“But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.) Absolutely not! For otherwise, how could God judge the world? For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”?—as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)”Romans 3:5-8 NET
Paul boldly contends that certain devout Jews, who cling to
the law, just as he did before encountering
Jesus, have branded him and others who have embraced faith in Christ as liars
and charlatans. However, Paul swiftly counters their accusations, turning their
arguments upside down. He asserts that God is not unjust in administering
wrath; such judgment is not a mere act of anger designed to punish individuals.
Instead, it is a profound examination of our motives and intentions, guiding us
to a deeper faith and a more intimate knowledge of Him.
The undeniable truth about God is that His
character is fundamentally love, mercy, and forgiveness. This cannot be
eclipsed by the misleading idea that He is wrathful toward His people, ready to
cast them into eternal condemnation. This notion stands in stark contrast to
who God truly is. If Paul were to endorse such a perspective, he would be
grossly misrepresenting God’s character. He passionately declares that claiming
my lie to be true somehow glorifies God, yet in reality, it only diminishes the grace and mercy of the cross; it fundamentally distorts our
understanding of God in the most critical ways.
Does God judge the world? Absolutely, yes! However, it’s
essential to realize that His judgment isn’t directed at people or individuals but focuses on our innermost selves—our motives, thoughts, and
attitudes. He scrutinizes everything in our lives that obstructs our intimate
relationship with Him. God’s deepest desire is for us to relinquish our
personal judgments and opinions to fully embrace the boundless
depths of His mercy and grace. This liberation invites us into a richer, more
meaningful relationship with Him. This is the essence of salvation, enabling us
to grasp our true origins—being formed in Christ before the foundation of the
world.
Paul compellingly asserts that if he were still under the
constraints of the law, he would face condemnation as a sinner, devoid of any
hope for redemption. The law is merciless, demanding justice to the ultimate
extreme of physical death. If his lies were to somehow bring glory to God, it
would make him the most wretched of men, for it would imply that God exercises
partiality—mirroring a human king who favors some while unjustly condemning
others. Such a reality would cast doubt on God’s fairness and undermine the understanding
of righteousness as a universal principle of God.
Paul confidently presents a strong defense against the
accusations made against him, inviting a thought-provoking question: Why do
some people hold onto such misconceptions about God? As a talented apologist,
Paul passionately defends Christ, drawing from his deep understanding of the
Torah. This knowledge enables him to provide clear, truth-filled responses to
those whose beliefs are unanchored. With skill and insight, he thoughtfully
addresses their arguments, shining a light on the nature of God and His incredible
purpose for humanity. Ultimately, it is essential to cherish and uphold God’s
truth and reject any falsehoods. Ultimately, he points out that exchanging God’s truth for a lie is utterly unacceptable.
What seems clear to us—the vital balance between tradition
and the message of Jesus Christ—was a significant struggle for the people in
Paul’s time. They grappled with the challenge of upholding some aspects of
the law while trying to fully embrace the transformative message of Jesus.
Their focus on preserving their traditional heritage often took precedence over
the critical pursuit of freedom for all. This internal conflict became a
substantial obstacle for those coming to faith, as they discovered that their
newfound freedom in Christ was weighed down by the adherence to various rules
and laws that burdened these new believers rather than uplift
them.
Paul knew this struggle well; he didn’t
condemn his detractors for their adherence to tradition. He provided examples
of ‘what if’ scenarios to challenge them to think harder, so they would appeal
to logic rather than to their emotions. Paul was a passionate man of Christ and fervently defended his gospel of freedom. The core of Paul’s gospel is the same as that of the
other apostles, but where Paul deviated was by staying
on point between the distinction between tradition (law) and maintaining
freedom in Christ.
I appreciate how Paul grasped many’s struggles; he never judged his critics for holding onto tradition. Instead, he
cleverly crafted hypothetical scenarios that encouraged deeper thinking,
inviting them to embrace logic over mere emotions. As a devoted follower of
Christ, Paul wholeheartedly championed his life-changing message of freedom.
While his gospel shares a foundation with the other apostles, Paul deviated by staying on point between the distinction between tradition
(law) and maintaining freedom in Christ. His approach inspires us to seek thoughtful
understanding as we work out our faith!
Stephen Barnett
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