God's Righteousness Upheld

Romans 3

¹ What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? ² Much in every way! Chiefly because _a to them were committed the ₁ oracles of God. ³ For what if _b some did not believe? _c Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

⁴ _d Certainly not! Indeed, let _e God be ₂ true but _f every man a liar. As it is written:
_g "That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged." ₃

⁵ But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? _h (I speak as a man.) ⁶ Certainly not! For then _i how will God judge the world? ⁷ For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? ⁸ And why not say, _j "Let us do evil that good may come"? - as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their ₄ condemnation is just.

1. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 4:5 - 8
   Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.
   Psalms 147:19
   He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
   Romans 9:4
   Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises.
   
2. Cross References
   Romans 10:16
   But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?
   Hebrews 4:2
   For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
   
3. Cross References
   Numbers 23:19
   God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
   2 Timothy 2:13
   If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
   
4. Cross References
   Job 40:8
   Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
   
5. Cross References
   John 3:33
   He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
   
6. Cross References
   Psalms 62:9
   Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.
   
7. Cross References
   Psalms 51:4
   Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight - That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
   
8. Cross References
   Romans 6:19
   I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
   1 Corinthians 9:8
   Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
   1 Corinthians 15:32
   If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
   Galatians 3:15
   Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
   
9. Cross References
   Genesis 18:25
   "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
   
10. Cross References
    Romans 5:20
    Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
    

New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.