Questions And Answers Series

b. In modern vernacular we might say, “You’ve got to be kidding!” or “That’s just stupid!”

5. We must keep in mind that sin is always sinful.

a. There is no such thing as a good sin.

b. Sin is the reason that Jesus had to come to earth and suffer on Calvary.

c. There’s nothing good about sin, it is evil through and through.

6. The fact that God is able to bring something good out of someone’s sin doesn’t make sin good.

a. The fact that God can bring good things out of bad choices doesn’t turn stupidity into wisdom.

b. The ends don’t justify the means.

c. Sin is always sinful and deserves judgment.

7. Paul’s conclusive answer to this question is that if this were the case, that sin is justified as long as it results in good, then God would not be able to judge anyone.

a. Paul adds a parenthesis noting that some people have accused Paul of teaching this very thing: “let’s us do evil that good may result.”

b. Paul concludes that the condemnation of people who think that way is well deserved.

H. So what important lessons can we apply to our lives from today’s section?

1. Let me offer two.

I. First of all, from today’s section, we learn an important lesson about God’s faithfulness.

1. The Jews may have misunderstood the nature of God’s faithfulness, but they were correct to believe that whatever He has promised He will do.

2. We can depend on God to carry out, to the letter, every promise He has made to us.

3. One thing we have to be careful about is thinking that every promise in the Bible is for us.

a. In fact, there are many promises in the Bible that are made to a specific group or a specific individual that are not made to everyone, and so we must be careful to make that distinction.

b. God promised to give to Abraham a lot of land and a lot of offspring (Gen. 12:1-3), but God does not give that promise of land and children to everyone.

c. God promised to give King Hezekiah an additional 15 years of life, when he was sick and about to die (Is. 38:5), but God does not do that for all of us.

4. But God gives so many great promises that do apply to us.

a. Like the promises of eternal life and abundant life being found in His Son.

b. Or the promise that if we seek first His kingdom, we will have what we need (Mt. 6:33).

c. Or the great promise we will get to later in Romans 8:28 about how God can work all things for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

d. Or God’s great promise in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

5. In an uncertain world, we have a certain God and the certainty of God’ promises.

6. In a world without foundations, we have the rock-solid foundation of a promise keeping God.

7. I love words of the old hymn:

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

J. Secondly, from today’s section, we learn an important lesson about false security.