Romans 3:1-8, “God’s Faithfulness!”

Bible Text: Romans 3:1-8 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

The first eight verses of chapter 3 are Paul’s continued treatment of the close of Romans 2, where Paul answers the question: What makes a true Jew?
Some say it is those who believe the Torah, the Law, and the Prophets; someone who keeps a kosher kitchen and adheres to strict dietary regulations, as well as observing all the traditions of Judaism. Others say, “if you were born of Jewish ancestry then you are a Jew.”
Paul answered the question in Chapter 2:28, saying a man is not a Jew who is only one outwardly, but (v. 29) is one inwardly, being born of God’s Spirit, for that is what constitutes a Jew, nothing else.
It is not knowing or possessing the Law that makes a man a Jew, i.e., a true son or daughter of Abraham is by faith, not by circumcision, nor by special relationship with God based upon human ancestry or religious practice. The only thing that makes a person a child of God is faith in God’s Son.
Read Romans 3:1-2… Paul’s Jewish opposers were saying to him, if circumcision, the Law, and birthright don’t mean anything, what is the benefit of being a Jew?
Paul says to them, that although they have been entrusted with the very Law of God, everyone is under law, for even savages in the deepest jungle with no knowledge of the Bible or the Ten Commandments, have a moral standard, God’s Law having been written upon their hearts (see Romans 2:14-15).
See Genesis 2:25… Before sin’s curse!
See Genesis 3:7-11… Consequences of sin!
See Genesis 3:21-22a… Adam and Eve knew good and evil, long before the Law was given, and the propensity to sin was passed from parent to child, beginning with them (see Romans 5:12-14).
In our culture today we see many forms of religious practice: Church of Christ- Scientist, Church of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witness, Muslim, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic, all of these seem convinced they are the ones who are right with God, just as the Jews claim to be God’s chosen people; all of these, to some degree, claim to have been given provision, position, purpose, power and wisdom through God’s Word.
The Jews were given the very first written revelation of God’s Word (on stone), expressing the mind, will, character and commands of God that no other people on earth possessed until that time. The Jews had greater responsibility than anyone else in that day, to know and to obey God’s decrees. And although this was a definite advantage, if they failed to make use of it, it did them no good at all, and they were no better off than if they had never received the Law of God.

We have an abundance of Bible translations available to us today, by which we can know the very will of God. There are billions of people today who have been raised in Sunday school and church, people who have been exposed to, and have read, the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; and yet, the majority of these people are no better off than if they had never read it.
I believe Paul’s main point in this discussion is that, although the Jews had a tremendous advantage, having the Law, they failed to honor and obey it.
Joshua 1:8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Read Romans 3:3-4… Those opposing Paul ask, “are you suggesting that if some of the Jews did not have faith [or belief], God would not be faithful, that He would forget or not fulfill His promises to all the Jews?”
In other words, “are you saying that just because some of us didn’t do what God required in His Law, all of Israel has lost out on God’s promises?” “Are you saying God is not impressed by the all rituals we have kept and the sacrifices we have offered, don’t these mean anything to God?” “Are you saying that because of the disobedience and lack of genuine faith among some of the Jews, God has canceled His promises to all of them?”
Paul’s uses the strongest words in the Greek language (apart from cursing) to answer them, “Not at all, by no means, may it never be said,” i.e., “God forbid!” For to suggest that God is the One who failed would suggest that God gave a promise and then did not keep His word; that He was not faithful just because “some” of the people failed to do what was right in His eyes.”
We often blame God when things go wrong, or when we fail to obey God’s requirements or honor Him; so, Paul says, in response to that kind of thinking, ”Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
God is going to keep His word no matter how many of us are unfaithful to Him, and He is therefore just in judging us, in fact (Psalm 51:4b), “[He] is proved right when [He] speaks and justified when [He] judges.”
A little background on Psalm 51: For 18 months David had tried to hide his murder of Uriah, and adultery with Bathsheba; but God used Nathan the prophet (2Samuel 12:1-13) to bring David to the point of repentance, and Psalm 51 is the result of that confession of guilt.
By quoting Psalm 51, here in Romans 3:4, “Let God be true and every man a liar,” Paul is saying that even if men and nations fail God, He will fulfill His promises, for God’s resources are without limit in reference to time and amount, and His faithfulness is without error or failing.
2Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Read Romans 3:5-6… To actually consider that the depth of our sin makes God look good, by giving Him more opportunity to love and forgive us, would bring into question His right to judge us for our sin, after all, if in our sinfulness we promote God’s holiness, how can He condemn us?
Perhaps we should sin more to expose more of God’s holiness! Paul says, if we are allowed to live that way, God would have to be removed as judge, for God could not condemn those who, by doing bad, cause Him to look good.
How ridiculous to say that sin somehow glorifies God!The truth is, sin never glorifies God and it never produces good, it only demonstrates our need for God’s mercy.
Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Read Romans 3:7-8… The words “Someone might argue,” are not found in the Greek. This is important, because Paul is not talking about someone else, for he also is among those who are guilty of rationalizing God’s goodness as an excuse for their sinfulness.
Paul does not consider himself, even though an apostle of God, to be beyond the judgment of God; for he is just as capable of lying as anyone else, and as such, is subject to the judgement of God, the same as anyone else.
To say that our lying enhances God’s truthfulness, is to say, “let’s do evil so that good may come out of it.” Paul concludes this to be a ridiculous argument, for if bad results in good, then lies bring forth truth.
Today people often say “There’s no such thing as absolute truth, or for that matter, good and evil, for whatever they consider good, is good, whatever they don’t like, is evil. Do you see how utterly ridiculous that argument is. The logical conclusion to that kind of thinking is moral indifference, chaos and confusion, where nobody can judge right or wrong – everyone has their own fluctuating standard of, morality, religion, and conscience. Paul says, the condemnation on this kind of reasoning is well-deserved:
”Is there any manner by which a man or woman can please God apart from faith in Christ? Is there any way you can become good and acceptable to God?”
Paul’s clear answer is, “No one can make it on those terms, not the morally self- righteous, who pride themselves on their good conduct and clean living; not the unenlightened pagans in the jungles of the world, both concrete and green tropical ones, who go against their own consciences, unable to live up to their own standards, let alone God’s; nor the ultra religious who teach adherence to the Law, but themselves fail to obey it. They are all declared guilty before God.
We are living in a day when what men say is held up as the final word. The Scriptures are considered, but are not really taken as authoritative. But the apostles never treated Scripture that way. They listened to what men said, but when it came to the final authority, “they held up the Scriptures as Sovereign Truth!”
2Peter 1:4, “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
God’s Word is the sovereign authority, not men, not governments, and not the Supreme Court. For it is God and His Word that is true and faithful. Men are sinners and in need of salvation, all humans who are of age. Praise God that He alone is faithful and merciful and just and loving, and He has offered up Himself as the once for all sacrifice for all sin, for all humankind, forever.
No one is so bad they cannot receive God’s Grace, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, transexual, transgender, or transracial, it doesn’t matter, God turns no one away who genuinely repents and believes.
And no one is so good they don’t need God’s Grace, which has come through Jesus Christ, for everyone who calls on Him, repenting of sins and confessing Him as Lord, believing in and receiving Him as Savior, will receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life, having been born of the Spirit of God for the purpose of knowing, obeying and proclaiming God’s Word, seeking to live in a manner that brings honor and glory to God.