2023-1-11 Evening Prayer - Paul's Catechism-like Questions

 2023-1-11 Evening Prayer Ezekiel 33:1-20 Romans 3:1-18

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

One of the many things I enjoy about the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome is his questions. He has interlocutors who are off the page, but no less present to Paul as he writes. Sometimes his questions are rhetorical questions offered for effect.  One of my favorites is Romans 6:1. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” Would anyone who is listening to or reading his letter honestly expect the next words to be, “Yeah! Keep it up! Do what feels good for you!”  I think not. Of course, Paul answers his own question with an emphatic, “By no means!” 

But, there are other times when the questions are clearly his way of writing his way through an argument or an ongoing dialogue with others. These questions are addressing real theological and life issues.  The questions then take on the role of catechism questions. The question is asked in order to lead us into a definitive answer.  

As I continue on, I think it is important to recall that Paul is addressing a congregation in Rome that contains both Jews and Gentiles.  Jews would, of course, regularly draw on their heritage from the Old Testament that is familiar to them as well as ceremonies and rites that they participate in as they speak of what Christ means to them.  So, most likely, the Exodus, the Passover meal, and circumcision would come up in conversation and during study periods. And, perhaps, a certain pride and confidence may come forth regarding their heritage.

Gentiles, who are not blessed with such a faith foundation, may ask very real, serious questions that give the appearance of questioning that which is assumed and taken for granted by Jews. An honest and earnest question may very well be, “Is the Old Testament relevant to my life as a Christian?” And, another question might be, “After I am baptized, do I have to change?” In the Gentile’s frame of reference, the old may not matter all that much because what matters is right now.  And, the old pagan gods demanded a confession of loyalty and reverence, but not necessarily a change in behavior. 

In the midst of the rhetorical questions that serve to enliven Paul’s letters, there are also questions that lead to answers that are pertinent to living the Christian life. 

Romans 3:1 begins with the two questions: “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?” The short answer is that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.  The oracles are the divinely inspired Old Testament Scriptures that tell the story of God’s interaction with man.  In those oracles we learn of the covenant that God established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The sign of the covenant is a marking of the male’s body.  That marking permanently distinguishes the man with whom God has established his covenant from those who are not directly blessed with a covenantal promise from God.  The oracles, the Old Testament Scriptures tell how God’s promise of land and progeny were fulfilled.  

Romans 3:3 asks another two pronged catechism-like question: “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? The answer to that question lies in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Old Testament is indeed essential to the Christian because it demonstrates that God is in the relationship for the long haul.  God remains faithful even when those to whom God has extended his promise are not.  Their foolishness, their sin, does not negate the character of God.  God is independent of man and chooses to remain stubbornly faithful no matter what.  God disciplines his people. This is told also in the Scriptures. But, the discipline is always to bring about repentance and reconciliation with the LORD. 

As the Apostle continues along, he is demonstrating that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is not the same kind of God as the pagan gods.  The LORD God values his creation and his people. He values them enough to bless and rebuke, encourage and discipline.  Whereas the pagan gods that are all around Rome, see human beings as playthings to be used and disregarded at will. Meanwhile their worshipers have adopted a similar attitude to the gods.  If this god is not doing what I want him to do, I will go get another, or get one god to work against another. 

Paul’s questions and answers continue. In the course of which, he demonstrates that the witness of the Old Testament shows that the sin and unrighteous behavior of God’s chosen people simply demonstrate God’s own righteousness. And, that God’s righteousness privileges him to bless and condemn. 

In verse 9, Paul returns to a question that he began chapter 3 with, “What then? Are we Jews any better off? The definitive answer to that catechism-like question is No. Because of the repetitious failure of the Jews to live up to the expectations of the covenantal promise that God established with his people, the Jews are not in any better position before God than Gentiles.  Both Jew and Gentile have sinned and continue to be sinners. We all fall far short of God’s expectations and demands.  

Then, to further underscore the importance and necessity of the oracles of God, Paul proceeds to quote from the Old Testament to support his argument. The verses he quotes are from: 

verses10-12 - Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3

verse 13 - Psalm 5:9, Jeremiah 5:16, Psalm 140:3

verse 14 - Psalm 10:7 (Septuagint) 

verses 15-17 - Isaiah 59:7,8

verse 18 - Psalm 36:1

I draw all of these citations from the Lutheran Study Bible. 

The oracles of the LORD God, the Scriptures of the Old Testament, serve to speak the truth of God and also the truth of all of humanity’s place before God.  We are all sinners who cannot help ourselves.  We are simply unable to present ourselves righteous before our righteous God. In order for us to enjoy God’s salvation, we need God’s help.  The help comes through Jesus, God’s own Son, who is both God and Man.  Only he is uniquely qualified and able to make peace for us with God.  Jesus dies on the cross for our sakes so that we may be declared righteous before our heavenly Father. 

Because, as the Old Testament bears witness, our sinfulness is so thorough and complete, we would even mess up placing our faith in Jesus as our Christ.  The Holy Spirit creates faith within us through the preaching of the Word.  

The questions that Paul ask lead to answers we need.  His catechism-like questions lead us into an encounter with the Word made flesh for us and for our salvation.  

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.