God's Sovereignty Over Evil: Never Justify Wrong Means

Paul's rebuke in Romans 3:8 addresses a dangerous rationalization: "Let us do evil that good may come." The apostle dismisses this principle with unmistakable abhorrence, yet the underlying theological truth demands careful exposition.

Almighty God can and often does overrule evil actions toward His own glory and to cause bad means to conduce to a good end. The rejection of Messiah by the Jews, though sinful, illustrated God's justice in punishment and opened the gospel's way to the Gentiles—advancing His glory through their unbelief. The crucifixion itself, the greatest sin ever committed, was divinely overruled to become the means of humanity's redemption. The book of Esther declares God's wisdom in overruling Haman's pride and malice to His Church's good.

Yet this divine prerogative belongs to God alone. He who discerns the tendency of every action, who sees all things at one view, and who possesses all power, can easily outwit the craftiest designs and dispose them to wise purposes. His goodness equals His power and wisdom.

However—and Paul's intensity here cannot be overstated—it remains a detestable principle that unlawful means may be employed to achieve good ends. Such reasoning stands in open defiance to God and goodness, a flat contradiction to truth, reason, and Christianity itself. Only God governs affairs so as to bring good from evil. We mortals must obey His commandments, never presuming to justify our own disobedience by invoking His sovereignty.