3:3
Now the Old Testament does not just contain “laws” and commandments, it also contains a multitude of promises, especially God’s commitment to Israel. What has happened to all these, are they done away, no longer applicable? This is a question that Paul will return to in Chapters 9-11 looking more at the positive side of things, ie how God’s promises will be fulfilled. Here he is focusing on the negative side. How do Israel’s sin and God’s promises interact with each other. Can the unfaithfulness of some Jews nullify the promises of God, God’s faithfulness? This question is still relevant, not just in the context of Israel, but of all who are saved. For there are all of us are unfaithful to some degree at some time.
3:4
“Not at all!” Certainly not is Paul’s reply. “Let God be true and every man a liar”.We have a tremendous tendency to build a theology on half a truth. Calvinism and Arminianism could be take as examples of this (so I am bound to have upset someone here!). If we make God’s righteousness or His faithfulness the only thing that matters, then the significance of human sin loses its importance. If we make human responsibility of overriding significance then the faithfulness and graciousness of God lose their importance. God’s faithfulness is absolute, but human responsibility matters as well, and both are equally Biblical. So if men are unfaithful the final outcome is that God’s righteousness is shown to be all the greater, it enhances God’s righteousness. We see this supremely in the cross, as will be demonstrates a little later.
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