Posted by Romans on Saturday, 30 May 2015
Romans 3:7-8
(7) For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
(8) And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
A second question is this: If someone’s lack of truth enhances God’s truthfulness, how can God in fairness condemn (lit., “judge”) him as a sinner? In other words, since sin seemingly benefits God, how could He turn around and judge sinners for their sin? Paul raised these two questions, which are examples of unsaved people’s casuistry, because some opponents were falsely accusing him of advancing them and proclaiming, Let us do evil (lit., “the evil things”) that good (lit., “the good things”) may result. The apostle did not reply to these slanders. He assigned such persons to God and simply observed, Their condemnation (krima, “judgment”) is deserved. Later, however, he did discuss a similar question (6:1). To suggest, as did these two questions (3:5, 7), that God is unfair in condemning sin is to blaspheme the very nature of God. Such persons who question God’s condemning are therefore themselves condemned!
