Explore the Bible Lesson Preview Sept. 25, 2005 "Do You Need the Gospel?" Background: Romans 3:1-20 Lesson: Romans 3:1-12, 18-20 Motivation: It is a universal law of sales that purchases result from felt needs. No need - no sale. Paul points out a universal need in this week's lesson which cannot be remedied by a sale, only by God's free gift. Examination: I. Understanding God's Righteousness (1-8) A. Mistake #1 "There's no advantage in being Jewish" - "What advantage then has the Jew or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God." (1-2) Paul's Response: The Jews were God's covenant people, the keepers of the written word, and a special people. Believ er's Study Bible, 1602: 3:2 "If both Jews and Gentiles are equally guilty, what is the advantage of being a Jew? Paul claims numerous benefits through Judaism but contents himself with mention of the chief one. The Jews are the custodians of the oracles' (logia, Gk.) of God. Some indication of the importance ascribed to the Scriptures can be discerned from the fact that of all the advantages which are attributed to the ancient Jew, the only one mentioned by Paul is possession of the oracles of God.'" B. Mistake #2: "God is Obligated by His Covenant to Pardon the Jews." 1 / 6
"For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not!" (3-4a) Paul's Response: Jewish unbelief did not take away from God's faithfulness; the covenant was a two sided agreement; God fully lived up to His part. C. Mistake # 3 "Unrighteousness Magnifies God's Righteousness" "for if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, Let us do evil that grace may come'? - as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just." (7-8) Paul's Response: God receives glory from our obedience not disobedience (Exodus 20:6). Throughout Paul's ministry, he was hounded by false teachers. One such group were the libertines who were influenced by the teaching of Epicurus. They twisted Paul's teaching of sin and grace (5:20; 6:1-2) to their own benefit. William Barclay comments: "Once a man has sinned, he displays an amazing ingenuity in justifying his sin. Here we come across an argument that reappears again and again in religious thought, the argument that sin gives God a chance to show at once his justice and his mercy and is therefore a good thing. It is a twisted argument. One might as well argue - it would, in fact, be the same argument - that it is a good thing to break a person's heart, because it gives him a chance to show how much he loves you. When a man sins, the need is not for ingenuity to justify his sin, but for humility to confess it in penitence and in shame." ( The Letter to the Romans, p. 54). II. Understanding Universal Sinfulness (3:9-20) Believer's Study Bible, pp. 1602-03: 3 :9-20 "This passage records climactically, at the end of the first major section (1:18-3:20), the universal ravages of sin. In vv. 10-18, Paul strings together a number of O.T. quotes to demonstrate and verify his theses of the universality of sin. All' are under sin' (v. 9). There is none righteous' (v. 10). There is none who does good' (v. 12). All have sinned' (v. 23). Man is immersed in the misery of sin, and he is guilty of contentment in sin. No one even seeks after God. Humanity as a whole is under the power and condemnation of sin." 2 / 6
A. All Have Sinned "For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin" (9). 1. A Sinful Character "There is none righteous... (10b)...They have together become unprofitable." (12a) The word Paul uses for unprofitable is sometimes used in the Greek for milk that turns sour. Once milk has gone bad, there's no natural process that can reclaim it. It is discarded. Likewise, sin turns one's character useless before God; "there is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God" (11). Humanity's inclination is to add some sugar cubes (good works) to sour milk and believe that it's now acceptable to serve God. 2. A Sinful Tongue "Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness" (13-14) Jesus said "...for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:34b, 37). James wrote "And the tongue is a fire, a world of inequity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6) a. Words have the power to kill "open tomb" (13) - Words contain either death or life. We speak of "character assassination"; gossip, slander and backbiting can kill relationships, reputations, and trust. b. Words have the power to deceive "practiced deceit" (13b) One of the Ten Commandments forbids bearing false witness (Ex. 20:16) Paul commended the Ephesians to put away lying (4:25). Jesus characterized the devil as the father of lies (John 8:44), while He called Himself "th e truth" (John 14:6). 3 / 6
c. Words have the power to poison "poison of asps" (13b). Sarcasm, hateful criticism, and other hateful words poison relationships. They also have the power to poison minds, planting thoughts in the head of another that lead them to veer off God's chosen path (things like "you're no good; you'll never amount to anything; you're stupid, clueless or obtuse"). d. Words have the power to curse and cause bitterness "Full of cursing and bitterness" (14) James asks if the same spring sends forth "fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" (3:11). He concludes "My brethren, these things ought not to be" (3:10) Our words are a powerful instrument and a valid reflection of our character. They ultimately reveal our sinfulness for everyone to hear. 3. A Sinful Conduct "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (18) Paul has quoted freely from the Psalms to support this truth. Ps. 1:1 begins "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful..." In Psalm 127:10 we read "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." Not respecting/fearing God for who He is results in a sinful conduct producing "destruction and misery" (16). B. God's Law is Not Designed to Remedy Sin (19-20) "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God" (19) 1. Purpose of the Law: The law is like a plumb line or a carpenter's level; it is intended to reveal what is wrong. 2. Limitations of the Law: Just like a carpenter's level cannot undo wrong, so "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified" (20). 4 / 6
Believer's Study Bible, p. 1603: 3:20 "The law was never intended to save or sanctify. Knowledge of sin comes through the law. No one can ever be justified by keeping the law. Paul's statement is as clear as one could desire. One of the greatest enigmas of human experience is the continuing persuasion of most religious people that a man can somehow make himself acceptable to the holy God through the observances of law, ritual, and moral precept whereas the great missionary theologian goes to great length to refute that idea." 3. Scope of the Law: "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (20) While the law cannot save, it can instruct. It gives us a clear standard of right and wrong by which to judge our conduct. While certain ceremonial laws passed away with the old covenant, truths embodied in the Ten Commandments are eternal. Application: 1. All have sinned and will stand before God's judgment. 2. Outward appearance and family background do not provide salvation. 3. Only a repentant heart & faith in Jesus can provide righteousness before God. Explore the Bible Teachers Packet: Item 6 Poster: Lesson Outline All Are Sinners Item 7 Handout: Badge of Authority Item 8 Poster: 5 / 6
Illustrator: Pg. 73 "Jews in First-Century Rome" Notes & Dates: Sept. 25 - Widow's Luncheon; Nov. 4 & 5 - Mark Lowry concert; Nov. 13 - Christmas store collection and Super ministry night; Nov. 27 - One service (10 am), Adult Bible study optional; 6:30 Ascend, Dec. 3 - Christmas Store @ MTC 10-4, Dec. 9 & 10 - Christmas Music Program, Dec. 24 - One Service (5:00 p.m.) only, Dec. 25 - One Service, Adult Bible study optional. 6 / 6