Romans Part Four
II. The Need for the Righteousness of God
D. The Need of the Whole Word 3:9-20
1. The charge against the world vs. 9
2. The indictment against world vs. 10-18
3. The world’s defense vs. 19a
4. The verdict against the world vs. 19b-20
E. Justification is by faith alone. 3:21 – 5:21
Verse 9 continues the back and forth of objection and answer. In part three Paul used this style to show “The Need of the Jew 2:17-3:8”;
1. His law cannot make him righteous 2:17-24
2. His circumcision cannot make him righteous 2:25-27
3. His birth cannot make him righteous 2:28-29
4. His arguments cannot make him righteous 3:1-8
So, we have come to the question raised in verse 9.
Objection: Are you saying then, that we Jews are better than the Gentiles?
Answer: Not at all --- both Jew and Gentile are guilty of sin.
This leads up to the next question in Paul’s presentation. He has shown that the heathen are lost; the self-righteous moralist, whether Jew or Gentile, are lost; the Jews are lost. Now he turns to the question, “Are all men lost?”
Vs. 10 --- If further proof is needed, that proof in found in the Old Testament (Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccl. 7:20). First we see that sin has affected everyone born of human parents (10-13) and then we see that sin has affected every part of a man (13-18). We can correctly summarize by saying, “There is not a single righteous person.”
Vs. 11 --- If left to himself, fallen man would never seek God. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit than anyone ever does.
Vs. 12 --- All have gone astray from God. All mankind has become corrupt. There is no one who lives a righteous life.
Vs. 13 --- Man’s speech has been consistently deceitful. His words are like poison……
Vs. 14 --- Cursing and bitterness flow from our mouths.
Vs. 15 --- Isa. 59:7 says that our feet are swift to carry us on missions of murder.
Vs. 16 --- we bring destruction and misery into the world
Vs. 17 --- we don’t know how to make peace……..
Vs. 18 --- we have not real respect for God……..
This, then, is God’s MRI of the human race --- it reveals universal unrighteousness --- ignorance and independence toward God --- waywardness, unprofitability and lack of any goodness --- Man’s throat if full of rottenness, his tongue is deceitful, his lips are venomous --- his mouth is full of swearing --- his feet are bent of murder --- he leaves behind trouble and destruction where he goes --- he doesn’t know how to make peace --- and worst of all he has no regard for God!!!
When we look at the world today what do we see;
The sins of sex --- adultery --- homosexuality --- lesbianism --- perversion --- prostitution --- rape --- lewdness --- pornography.
The sins of murder --- theft --- embezzlement --- vandalism --- graft --- corruption
The sins of the home --- unfaithfulness --- divorce ---- wife beating --- child abuse
And other personal sin like --- drug abuse --- drunkenness --- pride --- envy --- ingratitude --- filthy thought life --- racism --- broken promises --- and on and on and on.
Vs 19 --- When God gave the law to Israel, He was using Israel as a sample of the human race. He found that Israel was a failure, and He correctly applied this finding to all of humanity………
Vs 20 --- No one can be justified by keeping the law. The law was not given to justify people --- but to produce the knowledge of sin --- not the knowledge of salvation………
A thermometer will tell if a person has a fever --- but swallowing the thermometer will not cure it.
The law is good when it is used to produce conviction of sin but it is worthless as a savior from sin. Luther put it this way, “its function is not to justify but to terrify.”
So the conclusion of the matter in this; whether heathen, a moralist, Jew or Gentile; the world is lost because of sin….
Vs 21 -22–-- God shows us the way to salvation --- we are declared not guilty when we trust in Jesus to take away our sin. We are all saved in the same way no matter who we are or what we have done.
Vs 23 ---The beginning of the Roman Road is understanding verse 23. Everyone is in the same boat. None of us is without sin. Where then is our hope?
Vs. 24 – 26 --- Our only hope is in Jesus Christ who takes away our sin; faith --- true faith in Him is our salvation. Not because we deserve it or have earned it --- but because God love us enough to send His only begotten Son to suffer and die for us --- the commands of God under the law where fulfilled by cross of Calvary.
Vs. 27 – 31 --- If we are all sinners saved by faith through the mercy and grace of God, we must be careful not to consider ourselves to be somehow better than others who are in need of a savior. For once we too where without hope………..
Let us pray……