The Path Of Destruction And Misery

Today we continue on our journey through as many books of the bible we can in our Impact 3:16 series. We find ourselves, having just looked at Acts 3:16, in the powerful and wonderful book of Romans. This letter, written by the apostle Paul (Romans 1:1), was written to the church in Roman that was struggling with an integration of Jew and Gentile being one in Christ. This is why the letter opens up with one of the most iconic passages in Romans 1:16.

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Most of this great letter focuses on the Judaizing teachers there in the church at Rome. These men were teaching that all Christians had to uphold the Law of Moses (Acts 15). This of course is not true as Paul will prove in Romans 7:1-6 but here in Romans 3 Paul has a different point to prove. That the Jews, though entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:1-2) were no better than the Gentiles when it came to sin and needing a Savior.

Romans 3:9–10 NKJV

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Paul then goes on to quote from several Old Testament passages about this very reality concerning mankind’s propensity to seek sin over righteousness. In this section from Romans 3:11-18 we find our text. Let’s read Romans 3:15-18.

Romans 3:15–18 (NKJV)

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Our text today is quoted from Proverbs 1:15-16 and Isaiah 59:7-8 and the point is clear. Sin is a path that leads to destruction and misery. Sin doesn’t just harm people “a little bit” sin literally murders a person’s soul.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thankfully, Jesus came down from heaven, was born of woman, lived a perfectly sinless life, was sacrificed and died for our sins, and was raised to sit at the right hand of God so that his blood could cleanse us from our sins and makes us alive as new creations in him. The Path Of Destruction And Misery is found on the path of sin. If you are on that path get off as soon as possible by having someone help you, from God’s word, find the path of righteousness. Our website for the church here in Ramona, www.ramonacofc.com has not only contact information to help you with that study but a page dedicated to learning what God says salvation requires.