Even so, God is faithful even when His people are not. A Christian may spend His life often contrary to the law, yet, because of that Christian's faith in Christ, God will save them according to His own righteousness.

"What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Rom. 3:3-4).

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Paul signifies three ways by which faith can save a person:

(1) by faithful obedience (Rom. 1:4-5; Rom. 1:16)

(2) by God's faithfulness (Rom. 3:1-4)

(3) by Christ's faithfulness (Rom. 3:21-22, 25-26)

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(1) Some Christians and Jews are justified by their faithful obedience

(2) Some unfaithful Jews are justified by God's faithfulness, despite themselves, apart from the law, because they are Jews*

(3) Some Christians are justified by Christ's faithfulness, despite themselves, apart from the law, because of their faith in Christ*

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*These two exceptions mirror what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 20, i.e. the "laborers in the vineyard" parable.

At the end of Matthew 19, the disciples ask Christ,

"'Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But (and this is the important point) many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." (Matthew 19:27-30).

Jesus then immediately goes on to relate the "laborers in the vineyard" parable in order to drive home His point (Matt. 20), that even those who do not have works shall be justified by their faith in Jesus Christ, despite themselves. Why? For God's glory:

"...to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous" ... "Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true."

God can and will justify sinful people on the day of judgment simply because of their faith, but, as Paul warns, it is nevertheless folly to say, "Let us do evil so that good may come," or, "should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?" To those who justify themselves with such rationale, Paul says, "their condemnation is deserved."

(2) Some unfaithful Jews are justified by God's faithfulness, despite themselves, apart from the law, because they are Jews*

Christianity is so ridiculous. 🙄

Originally posted by epiphinehas
Even so, God is faithful even when His people are not. A Christian may spend His life often contrary to the law, yet, because of that Christian's faith in Christ, God will save them according to His own righteousness.

"What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a l ...[text shortened]... s with such rationale, Paul says, "their condemnation is deserved."