Can the church's unfaithfulness undo God's?
Scripture: Romans 3:1-8 (ESV)
"Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 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.' 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.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God's truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just."
Devotion:
In these verses, Paul addresses a complex question: If the faithfulness of God is so robust and dependable, does human unfaithfulness matter? He begins by acknowledging the unique position of the Jews, who were given the very words of God. This privilege comes with responsibility, but also with a challenging implication: Does failing to live up to this responsibility make God's promises void?
Paul's answer is a resounding "No." The faithfulness of God is not dependent on our actions. Even when we fall short, God remains true. The church globally has been rocked by scandal after scandal in the recent years. Everything from the shocking findings of the investigations into abuse, the downfall of churches like Mars Hill and the more recent implosion of Hillsong. Nevertheless, God’s truth is still true, no matter how stained the messengers are. God cannot be cancelled because his messengers were.
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