The Solution To Life's Biggest Problem

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Intro:The big problem, is sin….no matter what other problems you have that is why the church exists, we have a message that addresses the biggest problem of mankind…

It’s not financial, physical, relationship, it’s sin…

You don’t have to teach a child how to be a sinner, from a very early age….

Sin never leads into a fulfilled life

James 4

ILL: Plane running off the runway

God embraces this….you know….God knows you have sinned, and He is reaching out to you despite that, in fact He is the remedy to it…

Who did he choose?

What is the problem? God is holy, man is sinful

I. The Requests About Sin (1-9)

Question #1

The First Objection: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (Romans 3:1) Back at the end of chapter two Paul made the point that circumcision is inward, and not outward. It is not a ritual of the flesh, but the righteousness of the heart that God is looking for. Their argument is that if both Jews and Gentiles are lost sinners, then what is the advantage of being a Jew? The Answer: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2) The word oracles speaks of the supernatural utterances of God. The word God word was committed to the Jew. The word committed comes from "pisteuo" and means "to committ, put in trust with, to entrusted." The Jews were to be the custodians of God's Word (Deuteronomy 4:7-8, Psalm 147:19-20). Paul's argument is that the Jews have enjoyed a tremendous advantage because they had the word of God and that was the greatest advantage of all.

Question #2

The Second Objection: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Romans 3:3) The argument here is that since some have failed does that mean that God has cast away the entire Jewish nation? Has the failure of a few ruined it for all. In essence what they are asking is, Will Jewish unbelief cancel out the faithfulness of God? The Answer: 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 3:4) This is a strong and emphatic answer. The phrase God forbid is the strongest negative Greek expression and carries the idea of an absolute impossibility. The fact is that no one will ever be able to charge God with being unfaithful. If there is any untruth, it is on man's side.

The reason for the question. The thought is that God should have given a Gospel that man would have readily accepted, and that if man rejects the Gospel, then this makes God faulty and His Gospel invalid. • The reply to the question. "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 3:4). Paul's answer is very forceful. His language is very strong. The idea that God is deficient because man rejects the Gospel is absurd. This would make man's wisdom more than God's wisdom. Unbelief does not discredit God but it discredits man. Unbelief shows the stupidity of man not the stupidity of God. Unbelief does not make God a liar but it makes man a liar. Unbelief does not make God wrong (He is "justified in thy sayings," cp. Psalm 51:4); but it makes man wrong.

Struggling with Unbelief Do you struggle with unbelief? How do you know if you are struggling with it? The Bible provides us with answers. 1. Debating or questioning God's Word. Thoughts such as, "I don't know if that's true," begin to surface in our hearts. This is a strategic weapon of the devil. Satan said to Eve in Genesis 3, "Hath God said?" 2 Peter 3:4—And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2. Doubts of God's ability and power. Psalm 78:19, 20—Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 3. Departing or backsliding away from the Lord. Hebrews 3:12—Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 4. The Dulling and Deadening of your heart in spiritual matters. You become spiritually cold and hard and there is no desire to do spiritual things. Acts 19:9—But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 5. Disregarding evidence of God's truth and work. John 12:3—But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 6. Disputing or resisting the Holy Spirit's leading. Acts 7:51—Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Conviction is shunned; His leading and calling are ignored. 7. We are Defeated & Discomfited by our circumstances. Our problems overwhelm us to the point that we lose confidence in God's strength and ability. Matthew 14:31—And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 8. The Domination of fear, worry, and stress in our lives. Mark 4:40—And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 9. We Detest or hate God's messengers. Acts 7:54—When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Acts 7:57—Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, When these conditions are becoming evident in our lives, we are struggling with unbelief.

