Dec. 15, 2002 Northwest Bible Church
Rom. 3:1-4
God is Faithful to His Word
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INTRO
What Paul has been teaching about the the sin and condemnation of the Jews in chapter two was a bombshell ready to explode.
Chapter 3 has three major sections:
1) Objections answered (vv. 1-8);
2) The universal sinfulness of man proved from the Scriptures (vv. 9-20);
3) Justification is only by the imputed righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (vv. 21-31). In this section, Paul resumes the theme of 1:17.
The two objections we will consider this morning basically attempt to put Paul’s gospel in conflict with the OT Scriptures. In effect, they assert that God is unfaithful to His Word.
I. OBJECTION #1 – WHAT ADVANTAGE?
"If what you say is true, namely that the Jews are sinners just like the Gentiles and are under God’s judgment, then there is no advantage at all for being a Jew or of being circumcised" (v. 1). In what sense has God favored them above the Gentiles? Have you not blurred or even obliterated the distinction between Jew and Gentile? And are you not throwing out the whole OT, the covenant with Abraham?
ANSWER –
1) "Great in every respect."
2) "First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God."
"First" = most important of all
"oracles" = sayings or words of God.
1- generally is all of the OT Scriptures,
2- but the word "oracles" can also refer to particular sayings.
Here, Paul may very well have in mind the Messianic promises of salvation in the OT.
"entrusted" – this speaks of their advantage, but also their stewardship.
II. OBJECTION #2 – IS GOD UNFAITHFUL? WILL THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS ANNUL THE PROMISES OF GOD?
"Okay, you admit that there are advantages of being a Jew, that they have the oracles of God concerning the Messiah, but some Jews are not believers in your Messiah, so does their unbelief annul the promises?
ANSWER: Paul’s answer is simply: God will keep His word of judgment as well as salvation. This is a prelude to Romans 9-11. Here, he develops his answer in three parts:
1) The question is rejected as abhorrent. "May it never be"
2) God’s faithfulness is unaffected by man’s sin (v. 4).
3) Paul appeals to the Scripture. He produces biblical support for this in quoting from Ps. 51:4. The point is this, just as David could not escape the reality of his sin against God, neither can the Jews.
SUM: God is faithful to His word.
CONCLUSION
1) There is a theological fallacy which undergirds these objections. It is that the Jews thought that being in the Old Covenant meant salvation for all. They falsely assumed that the Old Covenant had the saving power of the New Covenant.
2) God is faithful to His word. His word is true and not a jot or tittle will fail to come to pass, heaven and earth will pass away but not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. God’s people can fully trust God’ s promises.
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