Today’s passage: Romans 3:1-8
Helpful thoughts:
- If a Jew were to think they had been disadvantaged by having been under the Law, they would be thinking more of what they could “Get away with” than the fact that God had revealed Himself to them in a special way.
- God did not stumble in giving the Jews the Law. The Jews stumbled over the Law.
- God exercises His righteousness in executing His justice. Whether a person repents or continues in sin, God will be glorified.
- The portrayed person who is complaining in verses 7-8 is looking at glory as a thing to strive for and obtain. When glorification (Which, we do not deserve as God does) is a man’s greatest desire, the ends will justify the means.
- God actually deserves to be glorified. All that He does is right and true and is worthy of our praise.
Questions to consider:
- In these hypothetical complaints, what heart desires do we see evidenced? What is it that these complainers really appear to want? How will these desires prove to blind them to the truth of the Gospel and the glory of God?
- How does this passage help us to understand Isaiah 55:11 more accurately? Is God’s Word only effective when people repent and love Jesus? What is also revealed when a person hears and rejects? How is God’s glory perhaps measured differently than the way we would define “Success” down here on earth?
- If we think God owes us one because our sin made Him look better, what is wrong with our view of the holiness of God? What is the only right response to His holiness? Without His love through Christ’s sacrifice, where would we stand? How does this move us to a heart of worship?