Romans 3:1-8
Is life like a crooked game of card? Some Jews believed so; they believed God had stacked the deck in their favor. They believed they were God’s chosen people, and they thought they could not lose. They were right, and they were wrong. They were right that God had given them many advantages. Their most important advantage was God’s revelation through the written word. The Old Testament had revealed God’s nature, the nature of sin, and the need for repentance and redemption. Through scripture, they knew God. Their knowledge of God and his righteousness, gave them an advantage over the gentiles. In spite of their advantage, the Jewish nation had a history of unfaithfulness. Their advantage was not enough to give them victory.

Their unfaithfulness only revealed more clearly the faithfulness of God. Through Christ, God revealed that he had not just chosen the Jews; He had chosen the world. Their advantage of “chosenness” was not theirs alone, it was the advantage of all humanity. Many Jews rejected Christ for this very reason. They wanted to be God’s favorite, and rejected any grace that would include those they despised. They did not believe it was fair that God would offer victory to everyone. It was not fair, but it was righteous.

If the Jews unfaithfulness gave God an opportunity to be forgiving and merciful, then did not their wickedness serve a good purpose? What evil foolishness! Our wickedness reveals our need for God’s grace, but it does not create God’s grace. Without God’s grace, we are lost, and no advantage can save us. Being a Jew, having a Christian heritage or Christian parents will not save us. Knowledge of scripture, doing good works, having church membership or giving tithes and offerings will not give us victory.

Life is not a game of cards for cheaters. An ace up the sleeve or the luck of the draw will not allow us to escape. We cannot cheat death, but we can choose life. Choose Christ, He is the victory.