Quick Devotional. Are We Trusting in Religious Identity?

What is the advantage of circumcision as a ritual?

# The Privilege of Israel: Understanding Paul's First Question in Romans 3

Introduction: Do the Jews Have an Advantage?

If God's judgment is impartial—if He holds both Jews and Gentiles accountable for their sins—then does being Jewish hold any real benefit?

This is a natural question to ask after reading Romans 2. Paul has just finished dismantling the false security of religious knowledge and rituals. He showed that neither having the Law of Moses nor being physically circumcised guarantees righteousness before God. True righteousness, he argued, is a matter of the heart, not outward signs.

So this raises a dilemma:

• If Jews are just as guilty as Gentiles, does their heritage matter?

• Is there any advantage to being part of God's chosen nation?

• Was God's covenant with Israel meaningless?

In Romans 3:1–2, Paul anticipates these concerns and provides an answer that reaffirms the Jewish people's responsibility and privilege.

Let's explore Paul's first question and answer in-depth, uncovering what…