Lesson 418

(Lesson 418)(10-07-12) Romans 3:1-18, "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."

In this lesson, Paul explains how, before the giving of the law, the Jews, even though they were sinners, could rely on the grace of God simply because they were His chosen.

He goes on to explain how, when the law was given, they became bound to obey that law, in order to maintain their inheritance.

We learn from our study of the old testament, how they were in disobedience of the Law of Moses, even as Moses was receiving it.

In the latter portion of this lesson, Paul explains that through their disobedience of that law, they had relinquised their status as "chosen".

Paul also tells us that the Gentiles, being judged by the same standards, also failed the law, and too, stand equally guilty before God.
Paul then lists the evils that prevails among both Jews and Gentiles.~