Paul’s Digging
Opening Prayer
God Most Holy, I’m thankful that I can come and be with You now, and every day, at any time.
Read ROMANS 3:1–8
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!
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
“The advantage of being among God’s people, then, as an initiated Jew, and today as a churchgoer, is tremendous. We have God’s Word. We know what God is like. We know what we are like. And we know what he requires for salvation” (R. Kent Hughes).
There are many people who would give Paul the advice that if you are in a hole it is good to stop digging, but he will prove them wrong. He has argued in Romans 2 that the circumcision of a Jew who is an unfaithful lawbreaker is worthless. Now he asks whether there is any value at all in being a Jew. His Gentile hearers are probably expecting a resounding negative answer. Instead, Paul says that it is of great value. No one can ever take away from the Jews their privilege as the people to whom God decided to reveal himself. We can’t take the Old Testament out of our Bibles. (Paul will re-engage with this topic in chapter 9.)
Having dealt with that argument, he presents another from his opponents. He is possibly rehearsing questions that he had regularly encountered in synagogues. If the Jews have failed to be the light to the Gentiles and have not recognized God’s revelation in Jesus, can God still be faithful to his covenant promises? Paul answers that the nature of God is always to be faithful and just. This was the basis of Abraham’s dialogue with God (Gen. 18:25), but here Paul quotes David’s recognition of God’s justice when he confessed that he had sinned with Bathsheba (Psa. 51:4).
The next level of objection shifts the ground. Accepting that God will always be faithful, does that not mean that our sinfulness will increase his glory? Paul has now drilled down to the heart issue that he needs to address and is making preparation for his exposition of how God can be both the righteous one and the gracious covenant keeper. God will judge the world—and that means us also! No amount of sophisticated argument will protect us from facing the reality that we are sinners who can expect judgment.
Apply
The Jews to whom Paul was writing had all sorts of misplaced confidence about their special relationship with God. Whom or what have you been tempted to trust besides the grace of Jesus Christ alone?
Closing prayer
Father, the words of the old gospel hymn say it so well. This is my prayer today in response to Your Word: “I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee; Trusting thee for full salvation, great and free” (Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836–1879).
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