FAITHFUL GOD
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Opening Prayer
Father, I come to you today, acknowledging my unworthiness. There is nothing in or about me that deserves the gift of salvation in your Son. I praise you for your grace and mercy that led to my redemption.
Read ROMANS 3:1—8
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Romans
Romans 3
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
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.”
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)
6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”
8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—”Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
Reflect
‘Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to … those who love him and keep his commandments.’1
Imagine yourself as a Jewish Christian convert. All your life, you have believed that having the law and the practice of circumcision were the way to salvation. Now, here is Paul, the great Christian apostle, telling you that neither law-keeping nor circumcision will make you right with God (v. 20). Religious practice is not enough. So, what has been the point of it all? Explain yourself, Paul!
Is there any advantage in being a Jew (v. 1)? As we know, the centuries of Israel’s history and salvation, the stories of the patriarchs, the catalog of faithful heroes2—all pointing to our Savior, Jesus Christ—are available to us because ‘the very words of God’ were entrusted to the Jews (v. 2).3 Their legacy has made it possible for us to be reading his Word today. The early Roman Christians might have found it difficult to understand. With hindsight, we praise God for his faithfulness to his people. Many, however, had been unfaithful and broken God’s law (v. 3).4 Even so, the sovereign God of the covenant keeps his side of the agreement (vv. 3, 4).5 He is faithful to his people and his promises.
Some were asking, if our ‘unrighteousness’ through breaking the law serves to demonstrate God’s ‘righteousness’ (v. 5), if our falsehood makes God’s truthfulness clear—and consequently increases his glory (v. 7)—isn’t his judgment of us unfair (v. 7)? Such a question gets short response from Paul (v. 6)! This question had even led to some suggesting cynically that you might as well intentionally engage in sin so that God’s goodness might be more apparent (v. 8)!6 Paul calls such an attitude slanderous—worthy of condemnation. Yet, God is faithful.7 To be continued…
Apply
How would you reply to such questions arising from your own faith background—in the context of a home group, a young Christians’ group, or your church’s leadership groups?
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, help me be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that is mine in Christ.8
1 Deut 7:9 2 Heb 11 3 cf. Rom 9:5 4 cf. Rom 2:23 5 cf. Rom 9:15 6 cf. Rom 6:1 7 Rom 8:1, 2 8 1 Peter 3:15.
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