The Manual is Only Helpful When It is Followed

Romans 3:1-11

Over the years I have worked on a great many furnaces. Older furnaces nearly all used a standing pilot system. Older furnaces were made in such a way that reduced airflow just made the furnace less efficient. Newer furnaces, on the other hand trip safety settings, and may shut down for several hours. Without the manual for the furnace, a person can spend hours trying to find the problem. A technician who has a manual has all the advantages, because it tells him where to look and describes possible causes. Unfortunately, some technicians don’t bother to read the manual, or don’t follow it. It doesn’t help them much.

The Jews had the advantage of having the manual. They had received the oracles, the very words of God, of which circumcision was supposed to be a symbol. Unfortunately, many didn’t believe and didn’t practice what God said.

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. ” (Romans 3:1-4)

When they came out of Egypt, many of the Israelites did not believe God’s promise to give them the land of Canaan, and refused to go. They spent forty years in the wilderness, until they all died. Then the others went in and took the land. God still kept his promise, but those who didn’t believe missed out. Hebrews 13:16-19 explains. “For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

The lack of belief changed their experience, but did not change God’s actions. II Timothy 2:11-13 makes the same point. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” Our faith or lack of faith will change our experience, but it will not change God’s promise.

A furnace technician who did not follow the instructions in the manual may blame the manufacturer for the furnace not working. If he calls the support number and they are able to fix the problem by following the instructions, it shows how well they understand their product. They also have the right to refuse to pay for the repairs since the instructions were not followed. It is not their fault. Deliberately doing it wrong so they’ll have to come fix it right will not make them happy. It won’t make God happy either.

“But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.” (Romans 3:5-8)

Just having a manual does not guarantee a proper furnace installation, but if it is followed it will. Just having the word of God does not guarantee a proper life style. If the job is not done properly, it wrong whether they had instructions or not. Both Jews and Gentiles tend to ignore the instructions, and do wrong. One is not better than the other.

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:9-11)