Romans Series 7

Josh Owens

Clear Springs Baptist Church

Romans • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

Romans 3

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Sinfulness & Righteousness

Text: Romans 3:9-19

Introduction

We are continuing to dive into the thought of justification by faith (theme of next two chapters).

Don’t overlook this chapter!!! Some have called it the “seedbed” for the remaining book of Romans.

Main idea for the first twenty verses: No one is righteous before God. There is a worldwide despairing need for salvation of the soul.

In the first eight verses of the chapter, Paul anticipates and answers some objections he knows chapter 2 may have provoked among those in the Roman church who are from a Jewish background. These objections are not critical to Paul’s argument, and they may not be objections we often hear raised today. But Paul was a great evangelist, and we see him here placing himself in his listeners’ shoes, respecting them enough to think hard about how they would be responding to his teaching… Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 65.

Paul has been leading us to the conclusion that “all is under sin.”

Quote: To be “under sin” is a legal term; we are citizens of sin. It is as though we all have a spiritual passport, which shows our legal citizenship. It is either stamped Under sin or Under grace. Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 66.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN…everyone is as sinful as the other, but everyone has the same legal condition. Everyone has the same degree of lostness.

NOW…let’s allow Paul to describe to us how sin has affected all of humanity…

SINFULNESS OF MAN

1) To What Extent Does Sin Impact Me?

A. Your legal standing (v10)

There is not one person who God deems legally righteous.

There are no amount of deeds you can do to change that.

B. Your mind (v11)

Ephesians 4:18 “18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

The unbeliever’s hard heart is what leads someone to further embrace ignorance.

However, the further one goes in ignorance, the harder the heart will become.

This is why it is so important for parents to bring their children to church.

People throughout the world are often pictured as seeking God through the various paths offered by different religions. Paul would not agree. It is true that they may be seeking some sort of religious experience, but that is not at all the same as seeking God. Scriptures teach that it is God who takes the initiative. He is the one who seeks us; not the other way around. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 108–109.

C. Your motives (v11)

Paul is not talking about an “accidental” omission, but rather a deliberate turning away from God.

No one left to their selves truly desires the one true God.

Illustration: Adam and Eve are the first example of running away from God.

God took the initiative and they surrendered in repentance.

D. Your will (v12)

You easily hear the prophet Isaiah’s words here: Isaiah 53:6 “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Self-determination (choosing their own path) is what you and I used to desire most.

Even today, believers can allow this fight to rise back up (not in a positional sense, but a sanctifying sense)

Christians today have not let the truth of “God dwelling in them” to really sink in.

E. Your Tongue (v13-14)

Question: What does deceitful, poisonous, bitter, and cursing words define about someone’s position? What are sinful words a sign of?

Why does a person live a life full of lies?

God provided us with the gift of communication so that we may honor and praise our Creator. We tend to take the gift and place it in the service of our own sinful nature. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 109.

Others understand the expression as a reference to the deadly effects of the psalmist’s enemies. Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 109.

Matthew 12:34 “34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

F. Your relationships (15-17)

In a more often prevalent way, you will push down anyone getting in your way.

Why do we become angry with people? Because they have blocked us from access to an idol—they have compromised our comfort, or prevented a promotion, or made us feel out of control, or are enjoying a relationship we feel we need Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 68.

There comes a point when evil overreaches.

You will not experience continual peace with others outside turning to God.

The unbeliever live with a “dim vision” of what can satisfy them.

G. Your relationship to God (v18)

No reverential fear of God

VERSE 19 — The law left them in a defenseless position to argue for personal righteousness.

The law demands effort while Jesus demands faith.

The law of God is always present.

What we are in need of is something that is stronger than the law of God; faith in Christ’s power.

Illustration: Gravity has been proven to be a law. However, if you ask a bird if he knew about Newton’s law, he would reply, “I have never heard of the man.” He then continues on flying. The ability he has been given is stronger than the law of gravity.

Final thoughts before the next section of thought:

Many will say: Paul has gone too far here. I know many people who aren’t Christians and who don’t go to church—but they pray, and they think hard; they are searching profoundly for the truth. And then there are people in other religions, too. And after all, I was once a seeker, and I found God! Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 69.

But Paul isn’t saying: No one seeks for spiritual blessings or No one seeks God to answer their prayers or No one is seeking to have spiritual power or peace or experiences. He does not say these things because many, many people do them. What Paul is saying is: No one, prompted by their own decision and acting in their own ability, wants to find God. Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 69.

Someone might have an intellectual interest in the possibility of God, or a philosophical conviction that there is a God. But that is not a real passion to meet with God. In fact, both can be a way of avoiding meeting the real God—if we can keep him in the realm of intellectual argument or philosophical construct, we can keep ourselves from having to deal with the objective reality of the true God. Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 69.

As we are getting ready to learn, God is in not way trying to hide from anyone! THERE IS HOPE FOR EVERYONE!!!

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (v.21-31)

1) Righteousness comes through Christ

VERSES 21-23

Remember what Paul said in 1:17?

Paul was not ashamed at all to build a case against all people concerning their sinfulness due to Jesus providing a universal salvation.

Illustration: When you apply for a job, you send your resume which lists all your qualifying accomplishments.

The Law stripes every from man’s resume that he attempts to propose to God for Him to accept him.

Question: What is the origin of the righteousness of God?

That means it is received NOT EARNED!

It depends on faith, not merit.

Question: What made the “good news” new?

It was a plan no one could think of that would exclude their own sinful contribution.

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