The Purpose of the Law

Discipleship and Mission

Spread the Gospel

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

 Romans 3:1-8 The Message

3 1-2 So what difference does it make who’s a Jew and who isn’t, who has been trained in God’s ways and who hasn’t? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed.
2-6 First, there’s the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God’s revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn’t abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same:
Your words stand fast and true;
Rejection doesn’t faze you.
But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God’s right-doing, shouldn’t we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don’t even make a dent in his good words, isn’t it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn’t do the straightening?
7-8 It’s simply perverse to say, “If my lies serve to show off God’s truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I’m doing God a favor.” Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying, “The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let’s just do it!” That’s pure slander, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

For Reflection

So, let's leave the Hebrew setting and apply these passages to modern times.  We are Christians in many different forms and styles. Many of us have different opinions about how to worship God and to follow Christ.  We also have ideas, as did the early church, about those who do not believe as we and follow different spiritual paths.

Paul says that God does not reject Jewish non-Christian believers. So why should we today speak in condemnation of nonbelievers? Let those kinds of judgments up to God.  It may be presumptuous of us to assume we possess the infinite wisdom of God.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more able to play the role of a loving, compassionate God-collaborator.  Pray that your actions will reflect the humility and mercy of Christ.

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