Romans 3:5-8 - By no means!

3:5,6

We now come to a line of argument that will appear again in chapter 6. Paul looks at the matter of what the consequences are if our unrighteousness serves to highlight God’s righteousness. Speaking in a human way one might since God’s righteousness is highlighted there is no reason for Him to “inflict His wrath on us”. Paul again responds with a resounding no. If the answer was yes, then it would mean that God could never judge the world, and a fundamental tenet of who God is is that He is the judge of all the earth. 

3:7,8

Paul then expands this objection. If Paul’s lies mean that God’s truth abounds, why should he be condemned? If God is glorified by our sin, why should we be condemned? If good comes out of our sin, should we not then sin all the more? The idea that the gospel means we can get away with sin is one that has been around for two thousand years! It is used by some as an excuse for living a sinful life, and by others as a philosophical/theological argument against the gospel. Both show a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel. The gospel does mean that all sins are forgiven, but we are forgiven so that we can be righteous, not so that we can continue living in unrighteousness.