Romans 3:5-8

Passage

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what will we say?  Is not the God who imposes wrath unrighteous?  I speak according to mankind.  Let it not be so!  Otherwise, how could God judge the world?  But if in my falsehood the truth of God abounded into His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?  And not just as we are being blasphemed – and just as some speak to say about us – that we do evil in order that good should come.  Of whom the judgment is righteous.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul asks a fundamental question.  If God can make Himself glorified even when I sin, then why should I be condemned?  If God can bring good out of my evil, then what’s the big deal about my evil?  This is a very popular human argument.  The root of this argument is in the fact that we want to see ourselves as not all that bad.  We want to lessen the circumstances of our sin.  We want to convince God that we’re really not all that bad.  After all, if He can still work righteousness out of our sin, then how can e be so bad?  This is a false human argument.  The truth is that each of us sin and God cannot tolerate sin.  As we have mentioned over the past few days, we are not saved by our works.  We are saved through Christ on the cross.  It matters not how big or small my sin is.  The reality is that I am a sinner.  We want to minimize our sin so that we can ignore it.  Instead, God gives us grace so that we can acknowledge our sin and work on it.

Are you a sinner?  What does that really mean?  If so, then is God just or unjust when He judges us?

Second Thought:

As we get into this argument, we must be careful not to miss a very important point.  God will judge the world.  In fact, this is why we experience God’s wrath, because He will judge us.  Many people in this world do not like to think about the Day of Judgment and instead opt to teach that God will save all people or that God will just not judge any of us.  Paul’s words here show this to be a fallacy.  God will judge the world through His wrath.

What do you think the Day of Judgment will look like?  What parts of that day is scary to you?  Are there any parts of that day that you will look forward to happening?  What is the only way that you can know peace with God knowing that judgment is waiting for all sinners?

Third Thought:

When we truly come to grips with our sinfulness and understand the need for repentance, we do more than sweep our sinfulness under the rug.  We begin to effectively be God’s tool into the life of others.  To many, as we extend grace and forgiveness to others, it will appear to some that we are doing evil so that grace may abound.  This is not true and it can never be true.  There will be judgment.  There will be accountability.  We should never teach that this is untrue.  Rather, we teach that we are atoned out of that judgment by the blood of Christ.  While guilty in judgment, we can be free in Christ.

How does this section help you understand why Jesus is so important?  How can this section help you understand both grace and righteous judgment?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 3:9-11