Question #3

The Third Objection: 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) This is a clever but unreasonable argument. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God. Their argument is that their disobedience gives God an opportunity to show his righteousness. Therefore, their sin was really a good thing. Talk about Scripture twisting! This an argument much like the idea of situation ethics which says if the end justifies the means it's OK. The Answer: God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? (Romans 3:6) Paul's answer is an emphatic no! God is the judge of all the world. For God to be a just God, He must punish sin. God is no respecter of persons and He will judge all the lost justly.

The reason for the question. The issue here is that if the sinfulness of man causes God to be glorified through saving sinful man, does that not condemn God for judgment upon sin? After all, the question argues, if it wasn't for sin, God would not be able to be glorified in the saving of souls. • The reply to the question. "God forbid" (Romans 5:6). Paul's answer is again forceful. The reply focuses on two issues in the question. First, it stops God's judgment. "Then how shall God judge the world?" (Romans 3:6). If sin honored God then God obviously could not judge sin—which is exactly what man wants and this has more to do with this stupid objection than anything else. Second, it slanders God's servant. "As we be slanderously reported... Let us to evil, that good many come" (Romans 3:8). The rationale of this argument would logically say Paul in preaching the Gospel was only encouraging folk to sin that God would be glorified in saving them. This perverted thinking is typical of a Christ-rejecting world that is desperately trying to come up with an argument to justify their unbelief. But Paul gets in the final word with "whose damnation is just" (Romans 4:8). Christ-rejecters may invent many reasons for their rejection, but when it is all said and done, their "damnation" will be justified. Eternal hell is their justified destiny.

Question #4

The Fourth Objection: 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) Here the claim is made that the truth of God is exalted when contrasted to man's lies. Again, they are trying to justify their sins on the basis that God is glorified through the forgiveness of sin. The Answer: 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) Paul branded as slanderous the reports that he advocated such a position that good comes from doing evil. Paul concludes that those who were spreading such lies were deserving of the damnation they had coming.

The reason for the question. The Jews were given spiritual privileges which were not given the Gentiles. This caused the Jews to look down upon the Gentiles with scorn and consider them inferior. "Abraham is our father" (John 8:39) was their pride filled identification of themselves. • The reply to the question. "No, in no wise; for we have before proved [that] both Jews and Gentiles... are all under sin" (Romans 3:9). Paul's answer was again forceful with the "No, in no wise." The Gospel message does not favor the Jew or Gentile. They are both (as Paul had proven) in the same boat of sin and it is sinking fast. Unless they (Jew or Gentile) turn to Christ they will be lost for eternity.

Isaiah 55:11 NKJV

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Matthew 24:35 NKJV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

I. The Reach Of Sin-(10-18)

Romans 3:10–18 NKJV

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

1. The Popularity of Wickedness (Romans 3:10-12) By popularity we mean the universalness of sinning. All people are sinners. Some may evidence it more than others, but all are equally sinners before God. From the fact of sin to the results of sin, "all" (Romans 3:12) people are included. • The inclusion of all in wickedness. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one... there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:10, 12). "No, not one" is repeated to emphasize the inclusion of all people as sinners. All may not have sinned to the same degree, but all have sinned. A dog is a dog regardless of how much he barks. • The indictment of all in wickedness. Some of the details of man's sinfulness is spoken of here. And it includes all mankind. First, the sense is bad. "There is none that understandeth" (Romans 3:11). This is speaking of spiritual knowledge. Natural man does not understand the things of God—just listen to them talk about spiritual things—they sound like dunces. They may be in high worldly positions, but spiritually they are in the dark. "The world by wisdom knew not God" (I Corinthians 1:21). Sin darkens spiritual understanding. Second, the seeking is bad. "There is none that seeketh after God" (Romans 3:11). Natural man is not interested in God. Sin makes us want to leave God, not approach God—Adam and Eve tried to hide from God after their sin; they did not seek God (Genesis 3:8). Third, the steps are bad. "They are all gone out of the way" (Romans 3:12). Man naturally turns to evil not to good. "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6). • The inflicting of all by wickedness. "They are together become unprofitable" (Romans 3:12). The word translated "unprofitable" means "to make useless, to render unserviceable" (Thayer). Sin promises so much but what it does is ruin and make one useless—thus worthless. 2. The Pollution of Wickedness (Romans 3:13-15) After showing that all peoples were guilty of wickedness, Paul then shows some of the corrupt facets of wickedness. • Corrupt in communications. "Their throat... tongues... lips... mouth" (Romans 3:13, 14). Wickedness is manifested by man's speech. "An open sepulchre" (Romans 3:13). Foul speech stinks like an opened grave. "Deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips" (Romans 3:13). Foul speech is too often false speech and filthy speech that poisons the mind with the filth of sin. "Full of cursing and bitterness" (Romans 3:14). The word "bitterness" speaks of "bitter hatred" (Thayer) in speech and amplifies cursing. Society is full of cursing, even women and children spew profanity out of their mouth which shows great hatred of God. • Cruel in conduct. "Their feet are swift to shed blood" (Romans 3:15). The cruelty of wickedness is great indeed. First, the speed for cruelty. "Feet are swift to shed blood." Sinful man is quick to sin. He starts sinning early in life. A young unrestrained child quickly turns to evil. He will steal from his siblings and playmates. He will use his little fists to batter any child that does not please him. When they become adults, the speed continues. Second, the severity of the cruelty. "Shed blood." This means murder. Sinful man will shed the blood of another with rapidity. Abortion is one form of the severe cruelty of killing, of shedding blood of the innocent. 3. The Product of Wickedness (Romans 3:16-18) Sin brings many unhappy results. A few are cited here. • Pulverized. "Destruction" (Romans 3:16). The word translated "destruction" means "complete ruin" (Young), and "to crush... break into pieces" (Zodhiates). Sin destroys lives and material. The cities destroyed in war manifest this product of sin. Sin started the war and brought the destruction. • Pain. "Misery" (Romans 3:16). "Misery" is not the fun times produced by sinning. "Misery" speaks of the pain and suffering which sin brings to mankind. • Peacelessness. "The way of peace have they not known" (Romans 3:17). Sin does not bring peace with man or with God or in the mind of man. Sin troubles; it does not give tranquility. • Profaneness. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). Sin does not cause men to honor God. Rather it inspires man to dishonor and disrespect God. The reason behind all the anti-god legislation in our country is sin. Those who push to have God run out of society do so because they delight in their sin. Desire for God and sin do not go together.

III. The Remedy

1. The Purpose of the Law in the Way (Romans 3:19, 20) The Jews had trouble with the law and salvation. Paul repeatedly declares the relationship of the law to the Gospel. • To declare guilt. "The law saith... that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). The law does not save, but it does declare man guilty of sin. The law does not give innocence, but it gives guilt. It says, therefore, that all men need to be saved. • To define guile. "For by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The law defines guile (what is right and wrong). Man tries to define guile according to their evil desires, but man's standard is usually perverted in order to justify doing some evil. The law, however, gave God's standard of right and wrong. The law will convict all mankind of being sinful. 2. The Purity Required for the Way (Romans 3:21, 22) What kind of standard is required to get into heaven? It is a higher standard than what man usually thinks. • The standard of purity. "The righteousness of God" (Romans 3:21, 22). Divine righteousness is necessary for salvation. First, this righteousness is witnessed by the Scripture. "Witnessed by the law and the prophets" (Romans 3:21). Old Testament Scripture attests that Divine righteousness is the righteousness needed for salvation. Second, this righteousness is without [apart from] the law. Divine righteousness does not come via the Mosaic law. It is "without the law." • The source of purity. "The righteousness of God which is... of Jesus Christ" (Romans 3:22). The source of this required purity is Christ. In receiving Him by faith as Savior, we are "made the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21). • The securing of purity. "The righteousness of God which is by faith of [in] Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Romans 3:22). When a person by faith receives Christ as Savior, this righteousness becomes theirs. This required righteousness is secured simply by faith. It does not matter if the person is Jew or Gentile, "faith" obtains that righteousness, for "there is no difference" (Romans 3:22). 3. The Problem Causing the Need for the Way (Romans 3:23) The fact that all need to be saved is emphasized again by Paul in "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). • The crowd in sin. "All have sinned." Once again Paul emphasizes that no one is exempt from the guilt of sin. "All" have sinned which means all need to be saved. • The character of sin. "Sinned." The character of sin is in the word translated "sinned." It means "to miss the mark"... thus to fail in obeying the law" (Wuest). • The consequence of sin. "Come short of the glory of God." The word "glory" here means the same as in John 12:43, where it is translated "praise." "Man can have no higher glory than the approbation of God" (James Stifler). "Come short" emphasizes the failure of sin. It fails to meet the requirements. It is not long enough, wide enough, high enough, or holy enough. Sin never meets the Divine requirements. 4. The Plan of God for the Way (Romans 3:24-26) Here is given some of God's plans for the salvation of sinful man. Some try to alter God's plan, but if we do not follow God's plan for salvation, there will be no salvation. • The Savior in the plan. "Redemption that is in Christ Jesus... justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:24, 26). Wherever the Gospel is, there will Jesus Christ be. He is the key to the Gospel. Without Christ there is no salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other" (Acts 4:12). • The synonyms in the plan. Paul uses a number of words to describe salvation. One word alone does not seem to cover every aspect of salvation, so a number of words are used to help show what salvation involves. First, justification. "Being justified" (Romans 3:24). "Justification is a declaration by God... that he [the believer] has been made forever right and acceptable to Himself [God]" (Chafer). Second, grace. "Being justified freely by his grace" (Romans 3:24). The word "freely" means "without cause" (Chafer); that is, there is no cause in the person for God to save him. There was no righteousness in the sinner to justify salvation. "Grace" speaks of salvation coming to man not of man's merits (cause) but simply by God's wishes. Third, redemption. "Redemption" (Romans 3:24). Three Greek words set forth the doctrine of redemption in the Scriptures. The word used here means "full deliverance of the soul from sin" (Chafer). When the Lord saves us, it is complete salvation, not a partial job. Fourth, propitiation. The word translated "propitiation" (Romans 3:25) was the word used for "mercy seat" in the Septuagint translation. Propitiation speaks of the sacrifice that was made to reconcile God with man. That sacrifice was Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He is a type of the mercy seat in that it provides mercy for the sinner. Fifth, His blood. "His blood" (Romans 3:25). Salvation involves the blood of Jesus Christ ("His"). "Without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness of sins]" (Hebrews 9:22). Christ shed His blood on Calvary for our sins. "The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). Sixth, remission of sins. The word translated "remission" (Romans 3:25) here is used but once in the New Testament and means to "put on the side" (Zodhiates). That is, the sins of the saved are set aside and not used to judge the saved person. They are not considered in the judgment of the saved person. Thus the saved person cannot be condemned by his sins, for they have been taken care of by Jesus Christ. Seventh, forbearance. "Through the forbearance of God" (Romans 3:25). This is not a term we normally associate with salvation, but it is a big part of salvation, for it speaks of God's long suffering towards the sinner to give him time to repent. This "forbearance" will not always be present, however. "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). • The sanction of the plan. "To declare... at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). Some would charge God with wrong in saving sinners. But the plan of salvation devised by God is just and righteous and vindicates the holy character of God. Salvation is no Santa Claus gift, but it required a sacrifice for the salvation of souls—a sacrifice of Christ (God Himself)—to take the sinner's place in condemnation and judgment, so the sinner could be saved. Thus God satisfied the demands of the law for a sacrifice for sin, and is, therefore, perfectly justified in saving sinners.

Related Media

Related Sermons