Entrusted With the Revelation: Israel’s Unmatched Advantage
Romans 3:1–2 (NLT)
1 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
Message
I. The Advantage of Being a Jew: Entrusted with God’s Word (1–2)
In Romans 2:25–29, Paul shows that true circumcision is a work of the Spirit in the heart, not merely an outward sign or religious identity. This leads directly to his next question in Romans 3:1: What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew? (1) There are great benefits (2a). First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God (2b).
II. God’s Revealed Truth and Israel’s Privilege in History
God’s word is truth (John 17:17) and only God knows the future (Isaiah 46:9-10, Ecclesiastes 3:22, 6:12, 8:7, 10:14).
Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes 10:14b,
No one really knows what is going to happen;
no one can predict the future.
And, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 8:7 NLT,
7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?
David knew he would defeat Goliath before fighting him (1 Samuel 17:32, 36–37, 45–47). See 1 Samuel 17:46–47 (NLT).
46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
The Bible records that King David asked God about the outcome of battles before going out to fight (1 Samuel 23:2–4, 9–12; 1 Samuel 30:7–8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 5:19; 2 Samuel 5:23–25), and he knew the results of the battles before he fought.
The above examples show the privilege that the Jews had throughout history, as recorded in the Bible.
