Warped Thinking
Opening Prayer
Wise and Caring God, sometimes Your Word isn’t entirely clear to me. Please help it be clear to me now.
Read ROMANS 3:1-8
[1] What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? [2] Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. [3] What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? [4] Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” [5] But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) [6] Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? [7] Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” [8] Why not say-as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say-“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How would you summarize Paul's argument here?Paul’s argument that being a Jew by birth did not guarantee rightness with God prompts the question whether there is any benefit at all in being a Jew. The answer is a resounding “yes.” Being part of the people to whom God revealed himself was a great benefit, but it did not guarantee escape from God’s judgment on sin. God made a covenant with the people of Israel—two parties involved in a promise. The Israelites were unfaithful. Does that make the whole agreement null and void? No, Paul declares that God is faithful and absolutely committed to his promise (see Gen. 15:4,5). Human unfaithfulness only serves to throw God’s solid commitment into sharp focus.
So, the next question is: should humans be judged by God when our badness actually shows up his goodness? If this is the case, then surely God’s judgment is unjust. Paul gives an emphatic “no” to this warped logic (5-8). Something in human nature leaves us all wanting to squirm our way out of facing the consequences of our sin and justifying our foolish and bad behavior. The Bible urges us to be rigorously honest with ourselves.
Apply
Do you tie yourself in theological knots to justify something wrong in your life? Don’t “do evil that good may result.”
Closing prayer
Merciful Lord, help me always to be totally honest with myself and with You. I know that’s the wisest way to live.
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