Great Expectations – Romans 3:1-2 CSB

So, what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.

Our God is a God who makes Himself known; in truth, He is not silent. We see His glory displayed in the Heavens, and He reveals Himself by general revelation through the beauty of creation. Even more importantly, we see what we call “special revelation” in the written word of God (the Bible) and through the living Word of God (Jesus Christ, God the Son). God has been revealing Himself to mankind since that very first day in the garden when He created Adam and Eve. He is there, and He wants us to know Him. After the nations were scattered at the Tower of Babel, God continued to reveal Himself to us, but this time He chose a man (Abraham) and, eventually, a nation (Israel). This nation was to be a light to other nations. They enjoyed the favor of God, and Paul says here in Romans that one of the greatest favors they enjoyed was receiving that special revelation, the word of God. The advantage the Jews had was not only being the people of God but knowing Him and being stewards of that revelation.

With great blessings come great responsibilities. Today, God continues to reveal Himself to the world through creation, through the word, and through you and me, the church. In the Old Testament, the Jews had the advantage among all nations of receiving God’s words. However, they did not shepherd that responsibility well among the nations. They either abandoned the truth, turning to pagan practices, or they isolated themselves from all outsiders and kept the words of God from the nations. We as believers in Jesus today have the advantage of knowing Him personally and looking back in hindsight at the fully revealed truth of a complete canon of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. As Jesus put it, “To whom much has been given, much is required.” Israel did not steward well what was entrusted to them. What about you and your church? Are you living up to the privileges you have been afforded? Are you knowing Him and making Him known? God expects fruit from the seeds that have been planted in you.