Romans 3:1-8
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor, Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
INTRODUCTION
Paul's statements to the Jews in Romans 2 could be taken to mean that there
is no advantage to having the heritage of Israel.
He has stated that:
1. The possessions of the law cannot save man
2. That the ritual of circumcision cannot save
3. That their position in Abraham cannot save
So chapter three opens with a question
Romans 3:1
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
----------
There are advantages to being a Jes, in each of the categories above. Spiritual
possession is an advantage if it is used
Circumcision is an advantage to the OT Jew if this mechanic lead to faith
and the reality of what the ritual meant
And being of the family of Abraham provided a spiritual heritage that was
of benefit if renewed in each generation.
The word ADVANTAGE, which is PERISSON, means excess or surplus.
Romans 3:2
Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the
oracles of God.
----------
Paul answers his own question. This is often his style of teaching. He takes
the position of his objectors ... "what advantage then is it to be
a Jew?"
Then he answers so as to leave no opportunity for anyone to twist what would
have been an assumed an easy answer. Paul was always having his words twisted
by men of legalistic mentality, so he opens the possible objections in advance.
We see something here that is very subtle. In Chapter Two the word YOU is
used as Paul addresses these religious Jews.
But here he uses a the verb in the third person, THEY. He removes the entrusting
of the oracles of God, God's Word, from the Jews of his day and places it
with the Jews of the past.
The word ORACLE refers to that which is spoken by God to man, His word,
His message.
This was ENTRUSTED to the nation of Israel and those among the nation who
by faith were saved.
ENTRUSTED is the aor, passive of PISTEUW, "faith."
With the passive it is translated COMMITTED, OR ENTRUSTED. It has the idea
of God entrusting or trusting us with something.
In I Thessalonians 2:4 we see what our attitude and action should be since
we too have been entrusted with the word of God. But just as we have been
approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing
men, but God, who examines our hearts.
NOTE: Paul says they were APPROVED, and then ENTRUSTED; and because of that
they have a RESPONSIBILITY to please Him.
II Corinthians 10:17-18, But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
APPROVAL comes from God not men and not from self. It is a divine approval
upon those who walk by faith. To them God gives even more . . .
PRINCIPLE: Whatever God entrusts to us is designed that we might please
Him.
Paul seems to be starting a list in this verse. First of all, but then does
not continue. He does not add anything to the list until:
Romans 9:4,5
"Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory
and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the
promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to
the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."
So the one thing Paul emphasizes now is that they have the Word of God entrusted
to them and that is an ADVANTAGE.
But the advantage of the Word is only as it brings you to faith. Without
faith in God and in His provisions of Grace and Power the word can be abused,
misused, misinterpreted, and mis-applied.
The Word of God is such that you can get out of it what you want and need.
Without embracing the Word as the greatest reality of life, which is done
by faith in the writer of the Word (God Himself), you can get works, legalism,
anger, malice, even evil out of the Word. But by faith in the Word you will
see the glory of God and His love, His grace, that can be in you.
These Jews had the Word of God, a potential for tremendous advantage. Without
the Word of God there is no advantage. And the Jews did not profit from
the advantage they had. Why? Because they would rather embrace their religion
and legalism that they could see than put faith in God whom they could not
see.
Romans 3:3
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the
faithfulness of God, will it?
----------
So Paul refers to the ones who had the oracles of God but did not believe:
We have an introductory interrogative, "what"?
Today there are believers who do not set the Word of God as a priority in
their lives. They are no different from the Jews in this passage.
What does it mean to "not believe the Word of God?"
1. Man can say he believes the Bible exists. Yet that is observation
not faith.
2. Man can say the Bible is accurate in what it presents. Yet that is good
scholarship, not faith.
3. Man can say the Bible contains good principles for living. Yet that is
only common sense and not faith.
4. Man can say the Bible is from God and it is true in its entirety, revealing
God's Word for man. And yet that is not believing the Word of God.
5. To believe the Word of God is to not only attest to it as true but it
is to trust in it as truth.
6. Believing the Word is trusting in it for the very substance of our lives.
7. We believe the Word of God when we trust in it as the greatest priority
and reality in our lives.
But the Jews' unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?
Paul addresses the Jews and asks if Israel's unfaithfulness justifies the
withdrawal of God's faithfulness.
