What Does Romans 3:4 Mean?

May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."

Romans 3:4(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Whether Jew or Gentile, all men are guilty sinners and under God's eternal judgement UNLESS they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. All are at enmity with their Creator and bound for the lake of fire UNTIL they are saved by faith in Him. There is nothing Jew or Gentile can do to get right with God without trusting in Christ's sacrificial offering of Himself on Calvary's Cross. No man can be saved because of his birthright, bank balance, talents, good works or religiosity, for all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. All are under God's condemnation and the wages of sin is death.

Although the Lord chose the Jewish race to be His people through whom the Messiah would be born, their birthright did not provide any exemption from God's directive that salvation, which is a gift of grace, received by faith alone in Christ Jesus alone as detailed in Scripture. Similarly, unbelieving Jews who reject God's law, rebel against His directives, and do not believe His Revelation, do not nullify His Word.

Although Israel was identified as God's chosen nation through their covenant agreement with the Lord and the sign of circumcision given through Abraham - salvation for Jew and Gentile alike is given by God's grace - through faith in Christ Jesus. While salvation comes THROUGH the Jewish nation, it is only through faith in the Jewish Messiah that an individual soul can be redeemed from the slave market of sin.

While Paul admitted that having a Jewish heritage was a great advantage and that there was a clear distinction between God's relationship with Israel and His dealings with the rest of mankind, he also made it clear that every member of the Jewish race was equally guilty before God and needed salvation just like Gentiles - and Romans 3 makes this point very clear.

Paul knew that unbelieving, religious-minded Jews had developed the false notion that their heritage guaranteed their salvation, yet they had rejected the true gospel of God and become an apostate nation - and Paul found it necessary to expose this false teaching. But he also wanted to stress that God's covenant with his people had not been set aside because of their unbelief. God's faithfulness towards Israel had not become null and void because they rejected the good news of the gospel of grace and crucified their Messiah.

Paul needed to address this false notion that the unbelief of man nullified the faithful promises of God. He wanted them to understand that God is not a man that He would change His mind or reject His people and so, anticipating their reasoning, he asked a rhetorical question of his readers: "Shall Israel's unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" - will their unbelief make the assurances of God ineffective?

"Can unbelieving, religious-minded Jews who are unfaithful to God cancel out God's revealed truth and His faithfulness?" was the question Paul posed, and he forcefully responded by saying, "GOD FORBID!" Certainly not! May it never be! And Paul continued his teaching by saying, "Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 'that You may be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged.'"

God's Word must be true, for it cannot be broken. Scriptural revelation is altogether true for God has even placed His Word above His holy name! Paul wanted to make it clear to his listeners that the Lord is truthful and anyone who rejects His Word identifies themselves as a liar. Whether Israel rejected God's Word individually or nationally, man's unbelief could never cancel out the truth of God's Word. Paul continued by quoting David in Psalm 51, with the words: "That You may be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged." The character of God dictates that His Word is true and this will be confirmed and upheld when fallen man stands before Him on judgement day.

The testimony of David, which is quoted in Romans, establishes a truth we all need to understand - that God is justified in His dealings with sinful man, for we are all guilty creatures in need of His gift of grace for our salvation... and any presumptuous accusations that men may make against God's Word or His Character will simply condemn the sinner as a liar and justify the Lord in His righteousness. 

Paul wanted Jew and Gentile alike to know that no matter what we as fallen creatures say or believe, God's actions will be always right and true. In the end, all He says and does will be justified and His righteousness will be contrasted with man's unrighteousness... for the unchangeable God cannot lie for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word of God and the truth it contains. Thank You that Your Word is true and that You are the unchangeable God Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever and can never lie. Thank You that no presumptuous notions of man can nullify Your Word and that in the end, Your revealed Word will be justified when You finally judge the world in righteousness. Forgive me for any times that I have questioned or contradicted Your Word or acted in a prideful way, for I acknowledge that it is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword and is altogether true. This I pray for Your greater glory and in Jesus' name, AMEN.

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