Paul’s basic theology centered around the just living by faith (Romans 1:17). It does not matter if one is a Jew or Gentile. To be justified by God, one has to have faith that Jesus is the Son of God. The entire book of Romans, especially the first 11 chapters, is a thesis on this theological truth.
Knowing that the Jews would not like this doctrine, Paul anticipated an objection that they might advance to prove he was wrong. They would ask if the Gentiles can have a relationship with God on the same basis as the Jews, what advantage has there been in being a Jew? Listen to how Paul answered this question in Romans 3.
Romans 3:2 (ESV)
2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Paul recognized how advantageous it is to have the Word of God. Do you know who else knows this? The devil! This is why he does not want us to study the Bible. He knows that we have an advantage over him when we make a habit of studying the Word of God. Paul reveals why this is.
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The Bible is the primary source of our faith and Satan knows it. This is why he does everything he can to keep us away from God’s Word, and, therefore, keep the Word of God out of our hearts. Jesus speaks of this truth in the parable of the sower.
Luke 8:11-12 (ESV)
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
The devil spends his time trying to keep people away from the Word, and when he fails to do that, he tries to snatch that Word away from people before it can take root in their hearts. He does this because he knows that the Word produces faith. What is the importance of faith? The Bible tells us.
1 John 5:4 (ESV)
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Do not allow the devil to keep you away from God’s Word. He will try to influence you into choosing the television over the Bible. He will try to get you addicted to recreation and entertainment, and anything else that might take up your time, so that you do not have very much of it to devote to Bible Study. If Satan does not want us to study the Bible, we should know there is a reason why. That reason is that he knows it will increase our faith, and faith gives us victory. If you want to defeat the devil, commit yourselves to do exactly what he does not want you to do—spend time with the Word of God every day, and you will grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.