ROMANS 3
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come? —as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. – Romans 3:1-8
ROMANS 3 BELIEVERS’ BETRAYAL DOESN’T CHANGE GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When one is chosen by God, it doesn’t excuse him from infidelity
Because God has given us a will, we are free to reject his invitation
Betraying the offer of God to belong to his kingdom
Will probably manifest that you weren’t chosen by him after all
When he chose you as his child, he gave you the ability to say “yes”
Your betrayal and rejection of him doesn’t change his faithfulness.
In this letter of Paul to the Romans, we could probably hear the questions being shot at him regarding the value of circumcision or being a Jew. If he said in his earlier letter that God is not partial, what is the point of being a believer? They even challenged Paul in verse 8 when they thought of why not just do evil then so good may come? Another question that they raised was if the believers were unfaithful, would God also do the same to them. We can hear how shallow and childish these people were regarding their faith. They have to be convinced that there are some benefits that they will gain if they do believe in God. Paul mentions in verse 2 that one of the advantages of being chosen by God is that they are also entrusted with the truth that comes from God’s word. Paul defends God’s character by saying that no matter how evil they are, God will stay true. It exposes such immaturity from them how they know and see God.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think these people thought that God will be unfaithful if they were?
