Questions and Answers
Notes
Transcript
There is often this idea among Christians that we should not ask God questions. It is viewed as if by asking questions we doubt Him. Yet, the Bible is full of questions directed towards God. Questions and doubt are two very different things. Questions are how we learn. Questions can increase knowledge and faith.
Questions can also be asked as a form of doubt. An example of this is Zacharias, the father of John. He doubted the message of the Angel Gabriel and was made mute for the entirety of his wife’s pregnancy. Other examples are the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. They constantly questions Jesus in their doubt and unbelief.
In our text today, Paul takes the position of answering questions from an unbeliever. He asks a question and then presents the answer. In 30 verses, Paul asks 13 questions. He then provides an answer for each of these.
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
In Romans 3:10-20, Paul quotes scripture to make is argument.
Romans 3:10-12.
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity:
There is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy;
There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:13.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is very wickedness;
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
They flatter with their tongue.
Romans 3:14.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:
Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Romans 3:15-17.
7 Their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed innocent blood:
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8 The way of peace they know not;
And there is no judgment in their goings:
They have made them crooked paths:
Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Romans 3:18.
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,
That there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Romans 3:20.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant:
For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in thy sight:
That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
And be clear when thou judgest.