Wednesday 5th June

Another hot sunny day in prospect. Indeed it has turned out to be a scorcher. M and I took Matthew for a walk through Challex. We stopped off at the auberge for a drink - i had a small (very) beer and M had a cappuccino. they don't seem very friendly towards the English.

We looked at some of the houses down the hill, especially a deserted and run-down place which has an excellent view of the valley. I can't understand why it is in the state it is.

Matthew had a difficult day today. He was fine when we took him for a walk but during the afternoon, he cried a lot. It seemed as though it was a cry of pain but once we put him in his chair and rocked him, he soon went to sleep. Becky then gently carried him down to his cot.

I went for a walk at around 4:30 along the road towards Dardagny and sat quietly watching the planes coming in to land at Geneva airport. In the evening we went to the auberge for a meal with Andrew. Becky stayed behind to work and look after Matthew.

Romans 3:1-8 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:“So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? I am using a human argument. Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just! 

One of those difficult passages from Paul using his legal jargon. He seems to be saying that the Jews have the advantage of having been entrusted with God's law in he first place. However, they have not been good ambassadors and have given a poor example of what it means to be God's people. He has his first swipe at antinomianism by arguing that our sinfulness is no excuse. It simply highlights the need for God to be righteous in his condemnation. However, he seems to make a lot of the wrathfully nature of God in his arguments. Perhaps he is building up his case for the grace of God seen in Christ - another legal ply.