#66. Romans 3:3-4 – Objection #2. The Faith of God

Part II: The Conduct of Humanity

For what if some disbelieve? Will not their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?

Faith

Until this point in our study, “faith” has largely been absent. Aside from its brief mention in Romans 1:8, and its function in relation to the evangel (1:17,) “faith” has not been a part of this study.

This changes with Romans 3:2-3. At this juncture, “faith” is briefly mentioned in both the positive (“belief” and “believe”) and negative (“unbelief” and “disbelieve.”) This is a necessary interlude. Paul first brings up faith in 3:2 – that Israel is entrusted with the oracles of God. The objector is not overstepping the boundaries of Paul’s declarations, but he is challenging them.

There are many pitfalls in this objection. Paul suddenly finds himself in a landmine, of sorts. The wrong move will trigger a violent contradiction, and prove that his argument is flawed. Some among Israel disbelieve, and this must be handled. First, Paul cannot say that disbelief discards the blessings themselves, or he admits that the blessings are still contingent on action – in this case, the act of believing, or disbelieving. This would nullify the response to the first objection, and the objector would smugly return to it. Yet he cannot say that disbelief still admits the blessings themselves, or he admits that faith does not truly account one righteous, since some extraneous standard exists by which they are blessed. Otherwise, the objector would charge Paul, saying, “You are subverting the righteousness and faith of God, then, by proclaiming that He has shifting goalposts!”

As we discussed back in Romans 1:8, faith assumes what is being expected. By nature, it looks forward to a future time where something good has been fulfilled. This further clarifies for us that Israel being entrusted, or en-faithed, with the oracles of God affirms that the news of these oracles are theirs alone. If they look forward to something that can be taken away, then it is not a true conviction, nor is a genuine expectation able to exist. And, in light of the all-knowing God, who naturally would have to have known that He would redact these blessings, the promises, especially those expressed in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36, would be built on falsehoods.

The Faith of God

The question, however, does not merely ask about the faith of man. The objector is smart. If he had asked, say, “Well, does Israel even believe? Don’t they lose their blessings if they do not believe?” then Paul’s response would have been simple: “Of course those of Israel who believe will receive their blessings, but it is not contingent on their faith at all. The blessings are contingent on God’s faithfulness, on God being able to bring about the intended ‘good’ which He expects.” This makes the quoted objector leagues smarter than most men engaged in apologetics today, for the apologist often cannot leave the thought of man’s faith and deeds long enough to consider that God is faithful.

Yet God is faithful. The intelligent objections acknowledge this, and it strengthens their rebuttal. The objector looks through this and steps to a more complex idea: not that God is unfaithful, by any means. Instead, he pits man’s faith against God’s faith.

Will the lack of faith of the Israelites “nullify” the faith of God? The term “nullify” is katargeO. Its elements are “DOWN-UN-ACT.” It is the process of making something unproductive, as can be seen in its only appearance in the four accounts, in Luke 13:7, where we read of the land becoming “unproductive.” This concept is demonstrated by a fig tree failing to bear fruit. To nullify the faith of God, then, is for the faithlessness of the Jew cause the faith of God to become unfruitful.

May it Not Be Coming to That!

May it not be coming to that!

This is the first question, in direct contrast, that is abhorrent to Paul. He senses the question’s severity and disrespect. The premise intuitively operates on the idea that man’s actions can foil God’s plan and character.

This phrase – “May it not be coming to that!” – is found fourteen times, ten of which are found in this letter. It is first used in shock and revulsion at the idea that God’s faithfulness could be staved off. I am of the opinion that, in every use, there is some thematic recollection of this first use. Anything which challenges God’s character or ability is met with the strongest adversity.

The fact is that God’s faithfulness is God’s faithfulness, of which no mortal could rationally alter, or even believe he could alter unless he thought himself equal to an all-powerful Deity. There is a clear pattern in the progression of “belief” in the passage. We read first of an Israel made faithful – to believe the oracles of God. We also read of unfaithful Israelites – contrary to those who were made faithful.

And, finally, we read that God is faithful to His oracles (recall, even, that the phrase “of God” is theos in the “genitive” case, showing whence the oracles themselves came. The oracles are from God – He can promise and fulfill that which He believes in.) The faith of God is directly affiliated with His oracles. It is often argued that “faith” refers to the “indignation” spoken of in 3:5. While He is indeed faithful to the indignation and the judgment, the faith is first brought to our attention with regard to His oracles. Only by taking the entirety of Holy Writ into account (and keeping these terms related but distinct) will one be able to appreciate the depth of His faithfulness. His indignation does not preclude the promised blessings, but prepares Israel for them.

In truth, God has made it clear that He will give Israel the law. He will ensure that they are able to walk the walk that circumcision requires. In this, He shows a faithfulness irrespective of the belief of man. In truth, every man, in one way or another, fails to believe the oracles of God. Only Jesus Himself ever fully believed any of His word. One with a modicum of faith still receives these blessings, yet their disbelief, or the complete disbelief of apostate Israel, does not nullify the faithfulness of God, where He communes with faithfulness.

It is not, then, because of man’s faithfulness that the benefits of circumcision are “much in every manner,” or the objector’s question would stop Paul in his tracks. It is because of God’s faithfulness that the benefits of circumcision remain, and will be fulfilled through the channel of faith alone.

Now let God be true, yet every man a liar, even as it is written: “That so Thou shouldst be justified in Thy sayings, And shalt be conquering even when Thou art being judged.”

Thus the great “backdrop” is now demonstrated. If every man is a liar, then God being true may be clearly seen. Man’s lie is the setting on which God’s truth can be displayed. It was foreknown that Israel was a sinful nation, and further foreknown that Israel was unable to effect the law. This was indeed the only way to show that man was in a sinful state. The best qualities mankind has ever displayed are found in the text; yet they are the best to show the weakness of man. Sampson was the strongest – and yet he is dead. Solomon was the wisest – and yet he is dead. David was a man after God’s own heart – and yet he is dead. These men were unable to follow the just requirements of the law. Their “best” was a sliver of Christ’s “best.” Their best qualities are merely a figurative type of Christ. Christ alone holds all of man’s best qualities. Every other man may have a small good – yet all of us are liars, and no man presented at the great white throne will escape such a charge on judgment day.

Israel has served as a microcosm of the race as a whole – our enduring faithlessness holds our minds captive. But God remains faithful. While the pattern itself is discernible, the question remains: why? Why should God set the stage like this, with Israel specifically?

Paul thus gives a reason by quoting Psalm 51:4. This is an extremely important quotation, for it answers a question that, to this day, vain philosophy poses without acknowledging the answer. If they would only acknowledge this pattern with Israel, then the larger “problem of evil” would begin to dissipate, replaced by its solution. God props up Israel as a small demonstration. If He placed all mankind under law, then all mankind would fail and no one could appreciate by relation the true freedom that faith imposes. Yet to place none of mankind under law would not have generated the contrast at all. Both invalidate the demonstration. Any lesser evil does not enable the faith of God to shine – and any greater evil would be too oppressive to formulate the point.

The purpose, then, with Israel specifically, is so that God is shown to be justified in His sayings, and can still conquer in spite of those who judge Him – whether it be Israel herself, the other nations, any individual, or any higher messenger or lesser “g” god. God remains true to Israel – and, through the death of His Son, remains true to all mankind – “to the Jew first, and to the Greek as well” (Rom. 1:17.) When Israel is presented at the great white throne, God will be vindicated in His dealings with the race. Recognizing God's Timeline on this matter would be fruitful. He establishes the millennial kingdom first – which brings about the restoration of the earth (Acts 3:21, Rev. 20:4-10) – and then presents the dead at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15.) By waiting until after the 1,000 year kingdom has run its course, God is vindicated by using the problem as a foil for the kingdom’s establishing on earth. On the premise of such a presentation, God can justly pass judgment, condemning the dead in accord with truth, and in accord with Paul’s evangel (Rom. 2:16, which will further enlighten us as to the endgame following condemnation.)

