5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
Paul, beginning with verse five, explained misunderstanding of what he said.
3:5
But if our [Jews’] unrighteousness demonstrates [brings out–accentuates] the righteousness of God, what shall we say?
An objector argues that his unrighteousness accentuates God’s righteousness more clearly. We would not see God’s righteousness clearly were it not for sin.
Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?
If the result of sin is to advance God’s purpose, then it would imply that God is unjust if He were to punish sin. Sin affords God the platform to show how righteous He is. Is it possible that the Jews would have a just claim that God is unjust if the premise of the previous phrase is true?
(I speak as a man.)
To pose such a premise was a strictly human hypothesis from Paul’s viewpoint—this has no bearing on God’s truth. “As a man” is literally according to the norm of man. Paul argued strictly from a faulty human viewpoint; he was not expressing his own sentiments with this argument.
3:6
Certainly not!
Paul categorically rejected such a thesis that God is unjust (cf. v 4). The idea that we can pose God as unjust appalled Paul.
For then how will God judge the world?
If God was unfair in judging unfaithful Jews then He would have no right to judge the world at the end of days. It is axiomatic that God will judge justly in the final analysis. To impugn God’s justice undermines His fitness to judge the world. We twist Scripture to our peril.
PRINCIPLE:
God owns the right to judge any man.
APPLICATION:
God’s words and God’s character are always consistent. Righteousness means that God is consistent with His character. People out of phase with God deserve His wrath.
Ge 18:25, “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
