We are Entrusted with Christ’s Gospel Word
8/13 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 3; Romans 3; Jeremiah 41; Psalm 17
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8/13 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 3; Romans 3; Jeremiah 41; Psalm 17
Romans 3:2
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
ORACLES
After laying out the case that circumcision must be God’s work in man’s heart by spiritual regeneration in chapter two, Paul asks rhetorically,
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Romans 3:1
The apostle immediately gives the answer in our considered verse today. Although Paul may have been the most pious Christian of his day, he was also one of the most practical. He knew the importance of God’s Word. Though he was the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 2:9), it was his habitual practice to go into urban centers, enter the synagogue there, and preach the gospel of salvation…
…to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
In this way, if God, by His grace, would save one of the Jews, who knew the Word of God, having studied the holy Scriptures from their youth, with only a little instruction in revealing Christ Jesus from the Hebrew Scriptures (Psa 40:7), those converted Jews would be able to teach others also (2 Tim 2:2). With that accomplished, Paul could move on to the next city with a synagogue.[1] The Bible, the written LOGIA TOU THEOS, that is oracles of God, is the revelation of the incarnate Word, the LOGOS, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14). Like the Jews of old were entrusted with the Hebrew Scriptures, the true Jew, you and I who are circumcised of heart by God, are entrusted with His oracles. We must, as the Bereans, search the Scriptures daily to affirm the gospel truths (Acts 17:11). We must hide the oracles of God in our new, circumcised heart so that we might not sin against our Lord and Savior (Psa 119:11). We must pray that Christ open our spiritual eyes that we may see wondrous things from the oracles He has entrusted to us (Psa 119:18); and pray also that the Father may deal bountifully with us that we may live out God’s oracles and to keep, cherish, and protect them (Psa 119:17), which He will do for every soul saved by grace who asks. Hallelujah! What a faithful Savior!
[1] Of course, there were exceptions, such as Philippi, which had no synagogue (Acts 16:13).