Romans 3:1-8 God’s way
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
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.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
The Jews were the people through whom God’s promise of salvation for all of Adam and Eve’s descendants came. Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” To bring this promise to fruition the law was given to separate the Jews from the other nations and to guide them. Deuteronomy 4:7-8 “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
Anyone who studies the law of Moses and seriously tries to keep it will soon find out that so far from being a way to righteousness it actually highlights and reinforces his depravity. But knowing you are lost is the first step toward being found. Having the law gives an advantage in ability to admit our need for a savior.
Galatians 2:16, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Galatians 3:24, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
The purpose of life is God’s glory. There is such a thing as highlighting by contrast. If evil is seen as evil it stands in contrast to goodness. Does the sin of man highlight the righteousness of God? If it does doesn’t that fulfill God’s purpose? If God’s will is done how can sin be wrong?
Do the ends justify the means? Isn’t it rather that we have to accomplish God’s will by God’s methods? Job tried being sinless but it wasn’t enough. He avoided but did not overcome sin. Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”
Jesus himself is our example of working out God’s will God’s way.
John 17 1-5, “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
brotherpayne 