What does Romans 3:6 reveal about God's righteousness and human accountability? Context Matters Romans 3:1–8 tackles a Jewish objection: “If our sin makes God look better, why does He still judge us?” Paul’s response in verse 6 silences that idea. The Verse Itself “Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?” (Romans 3:6) What Romans 3:6 Affirms about God’s Righteousness • God’s justice is inseparable from His character; if He were even slightly unrighteous, He would forfeit the right to judge anyone. • The phrase “how could God judge the world?” insists that His judgment is grounded in perfect moral integrity—He never bends His own standards (cf. Genesis 18:25). • “Certainly not!” (Greek: mē genoito) is Paul’s emphatic rejection of any thought that God could be unjust; the phrase appears repeatedly in Romans to defend divine righteousness (Romans 3:4; 6:2). Human Accountability Highlighted • Because God’s judgment is just, every person stands answerable to Him (Romans 3:19: “so that every mouth may be silenced”). • No one can claim exemption by arguing that personal sin somehow benefits God; even if human unrighteousness sets God’s faithfulness in sharper relief, it still incurs guilt (Romans 3:7–8). • Acts 17:31 underscores this: “He has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed.” Supporting Passages That Echo the Point • Psalm 96:13—“He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” • Ecclesiastes 12:14—“For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.” • Revelation 20:11–12—portrays the final judgment where books are opened and each is judged “according to their deeds.” Key Takeaways for Everyday Life • God’s right to judge flows from His flawless righteousness; this grants us confidence that His verdicts are always fair. • Recognition of that righteous standard pulls every excuse out from under us; repentance is the only sane response (Romans 2:4). • Believers rest in the assurance that the same God who judges righteously also justifies the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). |
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