Yet the Old Testament is the story of Israel's unfaithfulness and God's
faithfulness. Even when God's people had sunk to the lowest forms of idolatry,
God remained faithful to His chosen nation.
PRINCIPLE: The faithfulness of God is not determined by man's faithfulness
or lack of faithfulness, by man's trust in God or lack of trust, by man's
faith or lack of faith.
God, in essence and action, is faithful to His chosen people.
This is a strong verse for the eternal security of Israel, God's chosen
people. It verifies that He still has a plan for Israel and when we relate
this aspect of His character to the believer today we know that:
His faithfulness to us is not dependent upon our faithfulness to Him.
Hebrews 13:5 God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you.
II Timothy 2:13, If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot
deny Himself.
Romans 3:4
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found
a liar, as it is written (Psalm 51:4), That Thou mightest be justified in
Thy words, And mightest prevail when Thou art judged.
--------------------
This verse begins with what is the first of ten violent denials Paul makes
in Romans.
The phrase id MJ GENOITO , which translates "May it never be!".
FOUR FALSE IDEAS PAUL STANDS AGAINST:
1. Here, that man's unbelief cancels out God's faithfulness,
may it never be.
2. Romans 5:20-6:2 Man's sin causes God's grace to be magnified. May it
never be.
3. Romans 6:14-15 Since we are under grace and no longer under the law we
are free to sin as we please, may it never be.
4. Romans 7:6-7 We are freed from the law so there must have been something
sinful about the law, may it never be.
EACH OF THESE FALSE conclusions is wrong and irreverent.
Here in Romans 3:4 Paul uses this strong phrase to express his fear that
anyone would draw a false conclusion from what he says.
Paul had to put up with many of the things he said being twisted and misunderstood
either through ignorance or evil. He makes this strong statement to cut
off any misunderstanding.
He states that man's unbelief cannot cancel out the faithfulness of God.
He contrasts the word TRUE for God with the word LIAR for man.
Then he quotes from the confession Psalm of David: "Against Thee, Thee
only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art
justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge."
Topic: CONFESSION OF SIN
It is God who is offended when we sin. He is righteous and our unrightouness
offends His Holiness.
Therefore God is justified and blameless when He judges man's sin.
And all of the lies of man cannot change that!
Romans 3:5
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what
shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am
speaking in human terms.)
----------
Here Paul even tells us that he asks the question from human viewpoint.
This question for the unbelieving religious man is similar to what Paul
will deal with in Romans 6 for the believer.
Since we are told that where sin increases, grace abounds, even more (Romans
5:20), then it seems to follow that we should sin more so that grace will
abound more.
But this would make God the initiator of sin and an approver of sin.
But we are reminded that the God who inflicts wrath, judgment, is not at
the same time unrighteous.
Romans 3:6
May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
----------
We already have seen in Romans 2 that God will judge in His good and perfect
time. His judgment will be the judgment of righteousness. Again, this is
a reference to the Great White Throne judgment as in chapter 2.
Romans 3:7
But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am
I also still being judged as a sinner?
----------
Here Paul assumes the position of the one who is a liar, as mentioned in
verse 4.
Paul assumes the logical proposition.
Through, or as a result of, his lie God's grace abounded to the point God
was glorified, why is Paul (as the assumed unbeliever) still facing the
judgment of God?
If this was the case man's defense would merely be that through his sin
God's glory was even more revealed to mankind. And thus God should not judge
man.
Romans 3:8
And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that
we say), Let us do evil that good may come? Their condemnation is just.
----------
This of course is not true, it is a slanderous lie that has come against
what Paul has taught regarding the greatness of the grace of God.
Do EVIL that GOOD may come? For GOOD he uses AGAQOS, the intrinsic, incomparable
good of God.
God's goodness is not relative, it is not comparable, His glory is absolute.
It is not sin that glorifies God but His solution to the problem of sin
... the Cross!
NOW PAUL IS READY TO SUMMARIZE
v 9 All are under sin
v 10 There is none who are righteous, not one.
v 11 There are none who seek after God
PRINCIPLE: Mankind has a need that he cannot fulfill
End Lesson 12
Grace Notes
Warren Doud
1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-458-8923
E-Mail: