NO SALVATION WITHOUT FAITHFULNESS

ROMANS 3:3–8

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar

(Romans 3:3–4a).

Paul here considers an objection that was thrown at him. People were saying, “Look, didn’t God promise Abraham that he and his seed would be blessed? Didn’t this imply that they would all be redeemed, and wasn’t circumcision a sign of that promise? If that is so, how could any be lost?”

Does Our Sin Nullify the Promise?

Paul had been arguing that some who were circumcised were hypocrites, and that their circumcision was worthless on that account. But now the question was: What does that do to God’s promise? Can man’s sinfulness destroy the faithfulness of God? Paul answers by saying that this cannot be. “Let God be true, and every man a liar,” he emphatically declares.

Paul here is calling attention to a point of difference between God and man. As human beings, we are by our sinful nature covenant breakers. We do not always tell the truth. We do not always keep our promises. Does this mean that we can project our own sinfulness onto God and suggest that God might from time to time break His promises?

God’s Justice Is Perfect

Surely to ask such a question is to answer it. It is utterly unthinkable that God would ever break a promise. But God never said people would be redeemed by unrighteousness or by disobeying His commandments. God never promised any form of automatic salvation apart from faith. God has the perfect right to judge man’s sin. Paul supports his argument with a quotation from David, who acknowledged after his sin with Bathsheba that God’s judgment is wholly righteous. God’s justice is never distorted.

CORAM DEO

It seems as if there is no limit to the arguments people will use to excuse sin. Paul’s adversaries argued that because God had promised them salvation, they could sin as they pleased. Paul replied by pointing to God’s judgment. Reflect today on Paul’s message, that only sinners who cling to God in faith, like David, find salvation. Have you been coasting in sin? Thank God that even when you stumble and fail Him, He is trustworthy and dependable.

For further study: Romans 6:1–23; John 14:15–22; Ephesians 2:1–10

wednesday

april