Romans 3:1–8 (ESV)
God’s Righteousness Upheld
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 every one 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.
God is righteous, be we have not been righteous. The Lutheran Study Bible says: “Human sinfulness shows the radical difference between God’s holiness and humanity’s
unrighteousness. God made covenants with His people, but we have broken our promises. How blessed we are that our unfaithfulness cannot nullify His faithfulness. He redeems us because He is gracious.”
About
15 years ago, I attended a men’s movement called Promise Keepers. I enjoyed going, but it was very legalistic and based on keeping your promises to God. The theology to the movement was backwards. It had good intentions, but I think
the even should have been named Promise Breakers. For this is what we do... we fail to keep our promises. Yet God has kept all his promises. He has every right to just destroy us... but he doesn’t. He loves us and He stays faithful
when we don’t. The focus should be on God’s Grace. Getting into heaven is not based on our righteousness, but on the righteousness of Jesus.
I pray: Oh Lord, I want to do
what is right, but I fall short. I cling to your love and grace and not my merit or righteousness. I know what I deserve, yet I am humbled by your love to forgive me anyway and to make me your child. Thank you for your grace and mercy.
Amen.