Romans 3:1-18
Q.1. What advantage is there in being a Jew? Why did God choose Israel? Did Israel’s failure change God’s plan? What does man’s failure say about God? – (Rom.3:1-4)
Since Israel complicated their relationship with God with burdensome rules and regulations, how did they benefit from being God’s people? Paul claimed that the advantages far outweighed any disadvantages. They were chosen out of all the nations of the world and were entrusted with the prophetic utterances of God (Rom.3:2 c.f. Dt.4:5-8). Israel’s unbelief could never negate God’s faithfulness. God has not finished with Israel. Paul’s view of God’s grace was much bigger than that. (Rom.3:3). In the midst of all such false teaching, Paul wrote – Let God be found to be true, though every man be found a liar! (Rom.3:4). Paul strongly reasserted God’s utter faithfulness in keeping His promises to Israel.
Q.2. Does God have the right to judge sinners? How did Paul confirm that both Jews and Greeks are all under the curse of sin? What objections did Paul answer? – (Rom.3:5-18)
Paul addressed a second objection – that God is unjust to punish sinners whose sins actually highlight His faithfulness (Rom.3:5). Paul defended the Creator’s right to judge the whole world, since each person’s conscience convicts him (Rom.3:6 c.f. Rom.2:13-16). Another suggestion that we should go on sinning so that God’s mercy might be magnified, was dismissed as utter folly (Rom.3:8). Paul went on to conclude that though the Jews had the advantage of knowing the truth, they nevertheless equally come under the judgment of God, since all people, regardless of race – are all under sin (Rom.3:9). Paul then documented from the Old Testament Scriptures, that – there is none righteous, not even one (Rom.3:10 c.f. Rom.3:10-18). He described how all people fall short of the standard of God, in thought, word, and deed. This happens because of our tendency to fear what others think, rather than hold to a proper fear of God (Rom.3:18). This long list of sins gave the background for the most amazing Good News that Paul then went on to share in great detail …