ROMANS 3:1-8 ‘God’s Judgment Defended’

TEXT

‘What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?’ (Romans 3:1)

• After a scathing critique of the Jews, Paul recognizes that some will have various objections, especially from the misguided notion that Paul was attacking the very foundation of Judaism. So Paul asks this very question – if the Jews are no better than the Gentiles, what advantage was it to have the law and circumcision?

‘Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.’ (Romans 3:2)

• He offers that the Jews had many advantages (and in fact in 2:1-16, he makes it clear that these advantages are what they will be judged by). Primarily, they had the law, the very words of God. They knew who God was, and what He expected. That is a huge advantage!

‘For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?’ (Romans 3:3)

• Now Paul turns to the promises of God to Abraham (and Isaac and Jacob). Since his thesis is that only those who have faith will receive the promises of God (rather than just by birthright into Israel), then the obvious question is – God promised these things to all Israel, but you’re saying that not all of Israel will receive the promise! To this Paul maintains that God’s promise to the nation of Israel remains as a whole, but those who have no faith will not experience this blessing.

‘Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

"That You may be justified in Your words,

And may overcome when You are judged."’ (Romans 3:4)

• This is from Psalm 51:4. Paul’s message is that even if no-one believed the truth about God, it would rather mean that all men are liars and God is true. What men say has nothing to do with how true something is.

‘But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)’ (Romans 3:5)

• Now Paul is anticipating their disagreement with his view of God’s judgment (which is how this most affects the Gospel). He asks the question – if our own evil shows up God’s holiness all the more, then is God unjust in inflicting wrath on us? If our evil makes God look better than how can he judge us for making Him look better? He asks this question from the viewpoint of a man without the Spirit – all ‘logic’ and no truth.

‘Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?’ (Romans 3:6)

• He answers his own question with an emphatic ‘no’! If God condoned sin, then He could not judge the world for He would not be righteous. In which case, our sin would not show His righteousness all the more!

‘For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?’ (Romans 3:7)

• Some people were saying that the Christian message actually set people free to sin, or condoned sin. Paul has the same answer to this question as before – if sinning increases His glory, then why are we judged?

‘And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.’ (Romans 3:8)

• Paul makes it clear that we are set free from sin, not to it. The Gospel implies repentance and leading a Christ-like life – not being set free to sin as much as you want.

SUMMARY

Paul anticipates disagreement from the Jewish audience over his critique of the Jews and his emphasis on faith rather than physical descent or circumcision. He defends the advantage of being a Jew in that they received the Law (for which they were responsible for obeying now), defends the accuracy of God’s promises to the nation and defends God’s righteousness in His judgment of sin, even though our sin shows up His righteousness more greatly. In effect, he silences three arguments before they start.

WHAT DO I LEARN?

I need to remember not to take grace lightly – grace does not mean freedom to sin, but freedom from sin and its power. Also, if the Jews were committed the oracles of God, surely we with the Bible in a hundred different translations and the Spirit indwelling us must have so much more responsibility to share that Word which brings life!