IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:3-4a

First, some final objections (1-8). Paul addresses three objections that his Jewish listeners were certain to have. First, what was the point of being a Jew or in being circumcised? Was there any benefit? Paul answers with an emphatic "Yes!" The Jews had been divinely chosen as trustees of God's holy word. They enjoyed an intimate relationship with the Almighty that was unknown to any other nation. But then, one might fear, since some of the Jews had been unfaithful, would God abandon them? Not at all! Praise God, for His grace and mercy are not dependent upon our faithfulness. God is faithful even though we have failed. In fact, God's faithfulness to lost sinners is our one and only hope. Finally, although our unrighteousness does bring out God's righteousness, we still deserve his wrath.

Second, man's universal guilt (9-20). When it came to righteousness before God, the Jews had no advantage over the Gentiles. As Paul states, Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. The universal guilt of man is declared in scripture. There is no one righteous, no one who understands, and no one who seeks God. This is the function of the law, to make us conscious of our sin. The law points to our desperate and absolute need for God's mercy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to us.

One Word: God's faithfulness is our only hope