What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?

Romans 3:3 (NIV)

Paul asks this rhetorical question in Romans 3:3 about those Jews who did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah. That, therefore, is the context of this verse. Paul’s rhetorical argument about God’s faithfulness and how a lack of unbelief has no bearing on it. Although the context of Romans 3:3 deals with the Jews and their unbelief about the Messiah, we can apply the premise of God’s faithfulness elsewhere. Indeed, as Paul said to Timothy:

If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)

In the book of Exodus, we read this mandate about how personal injuries are to be handled.

But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Exodus 21:23-25 (NIV)

Although we might find this law barbaric, and indeed Jesus changed it, it’s something we often entertain in our minds without realizing it. Unfortunately, we apply it to ourselves when we have been unfaithful. That’s to say when we sin. The “bigger” the sin, the more we’re likely to apply this law from Exodus to God’s faithfulness. Again, I don’t think we go through a thought process where we say, “Since I sinned, God isn’t going to do this or that thing that he said he was going to do.” Still, when we’re counting on God to do something, and it doesn’t happen as we expect or something unexpected suddenly happens (something “bad”), we might think, “What have I done?” or “This is because I did or didn’t do that thing.”

When we have such thoughts, there are two things we should do. First, we should remember verses like 2 Timothy 2:13 that remind us that God is faithful even when we are not. Second, we should turn to 1 John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

If, when something happens or doesn’t happen as we hope or expect and our minds tell us it’s because of some sin, we need to repent of that sin. However, if we have already repented of that sin, we still need to go back to 1 John 1:9 because it, too, like 2 Timothy 2:13 and Romans 3:3, reminds us that God is faithful.

When we turn to 1 John 1:9, we don’t do so because God isn’t faithful until we repent of our sins. No, we remember 1 John 1:9 because we have been reminded of our sin and must repent for it. For the sake of our conscience and to assure ourselves that we are in the right fellowship with the Lord.

As Christians, we are saved by grace. However, our sins can and will disrupt our fellowship with God. Consider the context of this devotion today. What was it about? It was about God’s faithfulness when we are unfaithful. Specifically, when something doesn’t go our way, we think it’s because of our sin. If we have such thoughts, we see the impact of corruption in our relationship with the Lord because we doubt his faithfulness by basing it on our own.

However, I’ve recently written that we should focus on Jesus, not sin. This doesn’t mean we ignore the sin in our lives. It does mean that when we sin, we repent and move on, knowing that God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Do you know the Lord? If you don’t know God, then know that God knows you and loves you. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance so they can spend eternity with him. If you want to know God and be saved from your sins, then pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I sincerely repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe you died on the cross and were buried, and God the Father raised you from the dead on the third day. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.