Key verse: Romans 3:3, “For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”
Introduction:
“What advantage then hath the Jew?” The Apostle Paul “has shown that the Jews were more wicked than the Gentiles; that their possession of the law, circumcision, and outward profession of relation to God, were no ground of acceptance with him (the Lord).” —Adam Clark’s Commentary.
With all the advantages that the Jews had you would think that they would have been faithful, but that is not the case. Salvation and God blessings have always been DETERMINED BY FAITH IN Jesus, the Messiah (Christ). So what advantage does the Jew have?
A. “Much in every way,” vv. 1-2; Romans 9:4, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”
1. The Oracles (Word) of God, v. 2; Acts 7:38, “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:”
2. The covenant of Circumcision, the sign of obedience, Genesis 17:11, “And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”
3. The promises of God, Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
a. Paul here speaks of the faithfulness of God in Israel, Genesis 48:21, “And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”
b. They saw the promises “afar off” and believed them, Hebrews 11:39, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”
B. They have a relationship with God, Romans 11:28, “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”
1. God established His covenant with Abraham and his posterity, Genesis 17:7, “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”
2. They are a chosen people, Deuteronomy 7:6, For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
A. They have not all obeyed the gospel, Romans 10:16, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”
1. Moses had warned them, Deuteronomy 11:27-28, “A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
2. God would not tolerate disobedience, 1 Peter 2:7-8, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
B. The word preached did not profit some of them, Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
1. They heard the Gospel, Acts 3:26, “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
2. It did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith, Acts 13:46, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
A. God continues to be faithful to His Word, 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
1. His Word stands, Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
2. He does not change, Hebrews 6:13-18, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
B. The Faith of God’s elect is well placed for He is the Faithful God, Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
1. His testimonies are faithful, Psalms 119:138, “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.”
2. God will fulfill His Word and turn away the ungodliness from Israel, Romans 11:26, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”
CONCLUSION OF CHOICE