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“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.” (Romans 3:1-2, ESV)

Pastor Abel’s sermon on this passage is titled “Deflection”.

My sons enjoy playing with Legos. When they were old enough to not choke on the pieces, I started buying them Lego sets, and they quickly learned the value of following instructions. Each set comes with its own manual, complete with pictures and numbered diagrams, that contain everything they need to build the whole set, from start to finish.

As a society we often say, jokingly, something to the effect of, “life doesn’t come with an instruction manual!” However, the above verse says that isn’t true. God is the creator of this world, this life, and thousands of years ago, he gave something called the Law (the ‘oracles of God’) to his chosen people of Israel that told them the way to live righteously before God. This Law is so good, and so perfect, that the psalmist expressed how blessed the man is who is always thinking about it and setting his path by it:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Our Lord also spoke on the value and permanence of the scriptures when he said, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18, ESV).

In a sinful, fallen world, where all humanity has gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), has veered away from God’s path to wander the wastelands of our own depravity, the light of God’s word, from Genesis to Revelation, is an astounding gift to us from our Creator because it shows us how to turn from our sin and receive God’s gracious love and forgiveness, so that we can live the way he has designed us to live – the way he has laid out in his Law.

 

Go Deeper / Questions

  • Read Psalm 1, Psalm 19, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (and Psalm 119 if you have time!)
  • Write down all the blessings that come from the Word of God that you can find in these passages.
  • How much time do you spend reading the Bible each week?
  • How much time do you spend on your phone each week?
  • Book recommendation on this topic: Scripture Alone by James R. White