Now here at the end of chapter
two, we looked at last week, Paul began talking about spiritual
Israel. He showed that a person is not
a true member of Israel just because they have Jewish parents
and grew up in the Jewish religion, being taught the traditions and
the scriptures and the laws and the ceremonies. A person's a
true member of Israel, spiritual Israel, because of an inward
work of grace, not because of their fleshly heritage or some
sort of outward sign, but because of an inward work of grace. That's
what he said in verse 28 of chapter 2. For he's not a Jew which is
one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward
in the flesh. But he's a Jew which is one inwardly,
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not
in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Now all
that being understood, he begins in chapter 3 with this question.
What advantage, then, hath the Jew, or what profit is there
in circumcision? Now, a person may wonder, if
being born a Jew, does it make you closer to God, then what
good is being born a Jew? If being taught the scriptures
and the law and the ceremonies and all the things that the prophets
wrote, if following those things, does it make you righteous, then
what good is learning those things, what good, what profit is there
in being taken raised in those things and being
taught those things, so much so that even the apostles couldn't
get away from, had a very difficult time getting away from those,
from the dietary laws and mixing with the Gentiles and so forth.
What benefit, what advantage do the Jews have at being born
in those things, being raised in those things? Don't make you
righteous before God. They were part of that covenant
with God, the covenant that God made with Abraham. Look over
at Galatians chapter 5. They were so proud of that, but
Paul is showing them that doesn't make you righteous, doesn't make
you accepted before God. In Galatians 5 verse 2, Behold,
I, Paul, say unto you, that if you be circumcised, For I testify again to every
man that is circumcised, that he's a debtor to do the whole
law. Christ has become of no effect unto you. Whosoever of
you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace. He
says if you're circumcised as an act of obedience to the law,
because you think that's going to make you righteous, then you
are a debtor to keep the entire law of God. And you can't do
it. None of us can do that. think
that being circumcised somehow is going to make you more righteous.
In fact, what that does is make you more of a debtor, put you
under more of a debt to God's law and justice. It would seem
to someone who's untaught that if you're taught that all the
scriptures and the types and the shadows and the patterns
and the ceremonies, all that does is make you more responsible
and adds to your condemnation if you don't believe Christ,
who all those things pointed to. Well, then it would seem
to the unregenerate mind, that you're better off being a heathen
and never knowing those things, because at least you're under
less condemnation that way. What advantage is there in being
a Jew? What advantage is there in the
circumcision to all the Jewish religion? And I want to make
this question applicable, though, to us. I mean, that's what he's
asking. Let's make this applicable to us here this morning. What
advantage is there taught the gospel. Is there an
advantage for our children spending their entire childhood learning
memory verses and going to Sunday school class and being taught
the scriptures, being taught all the truths of the scriptures?
Is there an advantage to our children being told, look to
Christ? Before they ever know what that
means, you know, Janet says she tells her kids, you know, look
to Christ. She might as well be talking Chinese. But I tell
you, It's the same way with adults, unless the Lord gives you light,
unless the Lord gives you eyes to see, being told, look to Christ. What does that mean? And I'll
do it, but you don't understand. Is there an advantage in growing
up being taught those things so that they're just ingrained
in your mind? Especially, you might ask that question, when
we read from scripture that being taught those things makes us
more responsible. In the day of judgment, the judgment
will be more harsh for those who sinned against greater light.
That being true, then what advantage is there in preaching? What advantage
is there in learning the gospel and being taught the scriptures?
Because you cannot educate someone into salvation. You can't educate
someone into the kingdom of God. Then what advantage is there
in being taught? Well, verse 2, much in every
way, chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of
God. What advantage is there? Much in every way. Why? What advantage is it that those
Old Testament Jews had? They had the oracles of God.
Now, I don't do this very often. Maybe this means I ought to do
it more. I looked up this word oracle.
It's used 17 times in the Old Testament, oracle. Sixteen times,
that word oracle in the Old Testament means the most holy place. Look over at 1 Kings chapter
6, I'll show you two of them. The word oracle means the most
holy place, the holy of holies, where the presence of God dwells.
1 Kings chapter 6, verse 16. It's talking about
the temple that Solomon built. And he built twenty cubits on
the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls, with
boards of cedar. He even built them for within,
even for the oracle, for the most holy place. The oracle is
the most holy place. Look at verse 19. And the oracle
he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant
of the Lord. The ark sat in the holy of holies. This oracle he's referring to
here is the holy of holies, the most holy place. The Jews were
the only nation on earth that had the Oracle, the most holy
place, the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God dwelt. The
presence of God only dwelt in Israel. That's an advantage that
they had. Nobody else had that. Nobody
else had the true worship of God. Nobody else had the altar
and the blood and the priesthood. that all pointed to Christ. The
Gentile heathen had to figure out what he could figure out
about God from the light of nature. And you can learn a lot about
who God is from the light of nature. You can learn a lot about
God's power and creation, that he created the heavens and the
earth. You can go out in the woods and be a tree hugger and
figure a lot out about God's creation. You can be a historian
and learn a lot about the power of God in providence, overruling
his creation. But nowhere in the light of nature
will you see that God forgives sin under the blood. The Jews
saw that every day, morning, noon, and night in their sacrifices.
