Defying Deity
Do I Have a Defiant Heart
Text: Romans 3:1-8 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
Introduction:
We are returning to our summer series on spiritual heart health from Romans 1:18–3:20, where Paul describes the different ways the human heart shows its fallen state.
As a review, Paul has exposed the pagan idolatrous heart (1:18-32); the self-righteous presuming heart (2:1-11); the overconfident hypocritical heart (2:12-29); the defiant heart that argues against God’s just condemnation (3:1-8); and the defiled heart thoroughly infected by sin and under just condemnation (3:9-20).
It is important to remember that Paul is describing a conversation he often experienced when he entered a city in the Roman Empire and shared the good news in the gospel God had entrusted to him.
His first stop after arriving in a new city was the Jewish synagogue. And invariably, once he fully explained the implications of his gospel, the leaders of that synagogue would stand up and argue against him and the implications from the gospel that they needed to be saved from the wrath of God just like the surrounding Gentile idolaters. And they were defiant in their objections!
Paul concludes this section with a very serious and heavy statement about his Jewish opponents at the end of verse 8: “Their condemnation is just.” The word “condemnation” is heavy and serious. It refers to eternal perishing and everlasting punishment. Paul points out that the severity of their condemnation is fair. It is deserved by them, caused by their actions, and required by God’s justice.
Paul argues that everyone – Gentile and Jew – is under God’s rightful condemnation! When a self-righteous, outwardly moral person who has diligently practiced their religion hears this from someone like Paul, they often raise strong objections, resisting the severity of the condemnation laid upon them.
Our text outlines four main arguments Paul received from religious people who objected to the implications of the gospel about them, rejected the message of a Messiah crucified for them, and refused to turn from their own self-righteousness by obeying the gospel’s call for repentance and wholehearted faithful obedience to Jesus as the Messiah.
These are the same kinds of arguments we hear today from religious people who believe their religion, morality, and self-righteous efforts protect them from God’s wrath.
I. What is the Point of all My ____________ ____________? (1-2)
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Question: Paul, if what you’re saying about us Jews is true—that our relationship with Abraham, our status as God’s chosen people through circumcision, and our connection to Moses via the Torah don’t guarantee us entry into Messiah’s kingdom or save us from God’s wrath—then what’s the point of being a Jew? Why go through all the religious trouble and strictness our faith demands? What’s the purpose of all my religious efforts? (We could say the same about ourselves.)
Answer: Much in every way! First and foremost (chiefly), you have been entrusted with the very words of God! (More benefits come in chapter 9:1-5, but he focuses here on the primary advantage.)
Reminder: So, yes, there is a great advantage to being a Jew. But this advantage does not mean you are better off than the Gentile idolater who never had these gracious privileges! “Are we better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin!” (3:9)
Warning: Possessing the Oracles of God can lead you to salvation, but it does not guarantee that you will receive salvation!
II. How Can God Judge Me in ____________ of His ____________? (3-4)
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
Question: God has made unwavering, unconditional promises to Abraham, his descendants, and the nation of Israel. Since I am an Israelite, those promises are mine. Therefore, if I am unfaithful to God and He judges me, condemns me, and denies me access to the benefits of those promises—how can God remain faithful to His promises?
Accusation: In other words, if my unfaithfulness causes God to condemn me and deny me His promises, then He would also be unfaithful! It is impossible for Him to judge me for unfaithfulness to His Word without Him Himself being unfaithful to the promises He made to me. Therefore, though I am guilty of sin, God will not judge me because He values His faithful character too much to compromise it.
Rebuke – “May it never be!” (10x in Romans) This is a monstrous conclusion! You have a right premise – God has made unfailing promises to Abraham, his descendants, and to Israel as a nation – and He will keep them!
Example: David, one of the most famous and revered Israelites, provides inspired, undisputed testimony to this fact! And Paul demonstrates this by quoting a relevant portion of David’s well-known confession in Psalm 51:1-4.
III. Why am I Judged if My ____________ Displays God’s ____________? (5-6)
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
Accusation: Paul, if our sin ultimately promotes God’s glory, then our sin is fulfilling God’s purpose, and it would be unjust of God to judge us for doing something that shows His righteousness and enhances His glory in the eyes of others.
Paul immediately interjects and states – “I am arguing this way because this is how unsaved human minds argue against God!”
Our minds twist and turn like this because this accusation is based on a true premise! God’s righteousness does shine brightly against our unrighteousness! The more our sins are exposed, the more God’s righteousness is set forward in stark contrast.
Illustration: A brilliant diamond displayed against a black velvet cloth.
Rebuttal: That works for the brilliance of a diamond and the glory of God’s righteousness – they both shine brightly in contrast to the dark cloth of a sinful world.
But while the illustration is helpful for showing the brilliance of the diamond and the righteousness of God, it isn’t accurate for the black cloth. In the illustration, the black cloth is not sinful, immoral, idolatrous, or impenitent. In other words, the fact that God’s righteousness shines in contrast to man’s sinfulness does not remove the moral culpability of sinners like the Gentiles, like David, like Israel, or like you and me! We are still morally responsible for our sin when we suppress the truth we have been given!
Further Answer: Paul brings a strong rebuke to the line of thinking that argues, “since my unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, he is unrighteous to judge me”: “May it never be!”
If you argue this way, then God could never judge anyone! For example, on what basis could He judge the world (gentile nations)? And this is a conclusion you are unwilling to accept yourself—because you are convinced that not only are the Gentiles worthy of God’s condemnation, but they deserve God’s fiercest judgment (2:1-3).
IV. Why am I judged if my ____________ Promotes God’s ____________? (7-8)
But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
Accusation: If my sinning brings glory to God because it allows God to do what He told Moses He loves to do for His sinful people—show mercy—then why am I still condemned as a sinner?
If God delights in showing mercy, then He needs sinners to receive that mercy. So, when I sin, I am actually doing something that allows God to do what He deeply desires to do—show abundant, , unmerited mercy! So, if by my sinning I am giving God an awesome opportunity to show mercy, He should be thanking me, not judging me!
Rebuke: You are slandering (blaspheming) what I said and twisting my words to mean something I never taught! Your twisted thinking has led you to blaspheme the truth about God and from God! God’s mercy indeed abounds where sin has caused great damage – for example, in David’s life! When he cried out, “Have mercy upon me according to your loving kindness,” God showed him abundant mercy.
But God’s mercy when we sin doesn’t mean He wants us to sin more so He can show more mercy! That is a terrible conclusion about God and mercy. The Old Testament you value is full of instructions from God that if someone wants mercy, they need to repent and turn away from their sins!
Condemnation: – You and others who argue against God in this twisted way – your condemnation is justified!
Conclusion: “Their Condemnation is Just” and You and Me
Illustration: Johnstown Flood
Pastor – That is a great illustration, but don’t you think it is a bit over the top? Actually, it is the very illustration Jesus (Matt. 24:36-39; Luke 17:26-27) and Peter (2 Peter 3:6) both used to warn their hearers of the danger they were in from God’s wrath!
Luke 17:26–27 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Will you stop your defiance, humble your heart, and repent to receive mercy and eternal life? Or will you continue to argue against God and justify your sin until one day you are swept away to eternal destruction?