Romans 3:1-8 – Let’s take advantage of our privilege

So far Paul had shown the Jews two fallacies. Firstly, he told them that it’s not a big deal even if they had the Word of God for it would amount to nothing if they were not obeying it. Secondly, he showed them that there was no point in circumcision, if they kept on sidestepping the Law. In Romans 3:1, he imagined that his readers objecting to what he had just told them. He imagined them asking: What’s the point of being a Jew? And what is the point of being circumcised? Paul then set out to answer these objections. He assured them that being Jews certainly had great advantage.

They were advantaged because they had the oracles of God, the Old Testament Scriptures. In verse 2, he affirmatively said there is advantage in having the Word of God. Why? Through it, we can know about God, about who He is, what He’s like, what’s His purpose and all about eternal destiny. From the Word of God we also can know about man, their nature, their propensity, and what can be done about it.       

In verses 3-8, Paul went on to answer some of their illogical reasoning concerning God’s faithfulness, righteousness and truthfulness. They basically said that:

·   In verse 3: If some of us lack faith in God, wouldn’t that cancel out God’s faithfulness? Essentially they felt that they did not have any advantage if their lack of faith could make God back out of His promises.

·   In verse 5: If my unrighteousness made God’s righteousness more obvious, wouldn’t it be unjust for God to punish us? It just don’t seem right for God to punish us if our acts of unrighteousness made clear His righteousness.  

·        In verse 7: If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness, why condemn me as a sinner? In other words, it’s just not right for God to punish us if our untruthfulness reveals His truthfulness

Paul’s answer to their objections:

·         To objection one: Paul quoted David’s repentant words. His point is this: despite individual sin, and no matter how far down man had fallen, God is always just and faithful.

·       To objection two: Paul said, if God doesn’t judge them, than how can He be the judge of the whole world. And in fact He will judge the whole world.

·      To objection three: Paul did not even bother to answer it. He merely states that they deserved their judgment.   

Let’s take full advantage of our privilege in being given the Word of God. We have His Word where He revealed Himself to us. Shouldn’t we then spend time to get to know Him by reading, studying, meditating and memorizing His precious Word? Of course we must! And as we do so, we must also seek to be like Him in faithfulness, righteousness and truthfulness.