That's an advantage. The oracles of God revealed to
them the mind of God, the purpose of God, the will of God in salvation. And no other nation had that.
That's a big advantage for them. But again, how does that apply
to us? What advantage is there in preaching? Much in every way. Why? Because unto us are committed
the oracles of God. Now that word oracles appeared
four times in the New Testament, and every time it appears, it
refers to the word of God. Look over Hebrews chapter five.
We'll look at two of them. The first one, Hebrews chapter
five. The Word of God, the Oracles of God has been committed unto
us. Hebrews 5 verse 12. For when for the time that ye
ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the Oracles of God. The first
principles of the Word of God. 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter 4 verse 11. If any man speak, let him speak
as the oracles of God, according to the word of God. If any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth,
that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to him be praise and dominion forever and ever. The only way
God's going to be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ
is if a man speak, he speaks according to the word of God,
the oracles of God. Now you cannot educate someone.
into salvation, but faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God, through the preaching of the Word of God. And you almost
cannot overstate the importance of preaching. You can't overstate the importance
of preaching the Word. Didn't take that sentence long
enough. Most of what the world today calls preaching isn't worth
a plug nickel. But you can't overestimate the
importance of preaching the Word, of God's Word, the Oracles of
God. Where else are you ever going
to learn about justification through faith, through faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ? It's through preaching of the
Word. Where else are you going to learn that you have no hope,
that you're shut up to the mercy of God? You have no hope outside
the mercy of God. Where else are you going to learn
that the Lord is merciful and gracious? You're only going to
learn that in the Word. Where else are you going to learn about
the blood of Christ? It's the blood that makes atonement
for the soul. Where else are you going to learn
about the righteousness of Christ that's imputed to His people,
that's given to us as our own? Where else are you going to learn
to look to Christ and live? You're only taught that in the
Word. Where else are you going to hear our Lord say, if you're
hungry, come unto Me. I'll feed you. Don't bring any
money. You're not going to buy it. come and I'll feed you. Where
else are you going to hear the Lord say, if you're thirsty,
come unto me and drink. I'll give you rivers of living
water flowing out of your belly. Where else is the sinner burdened
down under the weight of our sin, the weight of the justice
of God's law, hear the Lord say, if you're heavy laden, come unto
me, I'll give you rest. You only hear that in the Word.
Where else are you going to see the Lord Jesus Christ in all
of His Why don't you see it in the Word?
Where else are you going to hear the answers to the greatest questions
of the universe? How can a man be just with God? How is that possible? How is
it possible that someone can be clean as born of a woman?
You're only going to find the answer to that in the Word, through
the preaching of the oracles of God. And we who know the Gospel,
and our children who have been and are still yet being taught
the Gospel, are just like those Jews of old. We're not better
than anybody at all by nature. Not better, but better off. Years and years and years ago,
I heard Henry say that and it stuck with me so much to this
day. Not better, but better off. Why? Because under you are committed
the oracles of God. That's an advantage. But now,
What if somebody doesn't take advantage of the blessing that
God gives them? Look at verse 3 in our text.
For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the
faith of God without effect? You know, for the most part,
the Jews of old did not take advantage of the advantage that
God gave them, did they? The law was given to show us
our guilt, to show us how guilty we are, to show us our need of
Christ, to make us look to Christ to keep who would make the one sacrifice
for sin. Rivers of animal blood were shed
that could never take away sin, so that we would look for the
one sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ whose blood does put
away the sin of His elect. That priesthood was given to
point to Christ, who would offer the one sacrifice for sin, who
would make intercession for the souls of the transgressors. And
the Jews, they misused that blessing that God gave them. Instead of
looking for the Messiah to come and set them free from their
sin and free from their guilt, they took the law and the ceremonies
and the message of the prophets. And they used that to think if
they could make a good enough show, an outward show of obedience
to the law and the ceremonies, that would make them righteous.
And all they needed the Messiah to do was come and set them free
from Rome or set them free from whatever power held them captive
at that time. Throughout their history, they're
always held captive by somebody. If he'd just come and set them
free and set up his earthly kingdom, and then he'd reward them with
high office in the new government because of how righteous they've
been, how good they did at keeping his law. It's like the political
good old boy network today. People, their nature never changes. They think they support a candidate.
