Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rom 3:1-2. Indeed, who is right? God who condemns? Or the accused defending himself? “May God be true and every man a liar!” cries the apostle (Rom 3:4). For the Word of God is not annulled on the pretext that it has not been believed by the Jews, its custodians (Rom 3:3; He 4.1-2). With the greatest inconsistency, the latter boasted of possessing the Law (Rom 2:17-24), while it bore witness against them. It is like a criminal who, while proclaiming his innocence, would himself hand over to the police the evidence establishing his guilt. So, the Spirit of God, like the prosecutor in a court, has a whole series of irrefutable verses from his own Scriptures read before this Jewish accused (Rom 3:10-18).
But another argument could be put forward by the accused: I do not deny my injustice, but it emphasizes the righteousness of God; basically it serves it. Awful bad faith! If this were so, God would have to renounce judging the world (Rom 3:6) and be grateful to him, on the contrary, for his wickedness, which emphasizes His own holiness. But then He would cease to be righteous and deny Himself (2 Tim 2:8-13). But, before the final verdict, God dismisses the last reasoning behind which his creature always seeks to entrench himself.
If, then, God so solemnly demands sincerity and rejects what is only an outward form, is it not better to be an uncircumcised Gentile, whose responsibility is far less than that of a Jew? Quite naturally, the question arises: “What is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the benefit of circumcision?” The apostle answers: “Great in every case, and first of all in that the oracles of God have been entrusted to them (Rom 3:2). In another passage (Rom 9:4:5), he lists yet another series of privileges of the Jew, but here he names only one, the highest, namely the fact that he possesses the written word of God. God had not revealed Himself to another people of the earth as directly as to His people of Israel: for He had given them His good Word, as descendants of Abraham, which He had set apart from other men, formerly by circumcision. So, what use had they made of that privilege?
Indeed, Israel had trampled on God’s goodness. We are not concerned with the greater or lesser number of those among the people who had possessed the divine life, but with the privileges of Israel, as God’s people, and the use it had made of those privileges. But Israel, as we well know, had been unfaithful: would its infidelity nullify God’s faithfulness and divine promises? “Far from it!” replies the apostle, “but may God be true and every man a liar!” For God invariably sticks to His Word; he will fulfill his promises despite all of Israel’s infidelity.
In the same way that God keeps His promises, He also maintains His judgment on sin. David, after his terrible fall, had found his only resource in the frank confession of his sin and justifying God, without taking care of what it would cost him. He said, “I have done what is wrong in your eyes; That you may be found righteous in your words, and that you may triumph when you are judged. “(Ps. 51:6; Rom 3:4). How could one ever blame God for an error in His words or judgment? Eventually all things will turn to his glory and to the shame of man; it is God who will be the victor in all respects.
Finally the apostle asks the question once again:”And if, by my lie, the truth of God comes out more for his glory, why am I myself still judged as a sinner? “(Rom 3.7). It relates, for the answer, to the listeners or readers; a sincere conscience will not be embarrassed about it. Could the consequences of a fault, even if favourable from a human point of view, free a culprit from his guilt and the punishment he deserves? Would they turn this very fault into a good deed? This absurd thought reminds the apostle of the slander that the opponents of the believers poured out against them, claiming that they said, “Andwhy should we not do evil so that good may come of it”(Rom 3:8). Therefore, as long as a sinner is not convinced of sin, he despises and insults grace; but as soon as this conviction of sin is produced in the conscience, the guilty person gratefully grasps the grace offered to him.
And with the words “but now”, the apostle introduces a whole new subject that will occupy us with more pleasant things. For he spoke to us at length about the sad state of man, about the terrible consequences of his fall, leading to the conclusion that the whole world deserves God’s judgment.
One could then ask whether the authority of the law will not be weakened by such a doctrine, whether its holy commandments will not be set aside; Not at all, replies the apostle; instead of annuling the law, we establish it (Rom 3:31). For the law has never been more vividly confirmed than by the word of the cross. Indeed, the gospel proclaims not only the irremediable guilt of man, but also the need for valid justice before God. The law does not confer any justice, but it does require one; for faith recognizes both things, the complete corruption of man and the necessity of justice, and behold, instead of the human justice that the law requires, it receives with gratitude the justice that God offers it freely. At the same time, the gospel teaches that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13).
For the holy God could in no way weaken man’s obligation to obey the law he had given; that is why he sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law”God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he would redeem those who were under the law, that we would receive adoption. “(Gal 4:4-5). So we ask: Could the law ever have been stated more clearly? Could his authority have been more perfectly established? Indeed, he also maintains his judgment on sin. For David, after his terrible fall, had found his only resource in the frank confession of his sin and in justifying God, without taking care of what it would cost him.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Circumcision
Gen 17:10:14 This is my covenant, which you will keep between me and you, and your posterity after you: every male among you will be circumcised. 14 An uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in his flesh, will be exterminated from the midst of his people: he will have violated my covenant. Joshua 5:3 Joshua made himself stone knives, and he circumcised the children of Israel on the hill of Araloth. Acts 15:1 Some men from Judea taught the brethren, saying: Unless you are circumcised according to the rite of Moses, you cannot be saved. Acts 16:3 Paul wanted to take him with him; and, having taken him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places, for all knew that his father was Greek. 1 Co 7:18 Has anyone been called being circumcised, let him remain circumcised; has anyone been called being uncircumcised, let him not be circumcised. Gal 2:3 But Titus, who was with me, and who was Greek, was not even forced to be circumcised. Gal 5:2 Behold, Paul, I tell you that if you are circumcised, Christ will do you no good. Gal 6:12 All those who want to make themselves pleasing according to the flesh compel you to be circumcised, only so as not to be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
- Exalted Israel: Admitted to a High Position
Dt 26:19 that he may give you superiority over all the nations he has created in glory, fame, and magnificence, and that you may be a holy people to Jehovah your God, as he told you. Dt 28:1, 13 If you obey the voice of Jehovah your God by observing and putting into practice all his commandments that I prescribe to you today, Jehovah, your God, will give you superiority over all the nations of the earth. 13 Jehovah will make of you the head and not the tail, you will always be at the top and you will never be at the bottom, when thou shady the commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I prescribe to you today, when thou shady and practice them; Dt 32:13 He made him ascend to the heights of the land, And Israel ate the fruits of the fields; He made her suck the honey from the rock, the oil that comes out of the hardestrock; Dt 33:29 How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, A people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your glory? Your enemies will fail before you, and you will tread their high places. Isa 14:2 The people will take them, and bring them back to their homes, and the house of Israel will possess them in the land of the Lord, as servants and servants; They will hold captive those who had made them captive, and they will dominate over their oppressors. Isa 45:14 Thus saith the Lord: The gains of Egypt and the profits of Ethiopia, And those of the tall Sabaeans, will pass into your home and be yours; These peoples will walk after you, They will pass in chains, They will prostrate themselves before you, and will say to you, begging: It is only with you that God is found, and there is no other God but him. Isa 49:23 Kings shall be your nurturers, and their princesses your nannies; They will bow down before you face down, and they will erow the dust from your feet, And you will know that I am the Lord, and that those who hope in me will not be confused. Isa 60:14 The sons of your oppressors will come to humble themselves before you, and all those who despised you will bow down at your feet; They will call you the city of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
- Book of the Law
Dt 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it next to the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and he will be there as a witness against you. Jos 1:8 Let this book of the law not move away from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, to act faithfully according to all that is written in it; for it is then that you will be successful in your ends, it is then that you will succeed. 2 Kings 22:8 Then Hilkija, the high priest, said to Schaphan, the secretary: I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkija gave the book to Schaphan, and Schaphan read it. 2 Kings 23:2 Then he ascended to the house of Jehovah, with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, from the smallest to the greatest. He read before them all the words of the book of covenant, which had been found in the house of the Lord. 2 Ch 17:9 They taught in Judah, carrying with them the book of Jehovah’s law. They went through all the cities of Judah, and they taught among the people. Ne 8.8 They read distinctly in the book of God’s law, and they gave meaning to make them understand what they had read. Gal 3:10 For all who cling to the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written: Cursed is whoever does not observe all that is written in the book of the law, and does not put it into practice.
- Warnings about Disbelief
Dt 32:20 He said: I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end will be; For it is a perverse race, They are unfaithful children. Os 8:12 Let me write for him all the ordinances of my law, They are regarded as something foreign. Mk 16:14 Finally, he appeared to the eleven, while they were at the table; and he reproached them for their unbelief and the hardness of their hearts, because they had not believed those who had seen him risen. Jn 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but god’s wrath dwells upon him. John 8:24 That is why I have told you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe what I am, you will die in your sins. John 16:8-9 And when He comes, He will convince the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in me; Hem 3:12 Beware, brother, that someone of you does not have an evil and unbelieving heart, to the point of turning away from the living God. Heb 4:11 Let’s therefore strive to enter into this rest, so that no one may fall by giving the same example of disobedience.
From all of the above, we note that the Jew possesses the written word of God. For God had not revealed Himself to another people of the earth as directly as to His people of Israel: He had given them His good Word, as descendants of Abraham, whom He had set apart from other men, formerly by circumcision. For God invariably sticks to His Word; and he will fulfill his promises despite all of Israel’s infidelity. For the law has never been more vividly confirmed than by the word of the cross. Indeed, the gospel proclaims not only the irremediable guilt of man, but also the need for valid justice before God. Therefore, as long as a sinner is not convinced of sin, he despises and insults grace; but as soon as this conviction of sin is produced in the conscience, the guilty person gratefully grasps the grace offered to him. Our prayers sustain you all in your efforts to get rid of sin and receive the grace of Jehovah God.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “righteousness by faith in accordance with Scripture, Abraham’s example.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.