November 12, 2008

Unbelief Doesn’t Negate God’s Faithfulness

“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’” (Romans 3:3-4 NKJV)

Paul answers the objection of how unbelief in God’s chosen people, Israel, tarnishes God’s faithfulness. This question is tied to the original question, what advantage has the Jew over others, and what profit is circumcision? Didn’t God make certain promises to the Jew? Indeed, He did make promises to them, and He has fulfilled them all. The problem was the Jew did not recognize the true nature of the promises. Relating to the Word through external works, they live in unbelief. However, that does not mean that God was unrighteous or unfaithful.

God had promised a Messiah to Israel, and He had come. Unfortunately, they killed Him, which proves the apostle’s next point. God is true and men are liars. God is faithful and men are mutable.

The Apostle quotes Ps 51:4 to support his sentiment. Barnes has a good word to say about this.

To confirm the sentiment, which he had just advanced, and to show that it accorded with the spirit of religion as expressed in the Jewish writings, the apostle appeals to the language of David, uttered in a state of deep penitence for past transgressions. Of all quotations ever made, this is one of the most beautiful and most happy. David was overwhelmed with grief; he saw his crime to be awful; he feared the displeasure of God, and trembled before him. Yet he held it as a fixed, indisputable principle, that GOD WAS RIGHT. This he never once thought of calling in question. He had sinned against God, God only; and he did not once think of calling in question the fact that God was just altogether in reproving him for his sin, and in pronouncing against him the sentence of condemnation—Barns Notes.

What should we learn from this? First, we can cling to the promises of God. “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation [is] for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it [is] impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before [us].” (Hebrews 6:13-18 NKJV)

Secondly, never question God’s goodness. If something seems amiss with God’s Word, you can be certain it’s your interpretation or your application that is lacking.

God is faithful, and we can trust in Him. Search the Scriptures and find the promises of God, and then walk in them. Keeping this one thought, that God is faithful will make all the difference in the world.