Lesson TOC

Lesson 2: Man's Need of Salvation (Rom 1:18-3:20)
Topic 4: Jews Condemned (Continued)

## Questions and Conclusion (Rom 3:1-8)

Objective 8 - At the end of this topic, you will be able to state three common questions that arise in light of God's condemnation of the Jews and briefly summarize Paul's answer to each.

In Romans 3:1-8, Paul answers several questions that would naturally arise in the minds of the Jews to whom he is speaking.

##### Question 36

Look in Romans 3:1, 3, 5. What are three sets of questions that the Jews might ask after reading about the Jews' failure?

Paul answers the questions of Romans 3:1 more thoroughly in Romans 9. Here he simply states that the most important advantage of the Jews is the special revelation of Himself that God has given them in the Scriptures.

The questions in Romans 3:3 are answered fully in Romans 10-11. Paul has shown us Israel's failure to be the missionary nation that God had chosen them to be. Their hypocrisy turned people away from the truth that they taught. They had broken the covenant and could no longer be considered real Jews and heirs of God's promise. Now they ask what this means. Have God's promises failed? Are His covenants no longer valid? Has God's plan failed? Paul answers that this could never be (Rom 3:4)! The lack of faith in men does not affect the faithfulness of God (see 2 Tim 2:13).

In Romans 3:5, Paul quotes questions that some people raise about the justice of God's judgment. Why does God allow us to sin and then punish us for it? If our sin displays His goodness by contrast, why should we be condemned for it? To Paul, such an idea was unthinkable and he does not answer it directly. This should be a lesson to us when people criticize Christianity and God Himself. Sometimes the questions of critics simply indicate a hardness of heart and an unwillingness to listen to reason. We should be led by the Spirit so that we will know when to speak and when not to speak. Instead of entering into an argument here, Paul lets us know emphatically that God is righteous in His judgment and that He will punish all those who do evil. Even though a person may have good motives, if he does wrong to try to accomplish his purpose, God justly condemns him for it.

##### Question 37

Can you think of an example when you might be tempted to do something wrong in order for good to come from it? According to Romans 3:7, what would God call an evangelist who intentionally exaggerated the number of conversions in his meetings?

##### Question 38

Which verse or verses in Romans 3:1-8 prove that the end does not justify the means?

|  | All of them
|  | Verses 7 and 8
|  | Verses 3 and 4
|  | Verse 8 only