5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. Romans 3:5-8
This whole aside is Paul anticipating and answering the objection that his teaching actually calls into question the very holiness and purity of God’s character.
I like how John MacArthur talks about this broken rationale that the Lord is somehow made more righteous when we sin all the more. They would say that it is like a jeweler setting a diamond on black velvet to make the stone appear even more beautiful. When Paul says he “talks in a human way”, he is just paraphrasing the weak logic of his opponents. They simply have unregenerate minds that are simple in natural rationale rather than seeing the supernatural truth of God’s gift; yet also fruit of repentance and the transformed heart that produces a desire for righteousness, where the power of the Gospel helps one stay on the path to pursuing it.
Looking to the judgement, Paul’s argument continues in that if God condoned sin, He would have no position or righteous basis for passing judgement.
Finally, the most awful thing is that Paul’s message of the gospel that is Salvation by grace through faith alone had been so perverted by his critics, who argued it provided not only a license to sin, but outright encouragement to sin.
APPLICATION
One of the things that the Lord has solidified in me since becoming a believer, Christ follower, and devoted disciple of Jesus, is the simple truth that you better check the genuineness of your Salvation if you are not becoming more and more like Christ everyday…not only that but desiring to do so out of the sheer gratitude of the price He paid on YOUR behalf….sins you should be punished for…for all eternity. This love of Jesus drives us not to earn our spot in heaven…no, He has already secured that for us…it drives us to want to glorify Him and honor Him with the lives He has graciously allowed us to live here on earth before He returns or takes us home.