A
Study of the Book of Romans
Lesson
# 7
“Questions That Demand A Answer!”
Romans
3:1-8
Paul has shown how the whole human race is under the
wrath of God. First, Paul has shown that the Pagans
(Gentiles) are sinners (1:18-32). Secondly, Paul has demonstrated that Moral People are sinners (2:1-16). And
third, He has shown the even the Religious
(Jews) are sinners (2:17-29). Thus the whole human race, considered in its various parts,
stands condemned before God.
Paul anticipates that there would be those people who
would have objections against believing all people are sinners and they need a Savior.
Paul turns away from the flow of his argument to answer these anticipated objections. The
objections he brings forth no doubt flow out of actual objections he has heard and
answered in his ministry.
He anticipates all the questions, presents the
objections, and overrules the objections. That’s why today the title of the message
is “Questions That Demand A Answer.”
OBJECTION
#1: THERE IS NO VALUE IN BEING “RELIGIOUS!” (vv.
1-2)
“What advantage then has the
Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
Of course this is written specifically to a Jewish audience, and the first question is, “If
we are sinners just like the Gentiles what advantage is there in being Jewish?
The application to our
day would be to admit. Being baptized, won’t get you into heaven. Walking
down an aisle and filling out a form, won’t get you into heaven. Going to church on
Sunday morning, won’t get you into heaven. So, if none of that can save you, what’s
the value of it?
Considering the fact that good works cannot save the
soul, and that church attendance does not take one to Heaven, and that clean living does
not guarantee you a home in glory, then what is the point in being a Baptist? Why join the
church? Why attend? Why bother with being a religious person, if being religious will do
you no good? Why don’t
we just drop out all together? Why don’t we just shut down all the churches?
Paul’s answer is found in verse two, “Much
in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the
oracles of God.”
Paul responds by
reminding the Jews that they were blessed in every way, but perhaps the greatest evidence
of their blessing was that they had been given the Word of God. When God gave man His
Word, He gave it through the Jewish nation. So, you
want to know what the value of being religious is. At least we have the word of God
written down.
In verse two says, “the
oracles of God.” It’s a special word that means the finished, written down, revelation of God.
There is nothing spiritual or holy or supernatural about this book. It is just letters on
pages, but what’s inside this book, the life of it, is the very word of God! It’s
written down and it’s complete, by the way. There are some people who say you need to
add a “new testament” to the Bible,
as our Mormon friends say, but I disagree. I think all you ever need to know about God is
found right here in the Old Testament and in the New Testament we hold in our hands.
The
same is true in our day as well, men need not think that their good deeds, their religious
living, their activities, etc will by them favor with the Lord. It just isn't true! The
opposite becomes true. Because the more exposure we have to the truth, the more responsible we are before the Lord. You
see, if you plan to live a sub-standard life as a child of God, you would be far better
off to go to a liberal church! If you are exposed to the truth on a regular basis, you are
responsible before the Lord to live that truth, James 1:22. If we do not do just that, we
will be held accountable before the Lord. And, if you plan to go to Hell, please do it
from a church where the Gospel is not preached. You will answer for the light you have
received!)
Answer:
God is righteous.
Therefore,
unless you repent you will not escape condemnation
OBJECTION
#2: GOD LET ME DOWN. THAT'S WHY I AM A SINNER! (vv.
3-4)
“For what if some did not believe? Will their
unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?”
Here’s
objection number two: What I
see here is someone saying, if I don’t believe it’s God’s fault.
Some want to blame God by saying “God
has let me down that why I sin. I am a sinner because God let me down.”
“Most of you have heard of Ted Turner. He
is the founder of CNN, TNT, TBS, etc. He is a very successful businessman, a billionaire
and a well known critic of Christianity. In fact he has publicly stated that
"Christianity is for losers." What is not so well known is how Mr. Turner became
so anti-Christian. According to numerous newspaper articles as a teenager, Mr. Turner
aspired to become a missionary but lost his faith when his younger sister, Mary Jane,
contracted an immune system disease that eventually killed her. "I was taught that
God was love and God was powerful and I couldn’t understand how someone so innocent
should be made or allowed to suffer so," he says.” God
had failed to live up to Ted Turner’s expectations, so Ted Turner blames God for his
unbelief.
Paul’s answer is found in verse four,“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.”
The translation “certainly
not” does not convey the vehemence of Paul's response, which is translated in
the KJV as "God forbid!" Literally,
this phrase reads, "May it never be!"
It is a strong statement, made even stronger by the words, "let
God be true and every men a liar!" Paul meaning here is that in spite of what
man does, God will honor His promise.
Answer:
God is faithful and true
Therefore,
you cannot blame your sin on Him
OBJECTION
#3: THE MORE EVIL I DO, THE BETTER GOD APPEARS IN COMPARISON!
Objection
number three is people actually say, “The more
evil I do, the better God appears in comparison.” Look at verses 5-8. “But if our unrighteousness
demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts
wrath? (I speak as a man.) (6) Certainly not! For then how will
God judge the world? (7) For if the truth of God has increased through my lie
to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? (8) 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.”
Sometimes
we hear people speaking of someone who has gone through a time of sin in their lives, and
when they come back to the Lord for forgiveness and they will testify that "it
was the best thing that could have happened, because it brought them back to the Lord."
You may have heard it expressed this way;
· It
was a good thing I got divorced because now I am able to minister to people I could never
have ministered to before.
· Sure
I had a few drinks with the guys, but now they know I’m just like them and it will be
easier for me to witness to them.
Well, my friend, I don't want to offend you if
you hold that philosophy, but that is just plain stupid! Would it not have been better
for you to have not committed those sins to begin with? Would it have not been better for
you to have walked faithfully with the Lord? Is not God more glorified by the life that
proves the power of God is sufficient to keep that person out of sin?
Answer:
God is righteous.
Therefore,
unless you repent you will not escape condemnation
Conclusion
When a man is revealed to be a sinner, he can come up
with some pretty creative way to try and justify his sins. Making
excuses has been a part of human nature ever since Adam blamed Eve in the Garden of Eden.
When God said, "Who told you to eat the fruit?" Adam said (with perfect
truthfulness), "The woman you gave me,"
thus managing to blame both Eve and God in one neat sentence. (God wasn't buying the
excuse, however. He never does.)
So, if we accept that
we are all sinners, what do we do? The answer is not in being religious but in accepting
the fact that God loves us and has made provision for us to escape his judgment against
sin by trusting his son Jesus.
This is a great story some of you may have heard before, but it is the
best way to describe how you can escape God’s judgment against sin. When the pioneers
were moving westward and setting up farms out on the prairies, they were often devastated
by wild fires raging sweeping out of control across the plains. The settlers would see the
wild fire coming and wouldn’t know what