S in is universal, and an equal opportunity contagion. The wise preacher tells us: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” [Ecclesiastes 7:20]. The apostle writes: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23]. In the preceding chapter, Paul tells us about the condition that affects all regardless of gender, socio-economic status, education. There is no man-made vaccine against or cure for sin. Man is “without excuse” [Romans 1:20], not even the Gentile who has not been given the inscribed law of God. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” [v. 12]. In today’s verse, the Jew steps forward and claims a special immunity against sin because of his race. The Jews are the chosen people of God [Deuteronomy 7:6]. To be sure, they were privileged. They were God’s covenant people. They were given the mark of circumcision. To them was committed the oracles of God [Romans 3:1-2]. Paul, himself a Jew, deflated their puffed-up thinking. These advantages counted for nothing if a Jew did not have a personal relationship with God. The proud Jew can be a picture of one who grew up in a Christian home. He could be one who uses a particular Bible translation or a Fundamentalist who holds ardently to a theological persuasion and condemns others who do not share his convictions. And while he proudly wears those labels like the Jew who boasts of his circumcision, he has no personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. All he can claim is: “I am born into a Christian home. I go to this particular church. I am called a Christian.” It is utterly foolish to base our eternal destiny on labels we put on ourselves. The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7b
LESSON
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God.
THOUGHT
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