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“Let God be true, but every man a liar.”
That is the central declaration of this song, and it is the central issue of the Christian life:
Whose word will ultimately govern us—God’s, or man’s (including our own)?
Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
> Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
> For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
> God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
> That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”
> (Romans 3:1–4, KJV)
And again:
> “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory;
> why yet am I also judged as a sinner?”
> (Romans 3:7, KJV)
The song takes these questions and answers and puts them into simple, forceful language:
Every man a liar,
Words like fire.”
At the heart of this passage is a conflict of words:
This is not a minor point of doctrine. This is the dividing line between a life built on rock and a life built on sand (Matthew 7:24–27). The song is essentially a call to submit entirely to the truthfulness of God, even when that truth exposes our sin, our wrong thinking, and our excuses.
Romans is Paul’s great systematic exposition of the gospel. In chapters 1–3, he is demonstrating that the entire human race is guilty before God and in need of His righteousness, not our own.
### Who is speaking?
The apostle Paul is writing, but he is also reasoning with an imaginary Jewish objector. He anticipates the questions and protests a religious Jew might raise when confronted with the claim that all—Jew and Gentile alike—are under sin (Romans 3:9).
### What was the situation?
The early church was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Many Jewish believers struggled with the idea that their special status as God’s covenant people did not automatically make them righteous. They had:
So the questions naturally arise:
> “What advantage then has the Jew?
> Or what profit is there of circumcision?” (Romans 3:1)
Paul answers: there is advantage—“Much every way.” Chiefly this:
> “Because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Romans 3:2)
Israel had the greatest privilege any nation could have: they were entrusted with the Word of God—His “oracles,” His authoritative utterances.
But then another question arises:
> “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans 3:3)
In other words:
Paul’s answer is emphatic:
> “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)
After that, Paul confronts a twisted argument some might make:
“If our sin serves to show that God is righteous, if our lies highlight His truth, then surely we are helping God’s glory. How can He judge us if our sin is used to magnify His justice?”
This is the spirit behind verse 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?”
Paul calls this reasoning slander and condemns it (Romans 3:8). It is the human attempt to turn sin into a virtue by clever argument. The song captures this perverse logic in the line:
> “If my lies bring Him glory still
> Why am I judged for doing ill”
So the context is very clear:
“Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
### 1. “True” – Greek: *alēthēs* (ἀληθής)
The word translated “true” in Romans 3:4 is *alēthēs*. It means:
It is not just factual correctness. It is reliability of character. To say “Let God be *alēthēs*” is to say:
When the song says, “Let God be true,” it is echoing this:
Allow God’s character and His Word to be established as final reality—even when that reality contradicts our emotions, traditions, or reasoning.
### 2. “Liar” – Greek: *pseustēs* (ψεύστης)
“Every man a liar” uses the concept of *pseustēs*—one who speaks what is false, one who misrepresents reality.
Paul is not saying that every statement a human ever makes is factually incorrect. He is making a comparison:
man is the liar, God is the truth-teller.
This includes:
The song’s repetition, “Every man a liar,” confronts our pride. It demands that we acknowledge: whenever my reasoning contests God’s Word, I am the one who is wrong—even if my argument sounds religious or sophisticated.
This deepens the lyrics “Words like fire.” God’s words are not suggestions; they are judgments. They burn away falsehood.
> “Is not my word like a fire? saith the LORD;
> and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
When we say, “Let God be true,” we are inviting that fire to burn away the lies in us.
Let us walk through the themes in the lyrics and see how Scripture interprets Scripture.
### A. “What’s the advantage of being a Jew…”
> “What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
> Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Romans 3:1–2)
The song:
> “What’s the advantage of being a Jew
> What’s the value of circumcision too
> Yes there’s value—every way
> God’s word entrusted still holds sway”
Paul does not deny Israel’s privilege. He affirms it:
But observe this carefully:
Privilege does not equal righteousness.
Access to truth does not automatically produce obedience.
This is a warning to every Christian who has Bibles, sermons, podcasts, and teaching in abundance. We, too, have been entrusted with the Word. That is a great advantage—but it also increases our responsibility.
> “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” (Luke 12:48)
The song states, “God’s word entrusted still holds sway.”
That is correct theologically. The unfaithfulness of people does not overthrow the authority of the Word.
### B. “Does our faithlessness cancel His truth?”
> “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans 3:3)
The song:
> “Does our faithlessness cancel His truth
> No way no way
> Let God be true”
This addresses a vital point: Does human unbelief cancel God’s promises?
The phrase “faith of God” (*pistis tou Theou*) here speaks of God’s faithfulness—His covenant reliability. Paul is asking:
The answer: “God forbid” (*mē genoito*)—absolutely not. God’s character is not altered by man’s response. He remains true, faithful, righteous—even when His people are unfaithful.
> “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful:
> he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
However, understand this:
This is why Paul quotes Psalm 51:4:
> “That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings,
> and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:4)
When David repented of his sin, he said to God:
> “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
> that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
> and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalm 51:4)
David accepted God’s verdict against him. He agreed that God was right, and he was wrong. That is what it means, very practically, to say: “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
### C. “But if our sin shows God is just…”
> “But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say?
> Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)” (Romans 3:5)
The song:
> “But if our sin shows God is just
> How can He judge the world’s dark dust
> If my lies bring Him glory still
> Why am I judged for doing ill”
Here Paul exposes a deeply corrupt line of reasoning. It goes like this:
This is the twisted root of antinomianism—the idea that sin does not matter, or that grace somehow cancels moral obligation.
Paul’s answer is blunt:
> “God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” (Romans 3:6)
If God cannot judge sin because He overrules it for good, then He cannot judge anything at all. That would undermine His justice entirely.
Remember:
God can overrule evil for good (Genesis 50:20).
But that does not make the evil good.
It magnifies God’s sovereignty, not man’s sin.
### D. “Should we say evil makes good arise…”
> “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.” (Romans 3:8)
The song:
> “Should we say evil makes good arise
> No no no
> Let God be true”
Paul makes it plain: anyone who teaches or thinks:
is under a just condemnation.
So we must distinguish two things:
1. God can sovereignly use even sin and rebellion to display His righteousness and mercy.
2. That never gives us a license to sin, nor does it diminish personal responsibility.
When the song replies, “No no no,” it is echoing Paul’s refusal of this thinking. We must reject every theology, every teaching, every inward excuse that treats sin lightly in the name of grace.
Scripture speaks clearly:
> “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
> God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
> (Romans 6:1–2)
To say, “Let God be true,” therefore includes this:
### E. “Words like fire”
This phrase is not directly in Romans 3, but it perfectly describes the nature of God’s Word in Scripture:
> “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
> and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
> “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
> piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
> and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Fire does three things:
1. It purifies what is genuine.
2. It consumes what is false.
3. It reveals what is really there.
When we submit to God’s Word as absolute truth, we allow that fire to:
This is part of spiritual warfare. The main battleground is not outside; it is in the mind and the heart.
> “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
> to the pulling down of strong holds;
> Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
> and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
> (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)
Every time we say, “Let God be true,” we are pulling down a stronghold of human reasoning that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
To simply admire this truth is not enough. We must apply it. Here are four specific responses.
### 1. Submit your thinking to Scripture
First, we must bring our thoughts under the authority of the Word of God.
This means practically:
You can make this a daily practice:
Open Scripture, read, and consciously say, “Lord, You are true. If I think differently, I am wrong. Correct me.”
### 2. Repent of “theology as excuse”
Second, we must repent of using theology or clever arguments to excuse sin.
In Romans 3, the problem is not raw pagan rebellion. It is religious reasoning trying to make sin respectable:
Yes, God can glorify Himself through our weakness and failure. But we must never twist that truth to justify disobedience.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have:
Then confess it as sin, not as sophistication.
### 3. Actively agree with God against yourself
Third, we must actively take God’s side against ourselves—just as David did in Psalm 51.
When the Word exposes your sin, your wrong attitudes, your unbelief, do not argue, do not soften it, do not blame others. Say:
“Lord, You are right. I am wrong. I agree with Your judgment.”
That is what it means in practice: “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
You silence your own self-defence and accept God’s verdict.
This is the gateway to deep deliverance. Many remain bound because they continually defend themselves against God’s conviction. When you stop defending yourself and start agreeing with God, His power begins to work in you.
### 4. Use proclamation in spiritual warfare
Fourth, we must use spoken proclamation to align ourselves with divine truth.
The tongue is a rudder. It directs the ship (James 3:4–5). When you confess God’s Word aloud, you:
In situations of confusion, accusation, or temptation, speak words like these:
> “Let God be true in this situation, and every man a liar.
> God’s Word is final authority here.”
This is not mindless repetition. It is warfare. You are choosing God’s verdict over every contrary voice—whether from the devil, from people, or from your own soul.
### Proclamation
Say this aloud, thoughtfully, as an act of faith:
> I affirm today that the God of the Bible is true.
> His Word is final, unchanging, and absolutely reliable.
> I renounce every thought, opinion, tradition, and emotion that contradicts the written Word of God.
> I declare: Let God be true, and every man a liar—even when that man is myself.
> I submit my mind, my conscience, and my will to the authority of Scripture.
> I refuse to use grace as an excuse for sin.
> I refuse to twist doctrine to justify disobedience.
> I agree with God’s verdict on sin, righteousness, and judgment.
> I receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus for all my past sin.
> I receive the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience.
> God is true. His words are like fire.
> Let His word burn away every lie in me.
> In Jesus’ name, Amen.
### Prayer
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
You are the God of truth. There is no deception in You. Your judgments are right, and all Your ways are just.
I acknowledge before You that many times I have trusted my own reasoning more than Your Word. I have excused myself where You have condemned sin. I have argued inwardly when Your Spirit has convicted me.
Today I lay down my arguments. I stop defending myself. I choose to agree with You.
Let You be true, and every man a liar. Let Your Word be fire in my heart—burning away pride, self-justification, and compromise.
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. Expose every lie I have believed—about You, about myself, about sin, about righteousness. Replace those lies with Your truth.
I confess Jesus Christ as Lord, the living Word made flesh. I submit to His authority over every area of my life. I ask You, Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to guide me into all truth, to empower me to obey, and to make the Word of God living and active in me.
Father, I thank You that Your faithfulness is not cancelled by human unfaithfulness. You remain true. Anchor me in that truth, and use me as a witness to Your righteousness in this generation.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
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