THE GOSPEL CLAPBACK
Romans 3.1-8
Romans: How Man Is Made Right – Part 5 of 10
v. 2.29 “… a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart …” (esv)
Romans 1.16 “… the gospel … is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …” (esv)
QUESTIONING SOVEREIGN FREE GRACE:
CULTURAL QUESTION – ISN’T THE Church Irrelevant?
v. 2 “… they were entrusted with the very words of God.” (csb)
Romans 10.14 “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (esv)
PRAGMATIC QUESTION – ISN’T THE Faith Declining?
v. 3 “Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” (esv)
v. 3a “… some did not believe …” (nas)
v. 4 “Let God be true though every one were a liar …” (esv)
Psalm 51.11–12 “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (esv)
JUDICIAL QUESTION – ISN’T GOD’S Wrath Unfair?
v. 5 “… if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God … God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us …” (esv)
BEHAVIORAL QUESTION – ISN’T MY Behavior Okay?
vv. 7–8 “… my lie … abounds to his glory … why not do evil that good may come?” (esv)
Romans 6.1 “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (esv)