Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Paul would concede the Jews had the advantage of being chosen out of the nations as the people of God. He had given to them the covenants and law and service in the temple. These were given to Israel but they were not the salvation of Israel.
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
The Jews were given the law. The Jews were given the sign of circumcision. Paul has just shown us in chapter 2 that these do not justify one before God. Paul is building toward that act that justifies. God impartially saves. Being a Jews, though there were the advantages we see listed in Romans 9:4, was not enough to commend one to God. Israel was a type and a picture of what would manifest in the New Testament. The whole of the Old Testament pointed to that covenant that Christ would bring in with His blood.
Hebrews 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
The fact is that God is not a respecter of persons.
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Paul is leading us to what satisfies God. In chapter 2 we have saw the perceived goodness men see in themselves, or in one another, does not impress God.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
It was not the blood of man, his nationality that satisfied God. It is not the works of man, it is not following the law. The will or choice of man does not satisfy God. It was God that would satisfy God. Being Jew, though for a season they were the people of God, did not equal salvation. God would be righteous if He were to judge Israel. They saw themselves as safe before God because of their bloodline and because they were given the oracles of God. Paul is building his case that it will be God who saves sinners by an act of God. This act will not be linked in any way to the sinner thereby taking all thoughts of power over salvation away from the sinner. There was no difference between Jew and Gentile to God. What advantage did the Jew have? Through the tribe of Judah would come the Son of God. They would reject Him to the point of death. Was there an advantage?
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
God would raise up a people who would come from the tribe of Judah. The very people that the Son of God would come from could not see Him. Was there an advantage? For us today, we benefit from what was revealed unto them at that time. The advantage is to the people of God. Not because they were Jewish, but because they were chosen of God.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Today we can hold the very word of God in our hands. The scriptures have been compiled and now there is a Bible in every home in America. Does our having the scriptures give us any advantage? You might say yes but just as the Jews were given the oracles of God, this gave them no advantage. This is Paul’s point. The advantage will be what God does for you in Christ. Look at the scribes and pharisees. They had the law, they had the words of God. The scribes lived to care for that very word. Did that do them any good? It is not the written word of God that saves. It is the living word of God that saves. Will God be just in His judgments against Israel? All that God does is right. They will have no excuse because to them were committed the oracles of God. They had his favor for a season and they chose to reject Him.
Luke 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
The second chapter ends with the mention of the circumcision of the heart. This is an inward change. It is by the power of God. It is to those who are the people of God. The ethnic Jews had the outward signs that would make one think they had favor with God. What they lacked was the inward evidence of the love of God. Those outward signs, in the end, had no advantage.