Paul's Epistles Part 9 – God's Faithfulness

Paul's Epistles

Part 9 – God's Faithfulness

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. We have already looked at who Paul was, our faith being reported around the world, not being ashamed of the Gospel, being Guilty of sin, Apostasy, the Results of Apostasy, You are Without Excuse.

Last week we discussed Jews and the Law.

Today we will take a look at Romans 3:1-8, God's Faithfulness.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Romans 3:1-8

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

³ What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.” ~ (Psalm 51:4)

⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) ⁶ Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? ⁷ Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” ⁸ Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

I.                   WHAT ADVANTAGE IS THERE THEN IN BEING A JEW?

a.      Entrusted with the very Word of God.

                                                             i.      Paul had just finished telling them they were sinner too, and were without excuse.

                                                          ii.      However, he made it clear; there were advantages to being a Jew.

                                                       iii.      Possession of the Law though, does not exempt you from Judgment.

                                                         iv.      Circumcision was symbolic, and not meant to be a "protection" from Judgment.

b.     Although there are advantages, none of them could save their souls.

                                                             i.      Other than simple faith in Christ and the Cross.

                                                          ii.      And if they truly had faith in the Very Word of God they were entrusted with, they would not only understand their guilt, but come to realize that the Savior they were waiting for was Jesus Christ.

c.      This is what all the sacrifices they knew and obeyed symbolized, just as the Circumcision they recognized symbolized the entirety of the Law.

II.               WHAT IS SOME WERE UNFAITHFUL (LIT: Faithless, or did not believe)?

a.      Whether Judaism, Christianity, Agnostic, whatever...not believing has no bearing whatsoever on the Faithfulness or Truth of God and His Holy Word.

                                                             i.      You may reject the Bible, but it in no way nullifies its truth.

                                                          ii.      Some fully reject it. Not believing any of it.

                                                       iii.      Some partially reject it. Believing only what they like or agree with.

1.      2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

                                                         iv.      Some believe it.

                                                            v.      And some actually live it.

b.     Let God be true, and every man a liar

                                                             i.      Shows us that the problem is always man, never God.

                                                          ii.      Scholars, teachers of the Law, High Priests, rulers, kings and the like, with unlimited gold, man-power, resources, have tried to disprove the Word of God.

                                                       iii.      If any of them over the centuries had ever been successful, the Bible would not be the number one bestselling book of all time.

1.      Despite Rick Warrens claim that his book is the best selling non-fiction of all time, selling 32 million copies.

2.      The Bible has sold over 6 Billion, and counting.

3.      And Christianity would not still be the number one religion, 2,000+ years after Christ, with over 2.1 Billion.

                                                         iv.      This number is dwindling down though...as we near the end, and more and more people want their ears tickled, rather than hear the Truth.

                                                            v.      This however, is not in any way from the Bible being "disproved", rather, it is the hearts of men slowly returning to a time of Noah.

c.      As it is written

                                                             i.      So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.

                                                          ii.      Psalm 51:4; This statement is from David's Repentance regarding the matter of Uriah, in which David absolves God from all blame and takes the blame on himself; this is the pattern of TRUE REPENTANCE.

III.            GOD IS UNJUST IN BRINGING HIS WRATH UPON US

a.      Human argument

                                                             i.      The arguments of a foolish man denying that he is without excuse.

                                                          ii.      "If that were so, how could God judge the world?"

                                                       iii.      Speaking here of the Great White Throne Judgment.

1.      Revelation 20:11-15

2.      The judgment cannot be avoided; therefore, the argument of the man is indeed foolish.

b.     Man continues to debate,

                                                             i.      "If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?"

1.      Not the words of someone wanting forgiveness, rather, someone looking to excuse the very behaviors they have no excuse for.

                                                          ii.      This thinking, that the more we sin, the more God forgives, and we in turn are showing His Glory, is someone looking for a loophole to sin.

1.      No longer in their name, but in the name of God.

c.      Their condemnation is just!

                                                             i.      This presents to us the very reason Paul is addressing this subject.

                                                          ii.      Because of Paul's strong teaching on Grace, his detractors were slandering him.

                                                       iii.      Claiming he was teaching something that he clearly was not.

1.      It's OK to live in sin...

                                                         iv.      Paul states that to those who report such slander, the coming Judgment is just.

CONCLUSION

As Paul points out to the Jews, they are without excuse, and cannot escape God's Wrath or Judgment simply because they were circumcised.

They were given the Very Word of God, and the responsibility to teach it to others.

They will not only be held accountable to that, but also for any sin, such as the slander of Paul ministry, to which they will deserve the righteous judgment they have earned.

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