The Faith of God

2014-04-20

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:1-4)

Previously, we looked at how the oracles of God were personal communication from God, namely, His written word. God had personally given the nation of Israel promises and invested in them. Ultimately, the vast majority of Israel did not serve Him throughout history.

The question at hand is, because Israel according to the flesh did not believe His Word, does it mean that God’s promises are void, and that God failed?

This is the first time the phrase “God forbid” appears in this letter. It is an idiomatic translation of a strong, emphatic “Never!” Israel’s failure does not reflect upon God at all. On the contrary, it establishes God as the sole authority against whom all sin is committed, and this glorifies Him.

The phrase “That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” is a quote from Psalm 51:4, which reads:

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

The original context of Psalm 51 is when David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, then allowing her husband Uriah to be killed in the hottest part of a battle (2 Samuel 11:1-15). Though David greatly sinned against the man Uriah, he ultimately sinned against God. Because of this, God has full authority to judge his sin, and is good and right in doing so.

The same is for those Israelites who did not believe the oracles of God. They rejected His promises, and He was just in punishing His people and was glorified in His righteous judgment. He is also righteous in punishing us as sinners (apart from Christ) and sending us to hell, and He is glorified in doing so.