Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Paul starts here with an argument that man would have. If God uses my unrighteousness to demonstrate His righteousness, how can God rightly judge man? Ultimately, we see the sin of man contributing to the glory of God. How could salvation be seen without the backdrop of condemnation? Does God who is in control of everything and even directs the wicked, use man as pawns? To illustrate this look at Judas. He is the son of perdition. He was chosen for this role in God’s creation. Was Judas forced into this role? No, Judas betrayed Jesus of his own will. He made the choice to give Christ up. He chose to betray Him. The choice of Judas led to the cross which led to the glorification of God. He will use sinful man and even the devil to accomplish His will.
Those of Paul’s time waited for the coming of God in vengeance to judge the wicked. Some would see that glory to God came from the sinful acts of man and use this as an occasion to sin. Pual did not support this thought. If God gets glory from sin, why is that sin judged? God must judge sin, even the sin that accomplishes His will and purpose. Those who sinned are responsible for those actions. Just as Judas, they chose to perform those acts. Paul would be accused of preaching too much freedom. Some saw the liberty Paul saw in Christ as an occasion to sin. These did not understand the intimate relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep. Paul would then say for those who teach an occasion for sin so that glory may abound, their damnation is just. We can never look at sin in this way. Yes, we have a Savior, but that does not give us an occasion to sin. We all choose sin and therefore all deserve judgment. That is a hard concept to admit for some, but sinners deserve condemnation. Mercy and grace are our escape from the wrath of God. Christ alone is our hope.