You know, I watched some of the debates last night. Some of these
guys you've never heard of, but somebody's supporting them while
they're nobody. Hoping that if they get elected
president, because I supported him when he was nobody, I'm going
to have a cabinet seat. I got a cushy government job
because I supported him when he was nobody. That's what the
Jews thought. I kept the law so when he comes
and sets up his earthly kingdom, I'm going to have a mansion.
I'm going to have a crown. It's all going to be good for
me. And not only did they miss the Messiah when he came, when
he did come they hated him and they murdered him. But they had
every advantage, but they misused it. Now, does that make the faith
of God no effect? Does that make the purpose of
God with no effect because the Jews that he gave every advantage
to misused those advantages? Does that mean that God intended
to save those Jews, but yet they wouldn't take advantage of the
message that God gave them, so now he had to turn away from
them to turn to the Gentiles? He had to come up with plan B
because the Jews turned their back on him. Does their unbelief
make void the promises of God? Does their unbelief mean that
Christ was unaffectual, that he could not save them even though
he wanted to? Does their unbelief make void
the covenant that God made with Abraham? God told Abraham, you
look up and you count the stars if you can. So shall thy seed
be. They're going to come live in
this land that you're sojourning in. Your seed is going to populate
Canaan. Hundreds of years later, no descendants
of Abraham were there, were they? They're all down in Egypt, slaves.
The Lord delivered them with a mighty arm. They came to the
edge of the promised land. They're on the brink of the morning
of the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. And two people, two! Over the age of 30, they say
there's about three million people. Two of them believed God. Does that make God's promise
of no effect? They turned away, went back into
the wilderness, didn't they? Does that mean God is not faithful
to His promise? Forty years later, they came
back. They went in and possessed that land and they never fired
a shot. They drove the people out and
they possessed the land. land of Canaan. God's faithful
even when we're not. He's faithful. Our lack of faith,
our unbelief does not change the promises and purpose of God.
And again, let's make this applicable to us. The people in this room
are highly favored of God. We've had the gospel preached
to us. Yet, most people in our town
hate the gospel that's preached here. We've seen many, many,
many people come over the years for whatever reason, and they
stay for a while. They sit and listen, and then
they leave in evident unbelief. A pastor spends years and years
and years preaching to someone who ultimately just leaves, showing
that they never once believed what he's preaching. Was that preaching in vain? Was
that a waste of time? Did God waste His time sending
His servant to preach the gospel to us? What if most people don't
believe the gospel that we preach? And we feel like Isaiah said,
Lord, I'm the only one left. Who hath believed our report?
Is anybody going to believe us? Are we just wasting our time,
just talking to the wind, preaching? Does the fact that so many people
do not have faith, Does that make God's faith of no effect?
Does the fact that most people don't believe, does that mean
God's grace is in vain? Does it mean that the sacrifice
of Christ did not accomplish the salvation of God's elect
because most people don't believe it? Can man's unbelief thwart
God's purpose of redemption? Can man's unbelief Does that mean we're wasting
our time? Well, most don't believe. Most
don't. But they let do. And preaching
is never a waste of time. God said, my word shall not return
unto me void. And I thought about this this
week. Here we came out and gathered together here to preach the gospel,
to worship. the Lord. Doesn't seem like there's
many, does there? Is it a waste of time? John wasting
his time, giving his life to this ministry? This is a true
story. Here we are, not many. John preaching. One day, Brandon Holbrook called
John and said, Lord, save me. I want to confess to Him. I want
to be baptized. John told me, if that's the only one, this
is not being a waste of time. If it's just the one, this is
one. God's purpose in redemption will not be thwarted. The elect
will hear. Most won't. But God's purpose
will be accomplished. And our lack of faith is not
going to interrupt His purpose. It's not going to make Him change
His mind and change His purpose. Look at verse 4. Is this unbelief
going to make the faith of God without effect? Paul says, God
forbid. Yea, let God be true in every
man a liar, as it is written, that thou mightest be justified
in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. God forbid that we think that
way. That's one of Paul's favorite
sayings. When something, an objection is brought up, it's just unthinkable.