With this, the main objections are handled, and the Jewish objector is silenced. Paul anticipates one more major objection (which will be handled in Romans 3:5-8,) but any misinterpretation of Romans 2:28-29 can now be avoided. If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, liars that they are (Gen. 20:1-5, 26:7, 27:6-30,) could still end up being blessed as saints, then any lacking person could be used. Thus the oracles promise a circumcision of the heart, that repentance will befall the nation, and prepare for this with the circumcision of the flesh, giving it much purpose.

Paul may resume the topic of Israel specifically in Romans 9-11. In Romans 9:4-5, Paul clarifies that Israel has the “sonship, and the glory, and the covenants, and the legislation, and the divine service, and the promises.” They have stumbled (9:32,) and are contradictory, stubborn people (10:21,) who oppose God’s truths (Rom. 11:28.) Their lack of belief will not remain; the callousness of the nation will soften when the indignation of God is revealed to them, so that all of Israel is saved (Rom. 11:25-26.) God’s complete belief persists; it is not that those in need of judgment will be roused for the kingdom (more on this when we consider Rom. 9-11,) but that the entirety of the true nation of Israel, founded and crafted through faith, will be saved, at God’s will.

God is Justified

Ah, justification.

Throughout this study, I have tried to speak of “justification” as little as possible. It is a discussion best reserved for Romans 3:24. We are only a few verses away from a close inspection of the topic, so you’ll forgive me for briefly putting a pin in a study of the term, for the time being.

Trust me: we will talk about justification, its careful meaning, and its impact on all. For the time being, please rest on the concordant definition of the term, being to “account righteous.” A demonstration that this definition is valid will be considered later in this chapter.

For now, let us appreciate the passage with the above definition in mind. The first one who is said to be “constituted righteous” in Romans is God. He is the Justifier, for He Himself is justified by His faith.

The faith of God justifies Him even now. Though the demonstration is incomplete, faith takes a birds-eye view to the story – that is, the Creator’s view of the matter. Instead of viewing the tale through experience, the student may set himself aside and, instead, trust the One Who promises the following outcome Paul explains. If God is proven true – the God of the evangel Paul is about to share – then what is the problem? If the evangel is as good as Paul is hyping it up to be, then the darkness which clouds our present period are dispelled by the faith of God, Who assures an ultimate good through said clouds, by His hand, and no other.

In His unique ability to actually produce good, while using the bad for ultimate benefit, God’s use of evil commends His righteousness (Rom. 3:5.) In this very example, we are reading objections which inadvertently justify God! His enduring faithfulness is of great import, as He, too, is enduring evil’s sake along with creation, for the benefit of all. His true faith is based upon the evangel given by Paul, in Romans 3:21-26. The mediating faith which shows the Father’s faith is the faith of Christ (Rom. 3:22.) In the case of the evangel, the blessing unfolded, being justification, brings one’s faith into the intimate security of this faithful One.

Simply put, Israel’s unfaithfulness, in placing the Son on the cross, shows how faithful God is in giving that Son to the nation. This is an enduring faith! No matter how the plot appeared, physically, the true One in spirit remains just and true, not only to promised correction, but also to blessing.

The argument is drawing to a close; Romans 1:18-32 began the premise, and laid a foundation. 2:1-16 laid out the parameters of proper, corrective judgment. 2:17-24 included and called out the chosen nation of Israel in that judgment. 2:25-29 invalidated their claim to circumcision. 3:1-4 fields objections which justify God. 3:5-8 ensures that, though God is justified through our misdeeds, God cannot withhold judgment, and man is still exposed to His indignation.

Thus Paul’s preamble will end with 3:9-20, where Paul concludes his epic indictment of the entire race. Thus will begin the great news of salvation which few have ever heard.

- GerudoKing