21st August 2026

21st August 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 3:4-5)


Message (Alan Burke)


At the time of the Jews, God’s righteousness was tied to his commitment to His covenant. Think of it like this: God has said he’d do it, so it’s guaranteed because God said it. God said He would deliver His people; therefore, that deliverance was guaranteed by the fact of God’s own righteousness. Therefore, why not sin more then? Our unrighteousness makes God look even better, and God is unjust for bringing wrath on us. They forget that God is a righteous God, and because of it, He is also wrathful. To be righteous, He must deal with sin; it is a manifestation of His goodness that He deals with sin, that there are consequences for sin. 


The same kind of thinking and argument is used today; it might sound a little bit different, but it is the same premise. “God’s love isn’t he? He’s good, he hates sin, but he loves the sinner and he loves him unconditionally.” This attitude among many is that their sin doesn’t matter to God; it just shows how loving God is. Sadly, there are many so-called ministers and teachers who send people to hell happily, who are happy to preach a universalism, that everyone goes to heaven. What they preach isn’t based on the teaching of scripture; it’s just that they don’t like the concept of hell. Jesus himself, when speaking of the final judgement in Matthew 25, said he will separate people, one from another, sheep from goats; those who have rejected Him face the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25). 


Paul is addressing the wrong view of grace among some, surmised in v8 “Let us do evil that good may result”. There is a more modern theological term for this objection because sadly it is one that is repeated throughout the history of the church, but it is a failure to understand and appreciate the purpose and place of the law of God in the life of his people, whether that was the Jews of whom Paul spoke here or if it is us today. The theological term is antinomianism; it is named after a 16th-century sect, but it is the same issue that Paul was dealing with here in this argument. For the believer, one who has understood the gospel of God, who has tasted union with Jesus Christ Himself, then it leads to a new love and obedience to the law of God. An obedience that comes from faith (1:5). There is a reason why we are told in James faith without works is dead, because if that obedience is not seen in our lives, then we can try to fool ourselves, but even the dogs on the street can see something doesn’t add up. 


For anyone who thinks that falsehood enhances God’s faithfulness, that our sin shows God’s grace all the more, then there is an issue. Salvation is a matter of the head and heart; we believe it, we know it, we respond to it. Antinomianism shows that the heart has not understood the truth of the gospel and not responded to it.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q45 Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
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