But what if my untruth serves God's glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I still be condemned as a sinner?

God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.

(SEE 3:25)

For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope

that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God.

What shall we say, then, of Abraham, the father of our race? What was his experience?

What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase?

Shall we say, then, that the Law itself is sinful? Of course not! But it was the Law that made me know what sin is. If the Law had not said, "Do not desire what belongs to someone else," I would not have known such a desire.

As the scripture says, "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau."

Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all.

But you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so you are making your own punishment even greater on the Day when God's anger and righteous judgments will be revealed.

Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment.

So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

But who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, "Why did you make me like this?"

Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord."

" 'I, and I alone, am God; no other god is real. I kill and I give life, I wound and I heal, and no one can oppose what I do.

that I will sharpen my flashing sword and see that justice is done. I will take revenge on my enemies and punish those who hate me.

"Nations, you must praise the LORD's people--- he punishes all who kill them. He takes revenge on his enemies and forgives the sins of his people."

The righteous will be glad when they see sinners punished; they will wade through the blood of the wicked.

People will say, "The righteous are indeed rewarded; there is indeed a God who judges the world."

LORD, you are a God who punishes; reveal your anger!

You are the judge of us all; rise and give the proud what they deserve!

The LORD God tolerates no rivals; he punishes those who oppose him. In his anger he pays them back.

When he is angry, who can survive? Who can survive his terrible fury? He pours out his flaming anger; rocks crumble to dust before him.

Like a great rushing flood he completely destroys his enemies; he sends to their death those who oppose him.

God will do what is right: he will bring suffering on those who make you suffer,

with a flaming fire, to punish those who reject God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus.

and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Lord God Almighty, how great and wonderful are your deeds! King of the nations, how right and true are your ways!

I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "The judgments you have made are just, O Holy One, you who are and who were!

Then I heard a voice from the altar saying, "Lord God Almighty! True and just indeed are your judgments!"

Be glad, heaven, because of her destruction! Be glad, God's people and the apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her for what she did to you!

(I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.

I don't have to limit myself to these everyday examples, because the Law says the same thing.

My friends, I am going to use an everyday example: when two people agree on a matter and sign an agreement, no one can break it or add anything to it.