CHAPTER 3
Absolutely not!
Let God
be
TRUE
and
every
man
a liar.
As
it is written:
“So that
You may be justified
in
Your
words,
and
prevail
in
Your
judgments.”
But
if
our
unrighteousness
highlights
the righteousness
of God,
what
shall we say?
That
God
is
unjust
to inflict
His
wrath on us?
I am speaking
in
human terms.
However,
if
my
falsehood
accentuates
God’s
truthfulness,
to the increase
of His
glory,
why
am I
still
condemned
as
a sinner?
Why
not say,
as
some
slanderously
claim that
we
say,
“Let us do
evil
that
good
may result?”
Their
condemnation
is
deserved!
What
then?
Are we any better?
Not
at all.
For
we have already made the charge
that Jews
and
Greeks
alike
are
all
under
sin.
All
have turned away;
they have together become worthless;
there is
no one
who
does
good,
not
even
one.
Their
throats are
open
graves;
their
tongues
practice deceit.
The venom
of vipers
is on
their
lips.
Now
we know
that
whatever
the
Law
says,
it says
to those who are
under
the
Law,
so that
every
mouth
may be silenced
and
the
whole
world
held accountable
to God.
Therefore
no
one
will be justified
in His sight
by
works
of the Law.
For
the Law
merely brings
awareness
of sin.
But
now,
apart from
the Law,
the righteousness
of God
has been revealed,
as attested
by
the
Law
and
the
Prophets.
And
this righteousness
from God
comes through
faith
in Jesus
Christ
to
all
who
believe.
There is
no
distinction,
God
presented
Him
as an atoning sacrifice
through
faith
in
His
blood,
in order
to demonstrate
His
righteousness,
because
in
His
forbearance
He had passed over
the
sins
committed beforehand.
He did this
to demonstrate
His
righteousness
at
the
present
time,
so as
to be
just
and
to justify
the one
who has
faith
in Jesus.
Where,
then, is
boasting?
It is excluded.
On
what
principle?
On that
of works?
No,
but
on
that
of faith.
since there is only
one
God,
who
will justify
the circumcised
by
faith
and
the uncircumcised
through
that same
faith.