to accomplish.

The Law was Given to Make all of Humanity Accountable to God.

There were two purposes of the giving of the law.

First, to end pride or self-righteousness (shut every mouth)

Second, to make every one accountable to God. (Not to you, reference to number 1)

To be accountable is to recognize your sin.

This is the purpose of the law.

Our Advantage

We know what God has said is right and wrong.

We have been given a similar mandate to spread this knowledge to the world.

What will we do with this advantage?

Think about your children that grew up in the church, and their advantage.

Think about what you are doing with your advantage.

The problem with privilege is not that we have it, but what we do with it.

Our response to the charge that we have privilege is simply to share it.