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Thus Paul did not teach antinomianism, and this is reinforced by the first two verses of
Rom. 6:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (after salvation), that grace may
abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
(Rom. 6: 1).
This being so, those who slandered the Apostle and misrepresented the gospel that he
preached, came under God's condemnation (damnation A.V.) and this condemnation was
just. They said in effect that Paul taught that doing evil was permissible if good came
from it (3: 8). This is a highly dangerous and deceptive statement that still creeps into
human affairs, and even into the religious world. How often do we hear that wrong doing
is allowable if some good springs from it? And there are some who do not hesitate to say
that even God can take this attitude in His purposes, that He wills evil in order to show up
His love and kindness in forgiveness!
Such slander comes perilously near blasphemy. We can be assured of one thing: a
thrice-holy God does not need to bring sin into His plans in order to further them and
bring them to a glorious conclusion. God may and does permit sin. The very fact that He
has made man a moral being allows this. He can also over-rule sin, but this is something
entirely different. God's permissive will must not be confused with His direct will.
Chapter 3: continues with another argument from the foregoing. If it is a great
advantage to belong to the nation of Israel, then surely Jews are superior to Gentiles?
The Apostle's answer is clear. Jews are sinners equally with Gentiles and in some
respects worse than them because of their greater enlightenment and failure, so from the
standpoint of sin and failing there is no difference:
"What then? are we (Jews) better than they (Gentiles)? No, in no wise: for we have
before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin" (3: 9).
This contrast with the opening verses of the chapter may be set out in this way:
A | 3: 1. What advantage and profit has Israel?
B | 2. Much every way--chiefly because God had given them
the revelation of the Word.
A | 9. Are we (Israel) then better than they Gentiles?
B | 3: 9. No, because Israel together with the Gentiles
are sinners and guilty before God.
This guilt, says the Apostle, is the verdict of Scripture and he goes on to cite six
passages to prove the point: