Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 3:1-8

Summary: A few weeks ago we reentered God's courtroom where Paul, God's prosecuting attorney, was arguing God's case against the religious. The Religious believe their professions of spirituality and their performance of religious rituals would be enough to exempt them from God's wrath and judgment. Paul proved them wrong on both counts and today Paul will bring his final two pieces of evidence that will shut the case against the religious and show them to be guilty before a holy and just God.
The bailiff returns, and says. 'All rise, the court of Elohim, Creator and Judge of the universe is now in session.

III. The Jews had Privilege w/o Perception. (Rom. 3:1-2)
   A. Is there no privilege to being a Jew?

       The religious Jews are stunned at what Paul has said in  Rom. 2:17-29. ( Look at bulletin insert) When they finally caught their breath they said...'Come on Paul. Is there no advantage, no privilege to being a Jew? Are there no redeeming qualities, no blessings associated with being Israel, God's chosen people?' Now, you would think that Paul, having clearly shown the dangers of an unbalanced approach to profession and ritual  would answer unequivocally NO. There is no advantage,  no privilege to being a Jew. BUT that is not what he says is it? In fact he says the opposite doesn't he?

         Yes! There is great advantage and privilege being a Jew. Why? Because you have been entrusted with the oracles of God! What does that mean...the oracles of God? Very simply it means the Word of God. And because you have been entrusted  with God's Word, you are privileged.
 1. You have in your possession the very Word of God.
 2. You can read, hear, see, obey and live God's Word.
 3. You can live in a home warmed  by God's Word.
 4. You can know God in a real and powerful way.

         There is great privilege and advantage to being a Jew.

APP: However, privilege to be rightly handled must be rightly perceived....or understood for what it is. Religious people must always wrestle with the possibility that they might misunderstand or misapply their privilege, either by disregarding the importance of the privilege or by exaggerating their own importance.  The Jews were guilty of both... How about you?

Question: Being a Christian affords many privileges. Name some.

1. We have the Word of God
2. We know what God is like and what He expects of us.
3. We know what we are like.
4. We know what is required for salvation from sin and death.
5. We truly have Immanuel 'God with us' when we are saved.
6. We have unrestricted accesses to the throne of God when we       walk rightly before Him.
7. We are part of a  spiritual and eternal family.
8. We have the promise of eternal life with God in heaven.

         As Christians we too are privileged,  have an advantage, a calling. But with this privilege comes  much responsibility.
Luke 12:48b says  ' And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more'.

Do you get it?
         You have been entrusted with the greatest, most  important truth the world has ever know.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
You have been entrusted with the greatest, most  important instruction manual showing us how to live in a way that is pleasing to God. The  Word of God, The Bible. God is asking  each one of you  "What are you doing with what you  have been given? You have a great advantage and privilege over sinful, lost mankind. I have given you my Word. Because of this you can know me and know what I expect of  you  But do you correctly perceive, do you understand what is required of you? READ my Word , BELIEVE my Word, LIVE my Word and SHARE my Word. Why? So that others might be drawn to me."

         Do you hear God speaking to you today? He is demanding that you be responsible with what you have been given by perceiving or realizing not only it's worth but your duty to share it with the unsaved world....your unsaved family members, neighbors or co-workers. Deny this. Refuse it  and you will be like the moralist and the religious Jew storing up wrath against yourself. One day you will be judged by God, found guilty and sentenced to eternal death and hell.

TRANS: Paul has stuck hard with this one and there is quiet in the courtroom. It is hard to believe that the religious Jew,  is still unwilling to change his plea.  Paul now presents his final piece of evidence.

IV. The Jews had Objections w/o Objectivity. (Rom. 3:3-8)

        Someone has once said ' The stronger the position held, the deeper the passions will flow. The deeper the passions flow, the further the argument strays from objectivity.' The religious are now fighting for their lives. They are caught in their sin and the excuses begin to flow one after another. As they do they start to point the finger at God and place blame on Him.

    A. If all this is true, isn't God unfaithful? Isn't He a liar (vs. 3-4)
        1. They say to Paul
           We are agreed , Israel was the chosen people of God.
           We are agreed, they were entrusted with God's Word.
           We are agreed, they were called to be light to the world.

           BUT, if Israel has been unfaithful, guilty of  unbelief, and God condemns them hasn't God's covenant plan failed? Didn't He promise a special place for Israel and special privileges for Abraham's seed? Isn't He a liar?

    2. Paul replies NO WAY. God is and will continue to be faithful. Even if every man lies about believing., God will prove His Word  by rightly judging those who lie. God is not unfaithful and never voids or breaks His word. Remember, Jews are not Jews by birth or heritage but by a circumcision of the heart. These have and will always be God's people. They will not be judged. They will not experience the wrath of God... Because they know Him... personally and intimately in their hearts.

TRANS: The religious are desperate now and they lose all objectivity as they unsuccessfully try to make themselves look righteous by continuing to blame God for their unrighteousness.

    B. If all this is true, isn't God unfair? (vs. 5-8)
        1. They frantically and almost w/o thinking say to Paul
            If my unrighteousness makes God's righteousness look better and more effective and powerful. Why should He find fault in me and what I do? I am only helping Him out, the more I sin the better He looks, He is being totally unfair about this.

        2. Paul says to them
           This time you have gone too far. This doesn't even deserve a reply. But listen, God is the moral governor of the universe, the judge of all the earth. He judges with integrity according to the truth displayed in your lives. God created all mankind and is as I have already proven, impartial. Sin is sin whether committed by a Jew or a Gentile and it will be judged by our righteous God. With chilling brevity he concludes his exposure of the religious position by saying  in verse 8 that the condemnation of  those who believe such things,  is just.

Conclusion
         The religious Jews looked down on the Gentiles as being blind, in the dark, foolish, immature, ignorant sinful and deserving of their punishment by God. They believed they were safe bearing the name Jew and claming the privilege of being entrusted with the Law of God.

         Things are not much different today. Church people look down on the homeless, those with addictions, drunks, and the like and claim safety and personal purity while basking  between in the hallow walls of the church. They believe they are safe in their sanctuary with their Bible in their hands.

         Paul is giving the 'privileged' church goers their wake up call. You have been given the oracles of God, the very Word of the Almighty, the Gospel of JC. Don't cling to it like some personal flotation device.   READ IT, BELIEVE IT, LIVE IT and SHARE IT! Or give up whatever hope of eternal life you may be holding on to.

         Someday, untold numbers will stand before the Great White throne of God, at first disbelieving they are really there. Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name? And in your name cast out demons? Didn't we go to church every week and give 10%? Didn't we sing in the choir and serve on the Missions Committee?

         They will find it difficult to hear God's crushing words 'Depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.'They will find it hard to believe that sincere religious church going people will be eternally lost and sentenced to hell. Many of them will know and be able to recite the Lord's Prayer and Apostles Creed. Some will believe in the inerancy of the Bible. Some will be staunch Calvinists and Arminians, Some dispensationalists and others reformed. Some protestant and others catholic, but  ALL condemned.

         Why, because they allowed themselves to be lulled asleep by a false religious security which prevented them from getting to the heart, the circumcised heart of the matter.. a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Perhaps there are some here this morning who hear these words but think He's  not talking about me. I hope I'm not talking about you... But judge yourself religious person, before God does. God's case against the religious......is closed!