heart to justify its deceitfulness and sin. It is nothing less than satanic ingenuity which says, "Since man's unright eousness gives to God an opportunity to demonstrate His righteousness, then God should not penalize man for his unrighteousness.'' Before examining Paul's answer, I should offer some com ment on his statement in parentheses, "(I speak as a man)." He used a similar statement in the Epistle to the Galatians when he said, "I speak after the manner of men" (Galatians 3:15). Here in Romans 3:5 it seems that Paul himself raises the question of an imaginary objector, and then adds that he is deeply aware of the fact that he used language which is natural and normal for humans to use when speaking of human relations. The student must not entertain that idea that Paul's words were not divinely inspired. It is not un common for men to discuss whether God is right or wrong. To do so is to speak merely as a man and to show the finiteness of the human mind. The answer: "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world" (3:6)? It will help the reader at this juncture to keep in mind the fact that this text is included in the section of the Epistle which is dealing with Condemnation, or Judg ment. Sin and its inevitable consequent judgment is the subject in all of the passages from 1: 18 to 3:20, so that the emphasis in 3:5 is on the word "judge". The judgment of God is according to truth (2:2) and is therefore a righteous judgment (2:2) so that His estimations and conclusions as Judge are unquestionably accurate. Now if the unsound reasoning in verse 5 had any correctness in it at all, then God cannot judge any sin or any sinner. Every Jew believes that future judgment was a part of God's future plan (Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 1: 17). Every Jew knew that God judged the earth in Noah's day and Sodom and Gomorrah in Abra ham's day. Paul dismissed the reasoning in verse 5. "God forbid . .. "His answer vindicates the sovereignty of God. If the reader will go back and review the arguments be ginning with chapter 3 verse 1, he will see that the first questions were logical and reasonable. But with the third question the Jew's argument becomes more untenable and perverted. This is a normal reaction on the part of the sinner. Back him in a corner and pin him down with God's truth, 79
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