God forbid that we'd even think that way. God's truth can never
be changed. What some T-brained man can do,
is never going to alter God's purpose. God is always true and
faithful to His Word. Men are always liars, unfaithful,
because that's our nature. We'll lie and break our word
and change what we say just as the wind changes, because that's
our nature to lie. It's God's nature to be true
and holy, and He will be true and faithful to His Word. And
Paul quotes David here. He says, "...that thou mightest
be justified in thy saying, and mightest overcome when thou art
judged." God is just in all His ways, in all His judgments, and
somebody may want to call Him into judgment, might want to
question what He's doing, and He will prevail against men when
they do that. The will of the Lord will be
accomplished, regardless of what men do or don't do. And this
is a quote from David, from Psalm 51, after Nathan came into David
and told him, You're the man that took that one you, she,
away from the man that just had one. You had so many. And he
uncovered his adultery by Sheba. This is when David made this
statement. And this so clearly illustrates, let God be true
and every man a liar. The Lord made it completely a
promise that we are incapable of comprehending that the Messiah,
is going to descend from David. Now what did David do after the
Lord made this unspeakable promise to him? He went out and committed
adultery with Bathsheba. And then he lied and murdered
to cover it up. David is unfaithful, he is ungrateful,
he is undeserving. The Lord made this promise to
him and he broke every commandment. And all the ten commandments,
he broke every one of them, one fell swoop. find somebody else to be a man
after my own heart and we'll start over, start from scratch.
No, sir. David was unfaithful. God was
faithful to his word. Out of that union between David
and Bathsheba came Solomon. From Solomon came the Lord Jesus
Christ. David's unfaithful. God's faithful
to his word. David's unfaithfulness will not
thwart God's purpose of redemption and sending the Messiah. Verse
5, But if our unrighteousness come in the righteousness of
God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh
vengeance? Now I speak as a man, Paul says.
God forbid. How then should God judge the
world? The natural man might say, well, now if my unrighteousness
glorifies God's righteousness, if God could take my righteousness
and turn it into something good to glorify himself, Then God
must be unjust if He punishes me by unrighteousness. If my
sin can bring glory to God, then God would be unjust to judge
me. And Paul says again, God forbid. It's the same thing as
what he says, should we sin that grace may abound? God forbid.
This is the thought of an unregenerate mind. This objection comes up
from a man seeking to rationalize his sin and rationalize his unbelief.
Trying to seek a way that he can avoid the just condemnation
of God. Just because the Lord can bring
good out of our sin, never excuses our sin. Never. Sin can never
glorify God. Because sin is opposed to everything
that God is. God is holy. And the only reason
every sin doesn't bring immediate, eternal condemnation is because
of the blood of Christ. Because of the long suffering
and forbearance of God. words used here, when God punishes
sin, either on that day of judgment when He punishes a sinner by
casting him out of His presence, or when He punished Christ, the
sinner's substitute. Either way, when God punishes
sin, that's when His righteousness is exalted, not when somebody
sins. And when God does punish sin,
He's always just and right in doing so. That's what Abraham
asked, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Yes,
he will. That's right. A diamond is perfectly
glorious and sparkling and majestic all on its own. When you laid
on that black cloth, that black cloth doesn't make that diamond
more beautiful, doesn't add any value to the diamond, doesn't
change the diamond in the least. All that black cloth does is
serve as a contrast against the glory of the diamond. But it
does not add any glory, any value, any worth to the diamond. The
diamond is perfect on its own. And God's righteousness, His
grace, His mercy, His promise, everything that He is can never
be glorified by the blackness of our sin. He's perfect. He's holy. He's just all on His
own. The only thing we do is show
how glorious He is by contrast to who we are. Our sin is never
going to bring glory to Him. Verse 8, For if the truth of
God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why am
I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, as we be slanderously
reported in some affirm that we say, let us do evil that good
may come, whose damnation is just. Nothing is more opposed
to the truth than a lie. You can't tell the truth by lying.
Evil can never produce anything but evil. Evil can't produce
something good, it can only produce more evil. And the truth of God
can never abound through a lie. Salvation can never come through
the preaching of a lie. It's impossible. Now, God's chief
glory is mercy to sinners. Moses said, show me your glory.
God said, I will. It's my goodness. Thou have mercy
on whom I will have mercy. His chief glory is his mercy
to sinners. God's mercy God's grace is glorified
when He saves sinners like you and me. That's God's mercy. If
He saves someone like us, that's God's mercy. Well, our sin, somehow
people get this thing turned around. You know, they like to
give their testimony and it seems like their testimony glorifies
how sinful they used to be, not God's mercy, doesn't it? Our
sin isn't glorified when God's merciful to us. God's mercy is
glorified in saving the chief of sinners. The chief of sinners
isn't glorified because he's the chief of sinners. God's mercy
is glorified because he reached down to the dregs and saved a
sinner like me. It's not my sin that is glorified.
It's God's mercy. And God's mercy never leads a
person to be more sinful and tell more lies. His mercy leads
us to follow Him. not going to lead us to somehow
tell more lies and be more evil so his mercy and grace can abound. Paul says God forbid that we
think that way, especially those who have the advantage of having
the gospel preached to us, God's word, taught to us