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.
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.
I pray: Loving Father, thank You for Your grace and faithfulness. Empower me by Your Spirit to be faithful
to You. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1914.