Book of Romans -3

THE SINFULNESS OF ALL MEN

MEMORY VERSE: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

TEXT: Romans 3:1-31

In the preceding chapter, Paul, the writer of the book of Romans had clearly stated that empty profession of Judaism offered no advantage to the Jews over the Gentiles. On the contrary, the Gentiles who were obedient to the degree of light they were exposed to, would be justified before God, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13). In this chapter, Paul further affirmed that though the Israelites occupied a special place in the program of God’s redemptive plan for man and were privileged to be the chosen people entrusted with the word of God, the old covenant was not sufficient to atone for their sins, just as it was not sufficient also for the sins of mankind in general.

QUESTION 1: What can atone for the sins of any man? Though Israel was a chosen race, God’s continued relationship with them was not unconditional. He argued that the purpose of the law was to prove the whole world guilty before God. As such, man could only be justified by faith in the shed blood of Christ.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE JEWS (Romans 3:1-8; 2 Samuel 7:23; Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 78:52; Isaiah 43:3-4) Paul, the apostle had earlier stated that possession of the law and the rite of circumcision were of no profit unless the law was wholly obeyed. A fundamental question the emergence of the new covenant raises in the mind of the Israelites is, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” (Romans 3:1). In response, he replied, “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2).

QUESTION 2: What advantages had the children of Israel over the gentiles? The people of Israel had the unique privilege of being separated unto God as peculiar people, but the greatest advantage was that they had the oracles of God – the Holy Scriptures. As custodians of the word of God, they had greater light, better privileges and higher honors among others. Enjoyment of these privileges and promises are conditional. Fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham and his descendants is based on their continual obedience to all His laws. Outright disregard for the law of God, including the messianic prophecies and rejection of Jesus their promised Messiah led to the loss of those privileges. However, the privilege of sonship Israel lost is granted to believing gentiles. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11-12). There are several lessons that contemporary believers can learn from God’s dealing with the children of Israel. First, salvation and other benefits of Calvary are received by grace and should not be taken for granted. Second, God has power and authority to form nations and promote individuals as He pleases. It is therefore unreasonable to murmur or complain about His dealings with man because He is ever merciful and equitable in all His ways (Jeremiah 18:7-10). Third, believers should be steadfast in obedience in spite of unfavorable circumstances, for God is ever faithful to His word. TOTAL DEPRAVITY AND SINFULNESS OF ALL MEN (Romans 3:9-18; Job 14:4; Psalm 51:1-5; Mark 7:21-23; Ephesians 2:1).

QUESTION 3: What is sin and what are the characteristics of sinners? Since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, all men born into this world (Jews and Gentiles) are sinners and utterly void of the holiness of God. The uniform testimony of the Scripture is that “…There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Sin is simply defined as Satan inspired nature. It can also be defined as all unrighteousness (1 John 5:17), transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), neglect of opportunity to act right (James 4:17), and any act of unbelief (Romans 14:23). The entire nature of man – mental, physical, moral and spiritual – has been affected by sin. The characteristics of sinners are highlighted in our text. These include unrighteousness, lack of understanding of the nature of the true God, not seeking after the Creator of the entire universe, wandering out of the way of righteousness, unprofitability to the Master of the whole world, evil utterances, deceit and bitterness, murderous and destructive tendencies, ignorance of the way of peace and lack of fear of divine judgment. Man’s separation from God is the cause of his sorrow, shame, fear, heartaches and manifold spiritual and mental problems. All men have become enslaved to sin; they are conceived in sin, born in sin and live in sin. By nature and habit, man is a sinner. The natural man cannot resist sin. All these have brought man under the wrath and condemnation of God (Romans 6:23). It is important to stress that there is nothing the natural man can offer to appease God in order to escape His righteous judgment.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST (Romans 3:19-31; 4:15; Galatians 3:19-24; Psalms 32:1,2; Isaiah 1:18; Micah 7:19; Acts 13:38) “The law”, as used in this context is neither the ceremonial laws of the Jews (or barely the five books of Moses) nor the laws of nature, but the moral laws as contained in the Scripture to which all men are bound.

The purpose of the law is to make the whole world guilty before God.

QUESTION 4: Why was the law given? The law was given to show us what God requires, that we might know our sinfulness “…for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). It shows us the nature and extent of transgression by alerting us as to how far we have missed the mark. Apart from revealing the  penalty for transgression, the law brings conviction for sins. Ultimately “the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). In summary, the law leads the convicted sinner to the Redeemer.

QUESTION 5: Who needs justification and why? The need for justification becomes necessary because man is not able to provide a solution to his problem of sin. Justification is an act of God’s grace through which a penitent sinner who exercises faith in the atoning blood of Jesus receives forgiveness and remission of sins and is counted righteous. The justified individual stands before God as though he had never sinned, not on the basis of any personal merit but in the light of what Christ had accomplished for mankind by using His life as a substitute, through death on the cross at Calvary. Consequently, the righteousness of God comes upon all that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can deliver from the penalty of sin. He is “…the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the whole world” (John 1:29). And He is “the propitiation for our sins…” (1 John 2:2). Hence, we are justified freely. Jesus Christ paid the price for our justification. All forms of pride or boasting should be excluded, because salvation “…is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). It is an unmerited favor. QUESTION 6: How can a sinner be born again? God is calling all men (Jews and the Gentiles) unto salvation because He is “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He is the one that justifies all. To benefit from the work of Calvary, the sinner and backslider need to sincerely repent of all sins by acknowledging, confessing and forsaking them. He should go to God on the merit of the atonement made by Jesus Christ through His vicarious death and accept the sacrifice as a substitute for the punishment of his own personal sins. With genuine repentance, every sinner who asks for forgiveness will be justified by His grace through faith.

Kay Alli