November 14, 2008

Unrighteousness Magnifies Righteousness but Remains Unrighteous

“But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And [why] not [say], "Let us do evil that good may come"? ——as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. What then? Are we better [than they]? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat [is] an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps [is] under their lips"; "Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet [are] swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery [are] in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."” (Romans 3:5-18 NKJV)

The argument here is very similar to Romans 6 where Paul asks, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” God forbid is the response because sin remains sinful even when it glorifies God by being juxtaposed His grace. As complimentary colors saturate and intensify each other, so righteousness and unrighteousness are intensified when seen together. However, red is still red and its complementary green remains green even though they seem brighter when next to each other.

Paul has pointed out that the Jews were favored of God with some advantages over the Gentiles, but makes sure this is kept in proper perspective by posing and answering the question, “Are we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles]?” His answer is, “Not at all.”

To make his point more poignant, he quotes Scripture, apparently a combination of Ps 14:1-3 and Ps 53:1-3. The list that follows should alarm anyone outside of Christ, and cause the believer to praise God for his deliverance from this bondage. The imagery is of a murderous, bloodthirsty destroyer who could not care less about God.

In case the Jew was under any delusions of grandeur, Paul pulls the rug out from under him. He is faithful to deliver the Gospel message with as much force as he could, to speak humanly.

Remember unrighteousness magnifies righteousness as if they were complementary colors. So let us learn two lessons from this passage.

One, learn to remain humble for Paul’s description of the lost included you before salvation. If you cannot see this then maybe, you should examine your faith now.

Two, always give the truth to those who are lost. We dare not soft sell the Gospel message. The contrast between righteousness and unrighteousness is magnified when placed side by side. If we play down the lost condition, begging people to yield to Christ, we pander to their sinfulness. Instead, people need to cry out to God for mercy by seeing their wickedness. This does not mean you need be harsh or insensitive. Jesus was not harsh except with those in the ministry. However, He always pointed out people’s sinfulness and need for a Savior. We should do the same. Amen