Romans 3:5

Romans 3:5 says, But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance, (I speak as a man) I believe Paul here is addressing the concept that since our sins prove the righteousness of God, then God has no right to punish us for our sins.  The argument seemed to be if the unbelief of the Jew led to the gospel going to the Gentiles, then how could God be upset with the Jews.  We need to be wary of ever getting the idea that we, especially as followers of Christ, can sin because God has provided us with salvation and since that is true, He is glorified further by our future sins.  Our unrighteousness may point others to Christ, but this does not mean that God is unfair in punishing our sin.  Paul said even as a carnal man he recognized that the concept that our sin somehow ultimately glorifies God and is therefore acceptable is wrong.  We can never justify our sins, even if they lead to the glory of God ultimately.  Verse six adds, God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?  Paul again makes a strong declaration that God forbid such thinking.  If we believe that our sins are simply another way of bringing honor to God because He shows greater forgiveness, and this is true, then God really couldn't judge the world.  This leads to the idea that everyone is ultimately going to be saved, no matter what, because this proves the glory of God.  Paul stated very strongly that this was not the case.  We can never justify sin as being a way to show the glory of God.  Verse seven continues, For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?  Paul asks how he could be judged a sinner if his lies led to the truth of God.  Even if lies that we present about God ultimately lead to showing the truth of His forgiveness, we will still be held accountable for our sins.  Only through the truth of accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord can we find forgiveness.  Verse eight concludes this thought stating, And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. There may be people today who make false claims about what Christianity proclaims, but we need to be quick to point out the errors and stand firmly on the world of God.  We can never let it be said that we are free to sin so we can bring glory to God.