Romans 3:1
“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
the apostle here is speaking shortly after there had been a change to the means of salvation. Jesus says plainly of His time;
John 4:22
“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” There was a way for a gentile to become a Jew. The Hebrew community was never exclusive, but the price was high! According to the Babylonian Talmud; “A man cannot become a proper proselyte unless he has been circumcised and has also performed ritual ablution;” This ritual ablution spoken of here is called the Mikvah, lol, or what we would call baptism.
So this is what was required of before the house of Cornelius. Yes, Jesus, Yeshua, He bought salvation for us all and as the apostle puts it in his letter to the Ephesians; Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
and again to the Galatians Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We will be going into much more depth in chapter 11 on this subject so I’m only giving a brief explanation here.
Romans 3:2
“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”
Oracles is Strong’s G3051 “log’-ee-on” meaning in this instance “The Words of God”.
Deuteronomy 4:7, 8 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
God had given the Word to Israel so Israel could give the Word to the world! Exodus 19:5,6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Romans 3:3
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”
This is what so many fail to grasp among the unbelievers, there have always been doubters, the one that gets me is Matthew 28:16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
They’re standing there with a fellow that had been dead no too long before hand and some of the people there still didn’t believe! Well I have some good news for you doubters, God doesn’t need your belief or permission to be God! He was God before you was born, He’ll be God when your dead, only you’ll be convinced at that point!
Romans 3:4God 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.
There were and there are atheistic Jews! Tel Aviv is one of the most gay friendly cities in the world! But again, man’s opinion makes no difference. Man’s unbelief does not nullify truth.
That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings is a reference to;
Psalms 51:4
(4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
When reading this passage, David had just had Uriah, Bath-sheba’s husband killed, his sin has been called out by Nathan and he knows God has seen his sin and it’s going to cost him. David didn’t run to Bath-Sheba instantly, or go to Uriah’s family if they were there, he repented to God! I personally believe that most people don’t get this lesson. If you wrong someone by all means go to them, but you have to repent to God.
Peter tells us; 2 Peter 3:11
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
it may sound fanatical, I understand, but there is nothing in this life that is worth getting in the way of your relationship with God!
Romans 3:5
(5) But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Romans 3:5 (NASB)
(5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)
David Bernard’s “The Message of Romans says here of verse 5;
This objection arises out of the answer to the preceding objection. If man’s sin actually brings greater glory to God, is God unfair to condemn that sin? This is objection is so weak and blasphemous that Paul felt compelled to note parenthetically, “I am using a human argument” NIV.
Romans 3:6
(6) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
I just want to point out here, different versions translate Paul’s exclamation in different ways. Here in the KJV it’s “God Forbid”, the NASB renders it; “Far from it”, the ESV says; “By no means!”
And all 3 translations are correct! The Koine greek says; “May Ghin-om-ahee” and to translate it into brother Jason-ese, “No way Hosea” and that’s even correct, other than the fact Hosea isn’t mentioned, neither is God, Theos for that matter. I want you to listen to a short clip from the movie on the ministry of the great Bible translator William Tyndale. This clip is specifically when he is translating Hebrews 12:2
This was taken from the movie “God’s Outlaw”. I’m including it mostly to show the process translators go through while moving from one language to another. I’m sure it’s very frustrating for them at times, but very beneficial to us!
Romans 3:7-8
(7) For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
(8) 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.
This last passage is from brother Bernard’s book, “The Message of Romans” page 77
Well that’s it for this episode, if you wish to contact us you can reach us through apostolicbiblestudytime@gmail.com
again, that’s apostolicbiblestudytime@gmail.com
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until next time, this is brother jason reminding you, Jesus is not in the godhead;
Colossians 2:9
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Until next time, good bye and God bless!