ROMANS UNWRAPPED 33

" GOD FORBID!!! "       Romans 3 v 1-8


No less than 10 times, Paul uses this phrase to counter arguments in the Roman epistle,                       3 v 4; 3 v 6; 3 v 31; 6 v 2; 6 v 15; 7 v 7; 7 v 13; 9 v 14; 11 v 1; 11 v 11.

It is to say "by no means" "absolutely absurd" " perish the thought " "may such a thing never be".
Instead of accepting what God says the human objector must try to argue his way out of something he doesn't like, in this case, the fact of God's judgment upon them.

 His entire life, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, was plagued with opposition from his fellow countrymen who pursued him wherever he went, some even took a vow to kill him, that is the effect religious intolerance can have.   The history of this is found in    Acts 13 v45; 14 v 2; 14 v 4; 14 v 5; 14 v 19.   When he visited Jerusalem, following one of his missionary journeys, they opposed him greatly saying "this is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place (the temple)."   Nothing could be further from the truth, but Paul has to unravel the confusion in the Jewish mind if he is going to persuade them of the gospel.

He continues now in  Romans  3 v 3 - 8 with the last three parts of their objection.

2.   "Will the unbelief of some of our people make the word of God without effect?"   In other words, will God be true to His word, will God keep His promise to Israel?    This question, and Paul's answer reveals the deep misconception in their minds.   First of all, God does not save nations, He saves individuals, and behind this ridiculous question was the belief that Israel as a nation would be saved and all others perish.   The second misconception in this question is that God promised to save all ethnic Israel.   He did not, and Paul's answer is clear "God forbid" - God will be true to His word, but God's word was not that all ethnic Israel would be saved but that God would save individuals whose sins had been dealt with before him. The basis for salvation is not ethnic privilege, but individual righteousness with God.  The quotation from Psalm 51 proves this,  the context being king David confessing his personal sin before God and asking for His forgiveness.   Paul's answer is,
instead of  questioning the honour of God ("let God be true but every man a liar") you need to deal with the matter of your personal sin before God just as David did.

3.   Doesn't our unrighteousness, our failings commend the righteousness of God?    The Jews would say that their long history proves that whenever they failed, God overcame thleir failures, and,therefore should God really judge us when we are putting His wonderful actions into greater light?   Paul's answer to this is simply  "God will judge the world" and since you are part of the world He will judge you.   The idea that any sin would be a good thing is quite preposterous.  

4.   Similar to section 3 above, Paul brings it down to a personal level " if the truth of God hath more abounded in my lie unto His glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?"   The very suggestion that human sin by a privileged people would be overlooked by God, because in the sovereign wonderful ways of  God the whole thing would result in the glory of God, then surely God will overlook my sin, is absurd in the extreme.   The answer by Paul is clear that God will judge every individual on the basis of their own works, and not on their conceived privilege as a nation.
THE VERY IDEA THAT OUR SINS COULD ENHANCE THE GLORY OF GOD?-----ABSURD!


The Jews thought that they were very special  - they could be as irresponsible, and complacent, and indulgent, and self-satisfied,  - yet God was obligated to bless them, thus treating God like some heavenly santa claus, that no matter how badly they behaved, just because it was Christmas they would still get presents!   This childish, immature, selfish view of themselves and the world was grossly misplaced.   Here is the reality........ the first generation of redeemed Jews were wiped out in the wilderness, because of their rebellion against God, only two, Joshua and Caleb made it to the promised land,  but conveniently that is now forgotten.   We are left with the inescapable conclusion that the Jews are as guilty before God as the Gentiles, and even more so because they were given supreme privileges.

Paul is careful to include himself personally in this scenario "through my lie" .   He is saying  "I am personally responsible for my own sins, as are all of you."

Paul now draws all this together in chapter 3 v 9 - 20 when he brings the entire world Jew and Gentile before the bar of a Holy God.  


                          Tomorrow.......THE WORLD ON TRIAL.