Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Prayer

Romans Background

Written by Paul, probably while in Corinth at about 55 A.D.Addressed to the Christians in RomePaul has been trying to visit with them but had not been their yet Due to Paul’s rule never to build on someone else’s ministry, this proves that neither Paul or Peter started the church in RomeMost likely, during Pentecost, Roman gentiles where part of the 3,000 that became followers of Christ and they brought over Christianity to Rome

Text Reading:

Verse 1: Then what advantage has the Jew?

Paul is having a conversation with our natural human objection to God’s truth

Also viewed as a typical response from an unbeliever

Or a person with an unregenerate mind

Let’s rephrase that: What advantage has the Christian?

Verse 2: Entrusted with the oracles of God.

One of those advantages is the oracles of God

Oracles of God is also known as the Old Testament or Scripture

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

So, let’s rephrase this again: We, Christians, are entrusted with the Holy Bible.

Verse 3: Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

Paul anticipated that Jewish readers would disagree with his statements that God has not guaranteed to fulfill His promises to every physical descendant of Abraham.

Another way we can look at it from a Christian perspective, is not all who say “Lord, Lord” are actually saved.

Jesus on Judgement day will say “Get away for I do not know you” for they don’t have saving faith

Before any Jew or Christian, regardless of the purity of his lineage or saying a sinners prayer or walking down an aisle, can inherit the promises God made without first coming to repentance and faith

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

God is always faithfulness even if man does not believe

Verse 4: May it never be!

Strongest objection in the Greek Paul uses

Equivalent to “A Thousand Times, NO”

Verse 4: Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar

If all mankind were to agree that God had been unfaithful to His promises, it would only prove that all are liars and God is true

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 3:4.

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

Verse 5: But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say?

The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?

God’s good ends do not justify mankind’s evil means

R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1982.

God is always just, even with the fact that our unrighteousness showcases His righteousness

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Our darkness reveals His light, like a diamond with a black cloth background (Steve Lawson example)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

God raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart to showcase His glory and fulfill His purpose

Verse 7: But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Verse 7:

Verse 8:

Questions or Comments?

Then Paul, speaking in the place yet again of an unbeliever, says can a sinner be judged if God uses a sinner to show His glory?

Is that fair?

Can God really condemn Pharaoh if He is the one who hardened his heart?

Is this justice?

We must continue on to find out what Paul has to say to our natural objections to God’s truth

Verse 8: Slanderously reported and as some claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?

The Gospel message of salvation by grace through faith alone had been perverted by false prophets who argued it provided not only a license to sin, but outright encouragement to do so

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

We must continue on to find out what Paul has to say to our natural objections to God’s truth

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

Questions or Comments?

Text Reading:

Verse 9: Are we better than they?

Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

Are we any better than an unbeliever?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Can we boast in our good deeds?

As Paul says, “Not at all”

We all start off, believer and unbeliever, under the curse of sin

Then Paul, the expert theologian builds his argument and builds his case with Scripture

Verse 10-12: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,

THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Verse 17:

Verse 12:

Verse 13:

Paul

Verse 14:

Verse 15:

Verse 16:

Verse 17:

Verse 18: THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES

Paul is quoting and

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

How many are righteous?

None.

Man is universally evil

Not even one

None understand.

Man is unable to comprehend the truth of God or grasp His standard of righteousness

Not even one

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.

(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

No one seeks God.

Man’s natural tendency is to seek his own interests and desires