seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 3:1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 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.”
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 some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
This was in the commentary.Spurgeon on let God be true but every man a liar: “It is a strange, strong expression; but it is none too strong. If God says one thing, and every man in the world says another, God is true, and all men are false. God speaks the truth, and cannot lie. God cannot change; his word, like himself, is immutable. We are to believe God’s truth if nobody else believes it. The general consensus of opinion is nothing to a Christian. He believes God’s word, and he thinks more of that than of the universal opinion of men.”
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Paul brings the counter-argument of an opponent: “If my unrighteousness will demonstrate God’s righteousness, how can God judge me? My sin ultimately serves to bring Him more glory, and that is good!”
Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? Paul was familiar with the line of thinking that says, “God is in control of everything. Even my evil will ultimately demonstrate His righteousness. Therefore God is unjust if He inflicts His wrath on me, because I’m just a pawn in His hand.”
Let us do evil that good may come: This was a perversion of Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith, and an extension of the objection of his imaginary questioner. If you take the thinking of Paul’s adversary far enough, you end up saying, “Let’s sin as much as we can so God can be glorified even more.” This shows us that one way to examine a teaching is to extend its meaning and consequences and see where you end up.
Their condemnation is just: Paul will not even answer such an absurd twisting of his gospel. He simply says of those who would teach such things or accuse Paul of teaching them, their condemnation is just. God rightly condemns anyone who teaches or believes such a thing.
Back to the "Father" correcting His children."I told you not to".... when something goes wrong after being warned off.... The consequences arrive and with those consequences there is that little voice that says "I told you not to".
Look.... This is simple. If children act out.... if they scream and holler and beat other kids and steal other kid's lollipops and pull their hair.... parents or responsible adults are supposed to correct them or they will continue to do it over and over and over and over and over again.
When God fabricated the first humans.... He liked the way they turned out or He would have continued on with the fabrication. He likes us... Hey Micky!
If one of my kids acts out.... and the others don't... should that child be thrown in the trash because the others turned out so well?
We correct our children because they are our children. We want the best for them. We give them a chance to stop doing what they were doing. We "judge" the situation, decide it needs to change, realize it's a teachable moment, correct the child and go on with life. It's that way with God. We're His children. He decides what is right and what is wrong. Yep, some kids get away with murder while others are judged on how they sneered at their sister. But... Are we sure they got away with murder? Or were they really just waiting until the Father gets through to them.
Paul thought he got away with holding the coats when they murdered Stephen. After all, he didn't do the murder, they did. He was just there. But then he was shipwrecked. Is God done correcting Paul?
God is the Father. God is the Judge. God is Responsible.
We stand corrected.
