God’s Integrity!

Romans 3:3-4- “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” NIV

We have already discussed that God is righteous in all that He does. In this post, we will continue to follow Paul’s thoughts as he addresses the integrity of God in the midst of unbelief!

Paul begins by asking a couple of questions. These questions are rhetorical in nature; asked to create a dramatic effect or to make a point. Paul asks:

“What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 

Romans 3:3 NIV

What point is Paul making with these questions? He has already informed us that pedigree and morality doesn’t cut it with the righteous God. He made a point of letting us know that Jews are at an advantage with God, one the Gentiles do not share. And now he asks us these questions.

As I was teaching my Social Studies lesson today, we happened to be discussing the philosophers of Ancient Greece. When Rome conquered Greece, much of the Grecian culture was adapted into the Roman culture. Grecians were big on thinking, on asking questions. As I read Paul’s letter, I can’t help but realize that he writes as if he is having a discourse of theology with an individual. The Socratic method of teaching was about asking questions. The only difference in Paul’s epistle, to the Socratic methodology of questioning, is that he answers his own questions. So, what if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?

In my post, “The Advantage of Being a Jew,” I addressed the faithfulness of the Jews of preserving God’s word. Yet, all was not faithful to God’s word, and Paul asks does their unfaithfulness cause God to be unfaithful? He answers, “not at all!” Or in the KJV, he replies to himself, “God forbid!”

God forbid is actually in the dictionary. Simply put, it is a phrase used to fervently wish that something should not happen! The Greek rendering is similar. It expresses absolute denial!

How many times have we been unfaithful to God and He was faithful to us? Probably more times than we care to admit. Remember Peter? He denied Jesus three times in Jesus’ hearing, and Jesus restored and embraced him. The one who was faithless received grace from the faithful! And how about you and I? At one time in our life we were faithless, but He was faithful towards us! Glory be to God! His faithfulness absolutely denies lack of faith to cause Him to be unfaithful! Even if none of us ever believe a thing God says, He will still be faithful! It cannot be denied! We may not experience Him like He wants to be experienced, but our faith or lack of faith has nothing to do with His faithfulness! Isn’t God good?

Paul continued his discourse by saying, “Let God be true and every human being a liar!” That’s deep! Some of us human beings really think that we have arrived to a place where our words are so true, they are without question. Paul would have had a field day with those individuals! Let God be true and every human being a liar when our words are contrary to His word!

Charles Spurgeon had these words to say about this verse:

“It is a strange, strong expression; but it is none too strong. If God says one thing, and every man in the world says another, God is true, and all men are false. God speaks the truth, and cannot lie. God cannot change; His word, like Himself, is immutable. We are to believe God’s truth if nobody else believes it. The general consensus of opinion is nothing to a Christian. He believes God’s word, and he thinks more of that than of the universal opinion of men.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/

What does Scripture tell us about God’s integrity?

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV

He is a God of truth and without sin. He is just and right! That’s our God!

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 KJV

Not only is He good, but His truth…not ours…is forever! It doesn’t change with time, trends, people, or circumstances. His truth endures everything through all generations. It can’t be rewritten, for when it is rewritten, it’s man’s truth and not His! It can’t be stomped out because no one stomps that well! It can’t be burned, for just when you think every copy has been burned, there will be many more that have not been touched! It has enduring ability!

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 119:160 KJV

In the beginning, GOD! That’s the essence of truth! In the beginning before you or I, before Adam and Eve, before the sun, moon and stars, GOD! And every single decision, judgment, or thing He does is right! Always and forever!

He is truth and He cannot lie! I have to add this one last verse:

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Numbers 23:19 NKJV

My absolute favorite verse on the integrity of God. He isn’t man! He is God! Has He said? Then He will do! Has He spoken? He will make it good!

What about those promises He hasn’t fulfilled? He cannot lie! He is truth! What about those unanswered prayers? He is truth! He is the embodiment of integrity, of truth! When we line up with this truth, that He cannot lie, all the others will fall in place!

Then the final part of Paul’s answer:

As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”

Romans 3:4

I had to find where this was written in scripture. It is found in Psalm 51, and that explains a lot of what Paul was saying.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Psalm 51:4 NKJV

David was certainly, at this time in his life, faithless. He sinned and tried to cover it up. But when he was confronted by God through His prophet, David admitted, confessed, agreed with the truth of God. God was right, His verdict was right and justified; therefore, His judgment was received. David stopped making excuses at this point and accepted (not that God gave Him much choice) God’s judgment as true, and himself as a liar! The king of Israel, a liar! There’s that “every man a liar” proof! If the greatest king of Israel, outside of Jesus, can be a liar, and admit it, then the rest of us need to quit!

God is true! And every psychologist, doctor, pastor, politician, teacher, and individual who speaks contrary to what He says about anything, is a liar! It’s just that simple! Wonderful Jesus!