CAT Scan From Above The Spiritual State of the Unbeliever! Romans 3:1-22 Message by Michael J. Barnard July 29, 2018 Teaching Aim: To demonstrate the Jews do have an advantage over the Gentiles by being given the Word of God and God s covenants. To review the medical imagery exam that Paul performs on the unregenerate and find out the alarming results. To realize the only way to spiritual life and health is found by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: The advantage of the Jews over the Gentiles (Rom. 3:1-8) 1. According to verses 1 & 2, what are some of the advantages the Jewish people have over the Gentiles? What is the meaning of the word oracle (vs. 2). (See Dictionary) Why was it an advantage to the Jews to have the oracles of God in their possession? Are we blessed today to have such ready access to the Bible? Does having a copy of the Bible raise accountability before God? Why or why not? 2. The word believe in verse 3 means to have faith in God. Does God s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises depend upon the way you feel? Is it comforting for you to know that God will always be faithful, no matter what happens in life? (See Heb. 13:5-6) How have you seen God s faithfulness demonstrated in your own life? 3. In verse 4 Paul quotes Psalm 51:4 when David confessed his sin against Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite, and ultimately against God. Did David acknowledge God was right in His judgment against Him? When it comes to repentance, what is the difference between attrition and contrition? What can we learn about true repentance from David s example? (See 1 John 1:9) 4. In verse 5, Paul anticipated the twisted arguments his readers might use against him and begins to debate them in a hypothetical sense. What makes Paul s hypothetical opponent s argument ridiculous? Are Christians wrong in assuming they have a license to sin, all they have to do is confess when they are ready, and they will be forgiven? What happens when a Christian continually lives in a sinful lifestyle? (See 2 Cor. 13:5) 1
5. If our holy God is unjust as some claimed in Paul s day and as we so often hear in our own; would anybody be able to trust Him on Judgment Day (vv. 5-6)? Why would the claim of these hypothetical opponents be terrifying if true? Is it true? How can we know with certainty that God is a God of justice? (See Deut. 32:3-4; Psa. 33:5; 97:1-2; Rom. 3:4) 6. Paul continues his hypothetical argument in verse 7 against mock debaters. What false beliefs do we find illustrated in verses 7 & 8? Do some people actually fall into this trap today? Who does Scripture identify as the father of lies who comes disguised as an angel of light (See John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Pet. 5:8-9) How did Paul respond to people who held such a belief (vs. 8)? Part II: Both Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin (Rom. 3:9-18) 1. Would Paul s comments in verse 9 be considered politically correct to the Jews living in his day? What shocking news did Paul deliver to the Jews in verse 9? Why would his fellow Jews be offended by these words? 2. In verses 10-18, the Holy Spirit performs a Cat Scan if you would, on the entire human body of unregenerate person. Search and find in these verses the following body parts: the mind; the heart; the hips and upper torso; the throat; the tongue; the lips; the mouth; the hands and arms; and lastly; the legs and feet. How does this illustration demonstrate the unregenerate person is corrupt apart from salvation in Jesus Christ? 3. What is the meaning of the word, righteousness? (See Dictionary) According to verse 10, with the exception of Jesus Christ, how many people are inherently righteous? What is the difference between being inherently righteousness and the need to receive an imputed righteousness? What is necessary for our salvation today? (See Rom. 1:16-17; 10:3-4, 9-10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8-9) 2
4. What will no unregenerate person (the person who has never been born again) understand apart from the work of the Holy Spirit (vs. 11)? (Hint: See vs. 10) Today Seeker Sensitive churches are popping up all over the world. These are churches that change the paradigm of the worship service to focus on the unbeliever or seeker rather than on God, the Bible and the edification of the true believer in Christ. Supposedly, by using this model, unbelievers will feel less uncomfortable in Church and come to Christ; the Church is the problem. According to verse 11, how many unbelievers really seek God without the intervention of the Holy Spirit? (See Psa. 14:1-3; John 6:44,65) How will a dummied down Christianity affect the body of Christ, the Church, over a period of time? Why is it important for pastors to proclaim the whole council of God? 5. The Greek term for turned aside can also be used of a soldier going the wrong direction or deserting his fellow soldiers (vs. 12). What is the penalty for desertion in a wartime situation? Are we as Christians at war today in the spiritual realm? If people judged your life today, are you faithfully serving in the army of Christ or avoiding the battles? Are you willing to stand fast and fight when necessary for your Christian beliefs? According to verse 12, how many people are inherently good? What kind of good is God looking for? (See Luke 18:18-27) 6. How many times are the words none, no, not one, and all found in verses 10-12 (NKJV)? 7. In what way is the open mouth a good illustration of an open tomb (vs. 13)? Has someone ever hurt you by the words they spoke draining the joy out of your life, at least temporarily? (See Jam. 3:5-6) Why do we need to be so careful when we are angry? How should we speak as Christians? (See Eph. 4:29-32) 3
8. Notice that there is a progression in verses 13-18. First the mouth opens and begins speaking words that it shouldn t. Damage occurs, things get worse and cursing follows. Cursing leads to bitterness which leads to anger. The anger can then lead to rage and violent outbursts. This kind of ungodly behavior will lead to casualties everywhere it goes. Have you ever had an anger problem? How have you dealt with it? (See Matt. 12:33-37) 9. Peace in the sense of peace with God is the furthest thing from the unbeliever s mind. (See Rom. 5:1) The reason unbelievers act the way they do is because they have no fear of God, either literally or reverentially. How might the story be a little different if people really did understand the wrath of God against sin is coming on Judgment Day (vs. 18)? (See Prov. 9:10; Matt. 13:47-50; Rev. 20:11-15) Should preachers be teaching about the severity of end time judgment, or do you think it is too harsh for unbelievers? Who spoke more about hell than anyone else in the Bible? Part III: By the deeds of the law no one will be justified in God s sight (Rom. 3:19-20) 1. According to verse 19, what will become of the world as a result of the law? John Calvin used a mirror to illustrate the work of God s law. How is the function of a mirror similar to the function of God s law? If God were to show a DVD of your entire life on Judgment Day, apart from faith in Jesus Christ, how would you fair? (See Matt. 7:21-23; Rom. 3:23; 5:8-9; 6:23) 2. The word justified in verse 20 means declared righteous. Our righteousness as a Christian is a forensic righteousness, in other words a declared righteousness. God declares the guilty sinner not guilty through faith in Jesus Christ. It is also an imputed righteousness. Imputation is a banking term that means to apply from one account to another. A double imputation takes place on the cross, through faith in Christ our sins are applied to Christ s account on the cross and His righteousness is applied to ours, God then sees us as He sees Christ, we are forgiven of our sins and declared righteous by God! According to verse 20, how many people will be saved by keeping the law? 4
3. What kind of righteousness is revealed in verses 21-22? What is the only way to receive that righteousness according to verse 22? (See John 14:6) According to sacred Scripture, what is the only way for unregenerate people to receive salvation? (John 3:3,5,16; Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9) MINER S CORNER Manna to live by! No unbeliever will seek after God apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit! (John 3:3) The Christian Church is commissioned by God to zealously, yet lovingly take the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world! We have greater access to the Word of God today than ever before! God is always faithful to keep His Word, even when we are not! The law of God functions like a mirror; it reveals our blemishes (or sin) and points to our need to be cleaned up by a Savior! Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, there is no other way to heaven! (See John 14:6) Live your life in gratefulness to God like every day is your last! 5