FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY – 23RD FEBRUARY, 2018
THEME FOR THE YEAR: UNLIMITED RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE
TOPIC: We are counted Christians by our obedient not by keeping traditions
TEXT: Romans 3:1-8
AIM:
- To teach the children of God that the faithfulness of God is from everlasting to everlasting, the unbelief of man notwithstanding.
INTRODUCTION
Paul anticipates Jewish objections by entering into dialogue with an imagined opponent. Their subject is the righteousness of God (v. 5) and His faithfulness in keeping His promises to the Jew (v. 3).
Jew (v. 1): If circumcision is only inward (2:29), then what advantage do the Jews have? None!
Paul (v. 2): On the contrary, the Jews are blessed by knowing God’s will. His has revealed Himself to them.
Jew (v. 3): But some Jews were unfaithful to that revelation and according to you, they lost God’s blessing. Does this not mean that God has broken His promise? Where is His faithfulness?
Paul (v. 4): People may be unfaithful and suffer the consequences, but God is always faithful. His word can always be justified; when challenged, His truth will always overcome.
Jew (v. 5): Then our unrighteousness only serves to increase God’s righteousness. If our unfaithfulness serves God’s purpose, is He not unjust to judge us sinners? (I speak as a man: This is warped human thinking).
Paul (v. 6): If God did not judge sin among the Jews, He could not, in fairness, judge the sin of the world either. (The Jews took it for granted that God would judge the world.)
In vv. 7, 8 the Jews repeats the objection that if sin brings out God’s goodness, the more sin the better! Paul declares that position is absurd; for those who teach it, condemnation is just.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- “If we are not faithful, He remains faithful, because he cannot be false to himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13). Discuss this vis-à-vis Rom. 3: 3-4a.
- “…they tell lie to drive home the truth about God” (Romans 3:7). Discuss
- Can God be unfaithful to man? Can man be completely faithful to God?
MEMORY VERSE – ROMANS 3: 3-4a “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not!”