October 30, 2026 - Romans 3

There is so much here in these chapters, indeed, in the entire Roman letter!  But as I read, this morning, the opening verses of chapter 3 capture my attention:  “Then what advantage has the Jew?  Or what is the value of circumcision?  Much in every way.  To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.  What if some were unfaithful?  Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” (3:1-3).  Paul is writing very specifically about the means by which we as sinners are justified before a holy God.  These opening verses, however, set the stage for that conversation.  Some of the Jews misunderstood and misused the matter of circumcision, believing that the physical act itself bestowed upon the individual some sort of spiritual standing before God.  Paul has already written, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter” (2:28–29).  The fact that the Pharisees and others so perverted the Old Testament teaching, particularly concerning circumcision and the Jews, offers no reason whatsoever to reject that teaching, any of it.  The Scriptures are true.  They point us to God and give life.  And when we see a misuse of Scripture, that misuse offers absolutely no reason to question God’s revelation to us.

Holy Bible, book divine,

precious treasure, thou art mine;

mine to tell me whence I came;

mine to teach me what I am:

Mine to chide me when I stray,

mine to show a Savior’s way;

mine art thou to guide my feet;

mine to judge, condemn, acquit.

Mine to comfort in distress,

if the Holy Spirit bless;

mine to show by living faith,

we can triumph over death.

Mine to tell of joys to come,

and the rebel sinner’s doom;

Holy Bible, book divine,

precious treasure, thou art mine.   --John Burton (1803)