Questions for God

Introduction

Our text this morning is Romans 3:1-8. Please turn there with me in your chosen fashion. Let’s read.

Romans 3:1–8 ESV

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 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.” 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.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Paul answers anticipated questions.

These questions at their core are about the character of God.

Takeaway: God’s character is intact; ours is not.

Paul’s Question—The Answer—Our Question—The Answer—Our Application.

Romans 3:1 ESV

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

(PQ) What Advantage does the Jew have?

Romans 3:2 ESV

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

(PA) They were entrusted with the oracles of God.

The words of God are the promises of God.

The advantage is not salvation. John 5:39-40

John 5:39–40 ESV

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

The Jews did not enter Heaven by just being Jews. But that doesn’t mean there is not advantage to being a Jew, Paul says.

This is a great privilege to be a steward of God’s promises to people.

God chose the Jewish people out of all the nations.

Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

It means something to be so loved by God.

Love is a gift. I’ve been married for 15 years and I’m not just happy that someone loves me. I’m blessed that Vickery loves me. It means something to me that she has chosen to love me. It says something that she has chosen to love me and demonstrates that love to me. It should mean something.

Paul says it’s advantageous to be a Jew becauas God entrusted you with his promises for the world. And that means something.

(OQ) What advantage does the Christian have?

(OA) We are entrusted with the better promises of God.

These are better promises.

Hebrews 8:6 ESV

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

For one thing a Jew would not enter heaven by being a Jew—but you can’t be a Christian and not enter heaven. To be saved by Jesus is to be saved from the consequences of your sin.

The promises of God to us in Jesus are great. All OT promises find their fulfillment in him.

Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” Greatest Promise: salvation for all who believe.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” : Work things for our good. Our pain isn’t meaningless.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Comfort in trials

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” New life; Not left as saved and wretched.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The work will be finished.

(OApplication) Be a promise proclaimer.

Personally

Lakeside

Transition: Next Question

Romans 3:3–4 (ESV)

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means!

(PQ) Is God’s faithfulness to his people dependent on their faithfulness to Him?

(PA) No!

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.”

(OQ) Is God’s faithfulness to me dependent on my faithfulness to Him?

(OA) No.

Thank God right?

This isn’t works based salvation.

You are not loved because of what you offer God.

God could never love you more or less than he loves you now. He loves you as he loves the Son.

Feel the gravity of that statement.

He loves us. Full Stop. Period. God. Loves. You.

(OA) Be transformed by this love!

Transition: What advantage do we have? Is God faithful? Next we get two questions.

2 Questions here.

Romans 3:5–6 ESV

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.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?

(PQ) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

(OQ) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?

What’s the argument here? Well my law breaking reveals you to be a righteous law giver so isn’t that good?

Imagine if your kid said that? Does it fly?

God is not unrighteous to inflict wrath on lawbreakers. Being the occasion on which God exercises his good judgment does not then excuse us from our law breaking. That’s nonsensical.

(OA) No!

Transition: Next Question/ Last Question

Romans 3:7–8 ESV

But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

(PQ) Should I sin to bring glory to God?

This sounds like a STOOPID Question. Because it is.

Paul is entertaining this question because of Antinomian thought.

Grace of God is so powerful that all my sins have been paid for. All my intentional sins. I don’t have to worry about the the Decalogue-10 commandments because all of these sins are paid for.

It’s a heresy.

Leads to:

Self-deception

Hypocrisy

Hell

(P/O A) No.

(MAp) Don’t give excuse to sin.

“Normal sin” is different for everyone. The line moves.

There is no normal sin. All sin cost Jesus his life.

Bottom Line

God’s character is intact; ours is not.

As Paul raises and answers these questions: if we are honest we see that they have a place in our own hearts.

Sin seeks to entice us, our flesh makes excuses.

But Paul is clear. God’s character is good, his judgment, is intact. We put him on the stand and He prevails.

But in this we are revealed to have a corrupt character.

Outside of Jesus there is no hope.

Believe in it. If you haven’t.

Spread it.

Discussion Question: What is one action step you can take toward carrying the promises of God to the people in your life?