Under Sin
Notes
Transcript
Handout
So far, Paul has been telling us how God’s wrath and judgment rest upon all of mankind.
He has spent time showing us the unrighteousness of the Gentiles in chapter 1 and the unrighteousness of the Jews in chapters 2 and 3.
Now, Paul makes one final effort to open our eyes to our need of God in the next part of chapter 3.
Paul doesn’t want there to be any doubt in our minds about the severity of our sin.
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
All of us are under sin.
All of us are under sin.
Previously, Paul spoke about the advantages of being a Jew.
In particular, he points to their possession of the Scriptures.
This was a significant advantage because it is through Scripture that God is revealed to us.
Yet, Paul tells us in verse 9 that the Jews are not any better off because all of mankind is under sin, both the Jews and the rest of the world.
I would like us to pay special attention to the word “under” in the phrase “under sin.”
Paul isn’t just communicating that we have all sinned, but he is telling us a more frightening truth, that we are underneath sin as if it is our ruler.
It is not that we have a bad habit of sinning.
It is not that we make a mistake here and there.
The truth is, sin is reigning over us, and we willing serve it.
When I think of sin reigning over mankind like this, I think of the great evils that were done to the Jewish people in Nazi Germany.
What scares me the most are not the actions of leaders such as Adolf Hitler, or even the soldiers of the German army, but the actions of the German citizens — the normal, everyday people like you and me.
I think specifically to the Night of Broken Glass.
This night was marked by widespread violence; not only did Nazi mobs and SS troops torch and vandalize thousands of Jewish homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, cemeteries, and synagogues, but ordinary citizens also participated in these heinous acts of violence.
Let us not get high and mighty when judging their actions, but instead, let us remember that the same sin that reigned in them, is the sin that reigns in us.
History gives us a pretty bad picture of how sin rules in mankind, but lets see what the rest of this passage says about sin’s rule over us...
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
No one is righteous, no one understands, no one seeks for God, and no one does good.
No one is righteous, no one understands, no one seeks for God, and no one does good.
Most of us have bought into the myth that we are mostly good.
If I were to ask many of you the question “Where would you go if you died tonight, and why?”, you would say “‘I tried to live a good life. I have went to youth group. I have done community service. I have never done anything really bad.” Many of you would try to justify yourselves.
Yet, Scripture and your life would testify against you.
This passage says that you are not only unrighteous, but you haven’t even done anything good.
Now you may ask, how can this be? I have done lots of good things.
Well let us go and evaluate those things with the great commandment.
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Who here can say that they have done anything, with a heart, soul, strength, and mind that fully loves God.
I can confidently say that I never have.
Any good thing I have ever done has been corrupted with sin.
When I have served others, instead of boasting in God, I have patted myself on the back.
When I have read scripture or prayed in the morning, instead of being fully commited to God, my thoughts have strayed to other things.
When I am worshipping, instead of focusing on the words and their meaning, I have drifted off to the melody of the song.
When I have done well at my job, instead of giving credit to God, I have kept the praise for myself.
Even with this, Paul isn’t done convincing us of our sinfulness, he wants us to see the fullness of our sin.
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Our sin is present in every part of us.
Our sin is present in every part of us.
Paul is showing us that sin has corrupted every fiber of our being.
Our sin is evident in our:
Throat
Tongue
Lips
Mouth
Feet
Eyes
I believe it is intentional that 4 of the 6 body parts that Paul mentions are involved in speech.
It does not take long for our words to show us how sinful we are.
How often do our words act as an open grave?
Perhaps you've spread rumors or lies.
Perhaps you've insulted others, destroying their self-worth.
How often do our words serve to deceive?
Maybe you've overstated the truth to impress.
Maybe you've given promises you can't keep.
How often are our words venomous?
Perhaps you've used sarcasm to make somebody feel stupid.
Perhaps you've said sharp words in anger.
How often are our words full of curses and bitterness?
Maybe your language is full with profanity.
Maybe you've used slurs thoughtlessly.
We are lying to ourselves if we don’t see how deep sin is rooted in our hearts.
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Every person is found guilty before God.
Every person is found guilty before God.
Paul tells us that every mouth will be stopped.
That means there will be no excuses before God.
You will not be able to escape punishment though your smooth words.
You will not be able to talk your way our of it.
No one will be able to step in for your last minute.
Your friends won’t be able to bail you out.
Your parents won’t be able to pull any strings.
It will just be you alone before God.
Before a God who knows all your actions and thoughts.
Before a God who is just that must punish the unrighteous.
There will be no hope...