3:3-4 What does Paul mean by what he says here?
3:3-4 What does Paul mean by what he says here?
What Paul means in effect here is that if God's promises are not being fulfilled in our lives, then it is not God's fault.
We had best examine ourselves to ensure that we are in the place where God would have us to be to appropriate the promises (CP 2Cor 13:5). God entrusted His word to the Jews (CP Ro 3:1-2).
But they did not exercise faith to believe it and so could not appropriate any of the promises (CP He 4:2-6).
We are admonished in scripture not to let the same thing happen to us (CP He 3:7-12, 19; 4:1, 11). Without faith it is impossible to please God (CP He 11:6).
God will always be found to be true to His word; though we may not believe, God is faithful, and His word will never fail (CP Nu 23:19; De 7:9; Josh 21:45; 23:14; 1Ki 8:56; Psa 31:19; 89:34; Isa 55:10-11; 1Cor 1:9; 2Cor 1:19-20; 2Ti 2:13; Tit 1:2; He 10:23).
No one can ever say that God's word does not work, but God has obligated Himself only to fulfill His promises in those who without wavering exercise faith to believe He will perform His word (CP Mt 7:7-8; 21:21-22; Mk 11:22-24; Jas 1:5-8)
The phrase, "as it is written: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged," is a paraphrase of King David's confession in Psa 51 (CP Psa 51:4).
In the context of Ro 3:4 Paul uses it simply to affirm that God's word will always prove to be true no matter who questions it. (See also comments on Mt 21:17-22; Jn 14:12-14, 15:7; 2Cor 1:19-20 and 1Jn 5:14-15, and author's studies Faith.
Confessing God's Word and Healing in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith, Psalm 91 in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), Making the Impossible Possible and A Daily Confession for Christians in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).