Romans 3: 1-8

Pastor Brian McGuffin

November 10, 2024

Introduction

What percentage of the world population do you think believes there is a God? (You could include other religions in your estimation.)

What do you think convinces many people that there is no God - that idea is just a fantasy?

Among people who believe there is a God, do they think there is a heaven after they die? If so, what do they think they should do to go to heaven?

Now we take a look at what the Jews thought when Paul told them about Jesus' death and resurrection which was necessary to bring them to God in life and in death.

Scripture

Romans 3: 1 - 8  ESV

"Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,

“That you may be justified in your words,
     and prevail when you are judged.”

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just."

In case you find these verses difficult to understand, here are the verses from The Message. The Message is not an accurate translation of the old manuscripts, but it does tend to give us the main ideas in modern English.

1-2 So what difference does it make who’s a Jew and who isn’t, who has been trained in God’s ways and who hasn’t? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed.

2-6 First, there’s the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God’s revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn’t abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same:

Your words stand fast and true;
 Rejection doesn’t faze you.

But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God’s rightdoing, shouldn’t we be commended for helping out? Since our lies don’t even make a dent in his truth, isn’t it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn’t do the straightening?

7-8 It’s simply perverse to say, “If my lies serve to show off God’s truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I’m doing God a favor.” Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying, “The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let’s just do it!” That’s pure slander, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

Discussion Questions

Some of the questions ask you to find Bible verses that confirm what you believe. If you have difficulty finding those verses, go to biblegateway.com. On that website, you can put in what you're looking for and verses will come up.   (e.g. forgiveness; saved; etc.)

1. What are the main points that Paul makes in these verses?

2. What does it mean to be a Christian? What verses in the Bible confirm what you said?

3. In what ways does being a Christian make you different from the non-Christians you know?

4. a) What do you do when you realize you have sinned?

    b) How do you restore your strong relationship with God?

    c) Does God condemn you if you struggle to get rid of some sin in your life? What verses in the Bible tell you that you can be forgiven? That God will help you?

5. How would you describe your relationship with God? How often, or in what ways do you experience His closeness?

6. What is one thing you can do this week that will strengthen your walk with Jesus?