(This was a Mother’s Day sermon)
Intro
At the heart of this complicated passage is a question that is also at the heart of Motherhood: Is God faithful? Is God reliable? Dependable? Trustworthy?
The Conversation
First, grant me the liberty of restating the hypothetical conversation in this passage as I understand it:
Questioner: “Paul, you say that my religious vigor is worthless. My identification as a member of God’s chosen people, my Bible knowledge, my teaching resume, my circumcision – all worthless because none of it removes my sin. Does that mean that there is no benefit in all this whatsoever?”
Paul: “No! There is great benefit in your Jewish/religious heritage, because you received the promises/word of God, which leads you to Jesus, who does remove your sins.
Q: “But if so many received the word and promises of God, yet don’t believe (as you say), does that not reflect badly on God? If his word and promises are so ineffective, is he unfaithful?”
Israel’s disappointing history is summed up in Psalm 78. They broke God’s covenant, forgot his miraculous deeds, and rebelled. The question posed here is: If God’s people broke the covenant, doesn’t that mean God isn’t so great? If they forgot his deeds, doesn’t that mean they weren’t so memorable? If they rebelled, doesn’t that mean he failed to inspire loyalty? In other words, if the players are bad, isn’t that the coach’s fault? If the students fail, isn’t that the teacher’s fault?
P: “No!! Even if all people are unfaithful, God is faithful. Even if all people are liars, God is true. Even if all people are unrighteous, God is righteous. In fact, faithfulness is only proven in the face of unfaithfulness. The unfaithfulness, falsehood, and unrighteousness of people enhances God’s faithfulness, truth, and righteousness. How could we worship these glorious aspects of God without the contrast of our own failure?”
There’s a reason inspirational coach/teacher movies resonate so deeply with us (think Hoosiers, Remember the Titans, Finding Forrester, Lean on Me, etc.). They reflect the story we’re caught up in when we become God’s people. He’s the ultimate coach/teacher, sacrificially redeeming a ragtag group of people through his faithfulness. Think of Hosea, the OT prophet whom God instructed to marry an unfaithful prostitute to illustrate his love toward his people. Read how beautiful this faithful love is in Hosea 2:14-20.
Q: “But if God’s faithfulness is so glorious in light of our unfaithfulness, why are we judged for being unfaithful? Why don’t we just live it up in unfaithfulness and make God look that much better?”
P: “If that’s how you respond to the faithful love of God, you deserve to be judged and condemned.”
This is like a player/student responding to the faithful work of his coach/teacher with further rebellion, saying, “Since you think you’re so great, loving me this way, I’ll just be even worse and make you look that much better.” Or an adulterous husband cheating even more in response to his wife’s forgiving faithfulness.
God is the ultimate coach. God is the ultimate teacher. God is the ultimate Hosea. God is reliable. God is dependable. God is trustworthy. God is faithful.
God’s Faithfulness and Motherhood
Maybe you’ve never questioned God’s faithfulness in this way. But you do question it. I know this is true because we all do. With every sin and every sleepless night of worry, we question God’s faithfulness. So, in conclusion, here are six specific ways in which God is faithful that might have practical benefit for moms (and the rest of us too).
1. God is faithful to moderate temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
2. God is faithful to sanctify you.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, and he also will bring it about. – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
3. God is faithful to strengthen and protect you in your fight against Satan.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
4. God is faithful to keep his promises.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
5. God is faithful in suffering.
Therefore, those who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right. 1 Peter 4:19
6. God is faithful to forgive your sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Discussion Starters
1. Compare the passage in all the translations in the group. Can you work together to restate Paul’s argument from start to finish?
2. This is a difficult passage. What does it say about God’s expectations for our scriptural study habits that such difficult passages are in the Bible?
3. Read verse 4. Why do you think Paul quotes Psalm 51 here? What was the situation that prompted King David to write Psalm 51? How is it connected with Romans 3:1-8?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does God’s faithfulness to help us in temptation affect your life?
5. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:24. How does God’s faithfulness to sanctify us affect your life?
6. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:3. How does God’s faithfulness to strengthen and protect us from Satan affect your life?
7. How can your group pray for you this week?
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