Why? Evil Reveals Glory.

“But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say?” (Romans 3:5 ESV).

This verse from Romans is often cited in discussions about the existence of sin and God's sovereignty. It suggests that even our unrighteousness can serve a greater purpose in demonstrating God's righteousness.

If God is all-powerful, why does sin exist? This is a typical argument of a humanist or unbeliever. It is also a reason many will not share the gospel. When we share the gospel, there is an inherent fear that someone will ask a question we cannot answer. Well, just like everything else in the world, if we do not know the answer, we do not lie about it but search to find the answer.

So, where is the answer? If we are all sinners, did not God create sin? We try to save God from this question because we forget God's sovereignty. All through the Bible, we see God use evil for His purposes. God did not create evil, but God did ordain all things. God willed evil for his glory, and sin is a part of His divine plan.

We see this idea in the Westminster Confession. Chapter 3: Of God’s Eternal Decree, we read:

1)      “God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

God ordains all things and, in willing sin, will use it for His glory alone. We know this fact because it is also written in the Westminster Confession:

Chapter 5 Of Providence:

1)      God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

Our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God. In the Greek, Sunistémi (συνίστημι), demonstrates or discloses the righteousness of God. Paul wrote this to show the sinfulness of Israel resulted in the revealing of the righteousness of God. The sinfulness of Israel did not damage the righteousness of God, nor does ours. However, it is because of our keen awareness of the weight of our sins that we can see the immense glory of God.

In Romans 5:8, Paul wrote, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If it were not for sin, we would not have a need for the gospel. God would not have displayed his righteousness through Christ's death and resurrection, revealing the depth of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

In Romans 9:22, “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?” God has and will demonstrate his glory in his wrath against sin. God will use evil to display his glory and righteousness from everything he ordained.

If someone questions God's righteousness, here is your answer. God wills and ordains all things and uses them to display his glory. That is an open door to the gospel!

Grace and Peace!