A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 19 Chapter 3:7 - 9

  1. Romans 3:7 “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?”
    1. Verse 7 refers back to verse 5 “But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?”

a.       The words “commend” in verse 5 means - to set together or to approve. It comes from the Greek word “sun” (soon) which means - union; with or together by association.

b.      So the question in verse 5 is “But if our unrighteousness approved or worked together by association the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?” Paul answered in verse 6 “God forbid”

c.       God never uses sin to justify His actions. This could be the same question; if I robbed a bank and gave the money to the church would that not be a just act to God and work by association to bless the Lord and therefore God would not judge me for my sin.

d.      Paul went on to say in verse 6 “for then how shall God judge the world?” how could God judge the world for sin if He justified sin for His own cause.

e.       If sin is sin then all sin is anti-God. God never cause nor ask one to sin to justify Himself or His cause. God hates all sin.

    1. Verse 7 “For if the truth of God” is vertically the same as “the righteousness of God” in verse 5

a.      And means his faithfulness or His truthfulness.

b.      These Jews just cannot understand what condemns the Gentiles also condemns them. The just found out they are no better in God’s eyes than the elect Gentiles. God condemns sin no matter what nationality we are and God never approves of sin no matter who we are.

c.       The truth of God or the righteousness of God does not allow Him to justify sin in ant shape form or fashion period. 

    1. “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory” This is almost exactly the same as verse 5 the question is; - if my lie or falsehood brought glory to the Lord would that not be justices? NO!

a.       The Life Application Bible Commentary says;
Why Worry About Sin? Some people may think that they don't have to worry about sin because: (1) it's God's job to forgive; (2) God is so loving, that he won't judge us; (3) sin isn't so bad—it teaches us valuable lessons; or (4) we need to stay in touch with the culture around us. It is easy to take God's grace for granted. But God cannot overlook sin. Sinners, no matter how many excuses they make, will have to answer to God for their sin.

b.      John Gill said; “Nothing is more opposite to truth than a lie; a lie of itself can never be of any advantage to truth, or to the God of truth; nothing is more contrary to the nature of God, and more abominable to him; a lie is of the devil, and punishable with eternal death.”

    1. Verse 7 The next question is “why yet am I also judged as a sinner?” because you are a sinner. No sin, no matter how much justification you may believe it was is just before God.
  1. Paul answers in verse 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.”
    1. Albert Barnes in his Notes on the New Testament, gives the following; “This is the answer of the apostle. He meets the objection by showing its tendency if carried out, and if it were made a principle of conduct. The meaning is, "If the glory of God is to be promoted by sin, and if a man is not therefore to be condemned, or held guilty for it; if this fact absolves man from crime, why not carry the doctrine out, and make it a principle of conduct, and Do All The Evil We Can, in order to promote his glory?"
    2. Paul is answering if good to God comes from our sin and falsehood; then why stop there? Why not allow our doctrine to be slandered?
    3. “as we be slanderously reported” Paul is peaking of himself and other Christians – As we are blasphemed as Christians by you Jews.
    4. “some affirm” yes some do and their Jews and what they are teaching “Let us do evil, that good may come” But I say God forbid!! 
  2. Verse 9 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”
    1. “What then? are we better than they?” The question is since we are Jews and they are Gentiles, aren’t we better than them Gentiles, doesn’t God overlook our sins, doesn’t God take advantage of our sin for His glory?  Paul answers “No, in no wise:”
    2. “for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”

a.       “for we have before proved” through the last 2 1/2 chapters he has told them over and over the Jews are no better than the Gentiles. Sin causes death in one just as it does another. If sin is wrong for the Gentile it is wrong for the Jew. However the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses all of us the very same way.

b.      Paul continues “both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;” John Gill said the following; “under the power and guilt of sin, and a sentence of condemnation for it; which is equally true of the Jews, who were no better than the Gentiles, for being Abraham's seed, for being circumcised, for having the ceremonial law, and other outward privileges; for they were equally born in sin, and by practice sinners, as the Gentiles: and this is true of God's elect in all nations, who are no better by nature, by birth, than others; as deserving of the wrath of God as the rest.”

c.       Starting in verse 10 Paul takes off on total depravity, and that is next week.