Objection 4: God’s Glory Impugned
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
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 some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just! Romans 3:1-8
Paul’s method for handling objections to what he’s teaching takes the form of a ‘diatribe,’ where a teacher would set up an imaginary conversation with his critics or students where they respond with objections (usually in question form) and the teacher answers them. Paul has already used this style in 2:1ff in answering the moralizer and in 2:17ff in answering the Jew. Paul is probably reconstructing actual arguments thrown at him in synagogue evangelism.
Just prior to the passage before us Paul has written that there is no fundamental difference between Jews and Gentiles and that the law and circumcision guaranteed neither Jewish immunity from the judgement of God or Jewish identity as the people of God. This seemed to call into question God’s covenant, promises and character. It prompted four distinct but related objections. Firstly, that Paul’s teaching undermined God’s covenant (3:1,2. Secondly, that Paul’s teaching nullified God’s faithfulness (3:3). Thirdly, that Paul’s teaching impugned God’s justice (3:5,6)
Objection (4) Paul’s teaching impugns God’s glory (3:7,8)
This is a further development of the previous argument. “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness,” just as our unrighteousness displays God’s righteousness more clearly ‘and so increases his glory,’ wouldn’t God be pleased with that? Wouldn’t I be doing Him a service by my sin making His righteous stand out even more in contrast? Two subsidiary questions are then thrown in. The first is: “why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(3:7). How can God condemn me for glorifying Him? And the second: “Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? (3:8). This might be Paul’s counter question trying to point out the absurdity of anyone seriously arguing like this. If bad behaviour can have good consequences (such as displaying God’s character and promoting His glory) then let’s increase evil so increased good will be the final result. The end justifies the means. The more wicked we are, the more God’s mercy stands out when He pardons us. Paul sees this as such a ridiculous argument that he doesn’t even try to answer it. Any attempt might seem to give it legitimacy which Paul doesn’t think it has. ‘Their condemnation is just!’ (3:8). This can mean either: those who honestly present arguments like this deserve to be condemned, or, the arguments themselves deserve to be condemned (or both).
The Jewish tendency to think that the covenant made them secure from all threat of judgement has a parallel in the Christian church. Some people think they are secure because they have raised their hand, walked up the front of the church, prayed a prayer or even been water baptised. They might have done any or all of these but they live a life that denies Christ. The final judgement will be a judgement of works. Saving faith changes our behaviour. If someone’s life is unchanged on the outside there should be serious questions about the reality of any change on the inside. Eternal life is contingent in scripture on a life of obedience. God’s promises to keep us secure can never be separated from our desire to bring our lives into obedience to Christ. God will answer the cry of any true believer for help in seeing their life changed.