Pulling Down Strongholds:
Against God’s Faithfulness
In a Brief Survey
of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans
Based on sermons preached in PCC Worship Services, July
2003 to Sep 2005
Part 13b of 83
“1 What
advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of
God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect? 4 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 3:1-8).
[We have been considering in this tranche of articles,
Paul’s response to the anticipated
objections of the unbelieving Jews against the doctrine of justification by
grace through faith. These objections, as we saw in our first instalment, are
based upon the idea that if Paul’s doctrine of justification is correct, then
the goodness, faithfulness and justice of God would be thrown into question. We
have already seen his response to the charge that the doctrine destroys God’s
goodness. In this second part we shall see how he deals with the objection that
the doctrine contradicts the justice of God. The argument apparently is that if
the doctrine is correct, then many of the Jews would perish since they believe
not in Christ. If that were the case wouldn’t God’s faithfulness towards his
people be thrown into jeopardy?]
2. God is Faithful
Paul
anticipates the objection in this way: “For what if some did not
believe? shall their unbelief make the
faith of God without effect?” (v. 3).
The Jews were God’s people. Circumcision was a symbol of
their relationship with God. They were God’s covenant people. When God
commanded Abraham to circumcise himself and his children, He promised Abraham:
“And
I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in
their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to
thy seed after thee” (Gen 17:7).
Circumcision
marked out the descendants of Abraham as the people of God. God promised to be
their God. But there’s a problem. It is a fact that not everyone amongst the
descendants of Abraham believed God’s promise. So it is a fact that not every
one of the descendants of Abraham believed in the Gospel, which is implied in
God’s promise. In fact, the vast majority did not believe!
“For
unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached
did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it”
…says
the writer of Hebrews (Heb 4:2).
Does
this make the faith of God without effect? The word “faith” here refers to
fidelity or faithfulness. Does the unbelief of some nullify the faithfulness of
God? Does it mean that God is not faithful to His promise?
Now, you must realise that this question presupposes that
God is sovereign, and He is able to keep that which He promise. Or let me put
it this way: This question about God’s faithfulness can only arise if the
questioner understands that salvation is entirely the work of God. If the
questioner thinks that God has no power to keep his promise, then He would not
question God’s faithfulness.
Suppose
someone you love meets with an accident. He is admitted to the A&E. The
doctor examines him, and assures you: “Oh, don’t worry, he is going to get
well. I promise you that he will be alright.” Two hour later, the same doctor
comes out, shaking his head, and he says, “I am afraid, he did not make it. We
tried our best. I am sorry.” What would you do? Do you pound him on the chest
and say: “You did not keep your promise! You went back on your word!”
Perhaps
in a moment of anguish you might do so. But deep in your heart, you know that
the power of life and death is not in the hand of the doctor. You know that the
doctor is not being unfaithful to his promise. He had simply made a promise of
which he had no power to keep.
So
too, if God made a promise and He had no power to keep it, no one would
question His faithfulness. Indeed, if it is true that God has no power to keep
His promise, then the apostle would simply have answered: No, their unbelief
does not make the faithfulness of God without effect. Because salvation does
not depend on God, but on us! God tries His best, but ultimate it is up to us.
This
is not what Paul says. Instead he says:
“God
forbid [mh; gevnoito, mē genoito—not at all! absolutely not!]
(v. 4a)
Does man’s
faithlessness nullify God’s faithfulness? Absolutely not! Why? Notice that Paul
does not give a reason. This is not the place to give the reason. He gives the
reason elsewhere. For example, in Romans 9 and Galatians 3, Paul explains the
apparent contradiction. The answer as we shall see is that not every of
Abraham’s children are the children of the promise. God does not promise to save
every descendant of Abraham without exception. In particular, his promise is not for those who believe
not His promise.
We shall see that reason when we come to it. But for now,
consider how Paul answers:
“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” (v. 4)
What is Paul saying? He is paraphrasing Psalm 116:11 and
quoting Psalm 51:4. He is saying that God always speaks the truth and He is
always right! Notice what Paul is doing? The objector is saying that his
doctrine destroys the faithfulness of God. Paul is saying: That is ridiculous!
God does not contradict Himself!
The
point is: there are many things we may not fully understand. But never must we
question God’s faithfulness. God is sovereign, God has promised, God is also
faithful. We must never implicate God with sin just because we do not fully
understand all that He is revealing to us concerning Himself.
The
point is: God is the Creator, while we are creature of dust. He is infinite,
while we are finite. He is omniscient, while we cannot even see what is behind
us. “His understanding is infinite” (Ps 147:5), while our understanding is
finite. How then can we question God?
God
is a faithful God. He is a God who keeps his promise faithfully. The fact that
some did not believe and many continue not to believe does not change the fact
that He is a faithful God. He does not change His mind. He is still the God of
Israel.
We
are the Israel of God. He has promised His Spirit to us and to our children and
to as many as He shall call. He will not turn back on His word. The fact that
it is possible that some of our children may be lost does not make Him any less
faithful. He has promised to be our God and the God of our children. Our
children will continue to worship Him, and so will our children’s children.
This is His promise. We must not doubt that even if we may not fully understand
everything for now.
We have seen apology of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
But what about His justice?
…
to be continued next issue
─JJ Lim