Romans 3:1-8

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

“Okay, smart guy,” replies Paul’s imaginary Jewish interlocutor, “if Jews stand condemned in sin just as much as Gentiles, then what’s the point of being a Jew? Why did God choose Israel as His people?”

Well, says Paul, for one thing, the Jews were given God’s Word (“the oracles of God”). And even if some Israelites were unfaithful, that doesn’t change the character of God. In fact, God is so good and committed to His promises, that the more His people sinned, the more God remained faithful. Their unrighteousness showed just how righteous God is.

“Okay,” says Paul’s interlocutor, “but if my sin shows God’s goodness, then couldn’t you say that God owes me for making Him look good? Couldn’t you say that it is actually good for Israel to sin, then, so that God can show his grace and righteousness? Shouldn’t we just sin more so God looks better? Why are we getting in trouble for making God look good?”

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) [3:5]

Paul says that anyone who thinks that way should be criticized, because that way of thinking is really twisted. After all, if God rewarded sin, then God would never right any wrongs or make any judgments. And that kind of God is no kind of God at all. Paul says that if he actually taught that people should sin more and thereby make God look better, then he would be right to be criticized:

7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. [3:7-8]

So far in his letter, Paul has explained how idolatry—worshipping the creation rather than the Creator—has led the Gentiles deep into sin. They are, in fact, in so deep that they will need to be rescued. He then goes on to explain how the Jews—who should have known better—also were idolatrous and disobedient. Paul’s main point in Romans chapters 2-3 is that the Jews are no better off than the Gentiles but are also totally sinful and in need of God’s grace.

We’re no different.