The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

The Sinfulness of Humanity - 4

Note: See the Answer Key at the bottom of this page to fill in the blanks.

Brief Review:

Paul’s letter starts out with the BAD NEWS of the Gospel. He invests the first 81 verses of his letter to the Romans in outlining the sinfulness of humanity.

On January 9, we covered: Romans 1:1-17 which includes Paul’s GREETING to the Romans (1:1-7) and a very basic presentation of the CONTENT of the GOSPEL (1:8-17)

On January 16, we covered Romans 1:18-32. Here Paul’s makes the case that ALL people are SINNERS, regardless of their race or ethnic background, and that God’s response to human sin is ANGER.

Last week, we covered Romans 2:1-16 & 17-29. In 2:1-16 Paul presents the certainty of God’s judgment of sin. It doesn’t matter whether the offender is a Gentile or a Jew. All will be judged, because all have sinned. In 2:17-29, Paul’s focus continues to be judgment, but moves to a focus on those who had been Jews before they became followers of Jesus.

Today we move to Romans 3:1-8 and 3:9-20. In 3:1-8, Paul provides us the assurance that even if the whole world should prove false, God remains ___________________________. In 3:9-20, Paul makes his final case for the sinfulness of ________ humanity from the testimony of Scripture.

Overview:

Romans 2:1-16	God’s judgment of sin	The first 16 verses of chapter two establish that God WILL judge sin.
Romans 2:17-29	The Jews and the Law	The final 13 verses of chapter two establish that the Jews though they have the Law of Moses are equally subject to the judgment of God unless they keep the law.
Romans 3:1-8	God remains faithful	In the first 8 verses of chapter three Paul points out the absurd logic of some who say that sin serves a “good purpose” in showing God’s goodness in declaring sinners innocent.
Romans 3:9-20	All people are sinners	In the next 12 verses of chapter three Paul establishes from Scripture that ALL have sinned.

Romans 3:1-8

1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the Jewish ceremony of circumcision? 2Yes, being a Jew has many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. (where the NLT reads “The whole revelation of God,” the original Greek text reads, “the oracles [or “sayings”] of God.”

Paul is starting to set forth a case here for the faithfulness of God. That case starts with God’s chosen people, the Israelites or Jews. Paul asks two questions that direct the discussion to the Jews, the first is broad, and the second narrow in focus:

“Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? If the Scripture shows that all alike have sinned, is there any advantage in being a Jew? This is not just a rhetorical question. Many of the Jews who became Christians thought that they DID have an advantage over Gentiles who became Christians. In fact, the first major potential division in the early church was over this matter. (See Acts 15:1-35) Paul is going to answer his own question is verse 2—YES, there is an advantage to being a Jew, but first let’s look at Paul’s second question:

“Is there any value in the Jewish ceremony of circumcision?” Paul doesn’t specifically answer this question, although there are many other places in his letters that Paul makes it clear that the Jewish ceremony of circumcision is of no value UNLESS a person keeps ____________ aspect of the Jewish law, which no one can do!

Paul points out that the major advantage of being a Jew, is that it was to the Jews that God “entrusted the whole revelation of God.”

This is a key understanding of the Judaeo-Christian faith: God is _______________ and God ______________ Himself to us. In nearly every other world religion the key is “humanity’s search for God.” The focus is on our effort to find and please God. Paul points out that God searched for us. In Psalm 23, the closing words are usually translated, “Surely goodness and mercy will FOLLOW me all the days of my life….” The intent of the Hebrew is, “Surely goodness and mercy will PURSUE me all the days of my life…. God is quite literally the “hound” of heaven, always seeking us, always looking for ways to bring us into relationship with Him. This started with the Jews, which was obviously a tremendous advantage to them.

APPLICATION POINT: Having information ABOUT God does not guarantee a personal relationship WITH God. The Jews had great advantage, but they failed to let it make the transforming difference God intended. Therefore, the opportunity was offered to others!

3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they broke their promises, does that mean God will break his promises? 4Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say, “He will be proved right in what he says, and he will win his case in court.”

Here Paul continues his process of asking a question and providing the answer. This question is vital: Does the unfaithfulness of some of God’s people mean that God will break His promises? (We might ask, “Is God into ‘tit for tat’”?) Paul responds with the strongest possible negative answer, “Me genoito!”—May it never be! This response stated in the optative mood in Greek cannot adequately be expressed in English. The bottom line for Paul is: everyone else in the world may be a liar, but God is ALWAYS true. Here Paul appeals to the Scriptures for added authority to his response as he quotes Psalm 51:4.

5“But,” some say, “our sins serve a good purpose, for people will see God’s goodness when he declares us sinners to be innocent. Isn’t it unfair, then, for God to punish us?” (That is actually the way some people talk.) 6Of course not! If God is not just, how is he qualified to judge the world?

Here Paul addresses what is obviously becoming a problem in the doctrine of the early church. Some were starting to realize that they could excuse their sin, by pointing out that when people see us sinning, and God forgiving our sins, they will see the ________________ of God at work. Thus, they asked, “Isn’t it unfair for God to punish us?

The absurdity of this line of reasoning is obvious to all, but those who would seek to eliminate the justice of God. Paul’s response demonstrates how strongly he denies this false line of reasoning. Once again his answer is “me genoito!”—May it never be! This time his question answers itself—If God is not just, how is he qualified to judge the world? God’s judgment on all people, because of our sin, relies on God’s being just. God cannot judge us, if he is not just

APPLICATION POINT: Many folks offer many reasons why we cannot be held accountable for our actions, and why we cannot live in faithful obedience to God. Obviously, this is not a new development as Paul is addressing it in the first Christian century. Nevertheless, we must avoid the trap of building excuses for our lack of faithful living, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into faithful living.

