Romans 3:5-8 (NIV)
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.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 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.
Paul had long been the victim of slander by the Jewish leadership who were trying to damage his credibility. But it really was just slander, taking his teachings out of context and exaggerating his points in order to make him look ridiculous.
The first point is the large contrast between God and mankind in the matter of righteousness, doing the right things. The difference is, of course, profound as anyone with a basic understanding can clearly see. But some took this to a ridiculous extreme, saying, “If my unrighteousness serves to make God appear even more righteous by contrast, isn’t that a good thing? And if it is a good thing, why should I be condemned for actions that merely serve to make God look better?” Obviously, this is a specious argument, as Paul points out.
The second argument is just as bad: “If my lies show off God’s truthfulness by contrast, making God look even more truthful, isn’t that a good thing? And if it is a good thing, why should I be condemned for actions that serve to make God look better?”
Some had even used Paul’s preaching about man’s sinfulness before the holy God to the ridiculous extreme of accusing him of teaching that people should do even more evil so that God’s mercy and grace look even greater by comparison.
But the truth that Paul preached is very simple. God, by His very nature, is absolutely holy, righteous and just. Mankind, because of the corruption of our hearts, are by nature unholy, unrighteous, and unjust. The evils that mankind commit do not make God look more holy by comparison. Instead, His holiness, righteousness and justice are the standards by which He judges people, and by which we are all found to fall far short.
It is in this context of difference that God’s mercy and grace are clearly seen. As God extends His grace to sinful people, even in the midst of our sin, His love for mankind becomes obvious. And as people are transformed through entering into relationship with Him by grace through faith, our new holiness, righteousness and justice shows His power and glory even more fully.
Father, as people we tend to start everything with ourselves as the focus and center, and thus fall into deep error. Paul, like Jesus, always began with You, Your being, Your character, Your love, enabling us to see ourselves and our need for repentance clearly. Help us to always keep You right where You belong: at the very center of how we see ourselves and how we live, so that we glorify You with our lives, today and every day. Amen.