Romans 3:1-4 (NIV)
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness?
4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

Paul has started his 'diatribe' as John Stott reminds us in his book on Romans. Paul has two major audiences he has to address and they are the gentiles and then the Jews. Paul is a Jew so this question and then answer approach he uses is more than likely the objections he raised in his own mine as a Jewish teacher. If he did not raise them then in all likely hood he heard these objections when he would be in a synagogue evangelizing the Jews. The first objection to all he has been saying is what advantage is it to be a Jew? If the Jews and the gentiles are both going to be judged then what about all the promises given to the Jews by God almighty. Perhaps someone today may say, "what advantage is it to be raised in the church and be baptized?" The bottom line no one has any real advantage is they do not take advantage of what has been given to them. The gentiles and the Jews have all of creation to witness and to see and understand to some degree the power of God. It is to no ones advantage if the witnesses of His power do not not seek Him out. The Jews had been given a leg up. They not only could see His creation but they had His words given to them by their prophets. The problem with most people and not just the Jews is we do not take advantage of the advantages, but rather squander the assets that has been given to us.



Paul then raises the issue of faith as if our neglect could somehow hurt the faithfulness of God. In other words the very people that God chose to inherit His promises and in particular the promises concerning the Messiah, could in fact turn their backs on God then what about God and His faithfulness. God did not do a very good job of keeping His own people in line so He must of been asleep at the wheel. Of course the argument is put out there in order to justify their behavior towards God. I haven't been that good in obeying God, but if I as a Jew will be cut off then that diminishes God's faithfulness, therefore even as a bad Jew I still uphold the faithfulness of God. Paul answers that with verse four, "Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." The problem with the argument they are putting forward is that it totally man centered and not God centered. Paul calls us out and says we are the liars and not God.



Are you taking advantage of the grace of God and all that God has given to you?

Romans 2:14-15 (NIV)
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

A perceived problem in our Theology is God has no right to judge anyone who does not have the law of God. How can a person in some jungle be called a liar by God or us, if they do not have the law of God to tell them that is wrong? This was a perceived problem in Paul's day and he handles it by appealing to the law written on human beings hearts. All research reveals that in all cultures there is civil structure set up by any given people that is to govern them in their behavior. The structure that is in place will be used to judge those people. In Romans one you may recall that God will use the order of the universe to judge people for not seeking Him out. People know there is a God, they do not want to come clean.



Romans 2:17-29 (NIV)
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God;
18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24 As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
26 If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

There is no doubt that Paul is addressing the Jews in these verses. Paul brings his case against the Jews down to very practical terms. If you know that it is wrong to lie then do you still lie? The Jews do have an advantage in knowing God, however if they do not exercise their faith by living as they should then it will become a disadvantage. The Jews did not want an inspection of their lifestyle but an inspection of their genitals. The outward adornment is always easier than that of the heart. If your heart is right with God then the lifestyle will follow. The danger of having the Scriptures and knowing them is the demands of God go up for those with that kind of information. Here is what one writer has said, "God's grace is against earning, but not against effort." It is God's grace that has placed us in a country with so many resources to help us to know Him and obey Him. We must lean into God's Spirit and His grace to help us live out our faith.

The righteous will live by faith, it does not say the righteous shall live by works or works plus faith. The righteous will live by faith and that is the beginning and the end. A person may ask, "Why do we have to live by faith?" Paul precedes to answer that question for most of the book. Paul starts immediately in verse eighteen with these very telling words, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godliness and wickedness..." Paul lets us know that God is not passive about the wicked things being done. It is His wrath that is being revealed and that is at the present, not at the end times. We as humans have a problem and it is with God. How do we solve that problem? By the way as you have read the problem is worse than you think. I am jumping ahead because there are those who will say we are not ungodly and certainly not wicked so we are okay and God will say no you are not. Let the games begin. Man will play games with God. God has never ever lost. Even the wicked will try to say they didn't know any better or that they were not aware of the standard. Let the games begin. Paul's arguments goes to the heart of every issue that keeps man from having faith in Christ. People you are trying to share with have these arguments in their hearts. Make sure you read chapter one very carefully and the commentary by Stott.

Every sordid detail in this book comes back to the power of the Gospel. It is the Gospel that can blow up the chains of sin that hold people back and give them faith to live a righteous life.
When we sing Jesus is the answer we need to understand Christ is the answer and the only answer. There is no other hope,but the hope we have in Him. He is your answer right now. Believe!!!!!!