7“But,” some might still argue, “how can God judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8If you follow that kind of thinking, however, you might as well say that the more we sin the better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned, yet some slander me by saying this is what I preach!

Paul reiterates the absurdity of contending that our sin highlights God’s grace and mercy, concluding that if such is the case then we may as well say that the more we sin the better it is. Paul says that people who put forward this kind of thinking deserve to be _______________, but that some slander him as preaching such things.

It isn’t hard to see how some people could have come to the conclusion that Paul “taught” that sin is a good thing, because it highlights God’s grace. Paul had once relied totally on the Law of Moses as his source of righteousness. He had lived out the Pharisaic form of goodness that had taken the Mosaic Law and broken it into thousands of individual commands and traditions, which could actually be lived out according to the “letter” of the Law. Once Jesus entered Paul’s life, he realized that he could never attain favor with God through external acts of righteousness or obedience. He concluded (and rightly so) that ALL are sinners. He pointed out the sinfulness of every person, and the absolute ____________________ of works in attaining righteousness and a relationship with God. He pointed out that all the Law could do was convince us of our sinfulness. It isn’t a great leap from such statements, to the conclusion that our sin is a “blessing,” because it gives God the “opportunity” to forgive us. Sin is never a “blessing.” It is always a contradiction of the ways of God. Nevertheless, the infinite nature of God’s goodness is seen in His ability to overcome sin, and bring us into a right relationship with Himself, through the blood of Jesus, which will we see later in chapter 3.

Romans 3:9-20

In Romans 3:9-20 Paul sets forth the final argument for the sinfulness of all humanity. Here he turns to the Jewish Scriptures, what we would call the Old Testament, and demonstrates once and for all that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

9Well then, are we Jews better than others? (or simply, “Well, then, are we better off?) No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.

Paul sums up his thesis one more time--- ALL people, regardless of background, are ________________.

Now we turn to the Scriptural proofs:

10As the Scriptures say, “No one is good—not even one. No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. 2All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3)

Paul’s first Scriptural proof of the universal nature of sin is a paraphrase of Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3. These two texts are identical, except for the use of the word “God” in verse 2 of Psalm 53, and “The Lord” in verse 2 of Psalm 14. Paul’s knowledge of Scripture is keen, as he selects two psalms that state over and over again in three short verses the total sinfulness of humanity, and our disregard for goodness and for God. The concluding statement says it all: “No one does good, not even one.”

13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their speech is filled with lies.” “The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips.” (Psalm 5:9 and Psalm 140:3)

Once again Paul’s knowledge of Scripture (obviously guided by the Holy Spirit) is amazing. Here he blends portions of two verses from two different Psalms to point out the universal nature of sin in our lives. God always uses our “SHAPE”—our spiritual gifts, our heart (or passion), our abilities, our personalities, and our experiences—when he calls us to ministry. Paul’s SHAPE included the background experience of being a Pharisee. As such he memorized large quantities of Scripture, which God used in Paul’s life to teach hundreds of others AND to write a major portion of the New Testament.

APPLICATION POINT: All of the characteristics and experiences that make up our “SHAPE” contribute to our ability to build God’s kingdom, and to share the Good News of Jesus one person at a time. When the Holy Spirit takes what God has already made us to be and adds wisdom, power, fellowship, the results are limitless as we’re reminded in Ephesians 3:20.

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (Psalm 10:7)

15“They are quick to commit murder. 16Wherever they go, destruction and misery follow them. 17They do not know what true peace is.” (Isaiah 59:7-8)

Here Paul demonstrates that his knowledge of the Bible is not limited to the Book of Psalms. He quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah. In each case in these verses Paul takes specific verses and gives them a universal application. This is not “prooftexting” in the negative sense of that word, but a demonstration of how important it is to have a knowledge of the Bible when we want to help others understand God’s intentions for our faith and daily living!

18“They have no fear of God to restrain them.” (Psalm 36:1)

19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God. 20For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.

Here we have Paul’s final summation of the section of Romans devoted to establishing the BAD NEWS of the Gospel that ALL have sinned.

Paul states that the law obviously applies to those to whom it was given—the Jews. He has previously established that God has put a knowledge of Himself in all people. Therefore, all people are without excuse before God. Paul that in 3:19, although it appears that it is the law that was given for the purpose of keeping people from having excuses and to bring the entire world to judgment before God.

The key statement is made in 3:20: NO ONE can EVER be made right in God’s sight by DOING what His law commands. Why? “…the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.” As we read the Bible, one of the realities that will occur is we will be more deeply convicted of our sin. The old saying states that “ignorance is bliss.” Indeed, some folks have told me that they don’t read the Bible, because that way they won’t be held accountable for breaking the law. Paul has made it clear that ignorance of the law is no excuse. He is certainly not advocating that we stop reading God’s Word, only that when we do we ill realize all the more the need of God’s grace in our lives!

APPLICATION POINT: When we come to the end of the “BAD NEWS” of the Gospel, we know how desperately we need the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. As we grow more mature in our faith, we must never forget that apart from Jesus Christ each one of us is dead in sin. There is no one who does what is right—not even one. Sometimes we become “forgetful” of what we once were, and hardened to the sinfulness of others. The reality is the more mature we become as followers of Jesus, the more we recognize the incredible truth of the old saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

ANSWER KEY: faithful, all, every, personal, reveals, goodness, condemned, worthlessness, sinners.

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