MBS (Romans 3)

Romans 3:1-20

No Partiality. vs 1-2

Romans 3:1–2 (NKJV)

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

The law is to show us how insufficient we are.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Paul is making his point yet again, God’s love is for all of His people.

We are all in the same boat, we are not to act above and superior to one another.

More mature Christians need to remember that it is ONLY by the grace of God that they are saved, it is not by anything they have done.

It is the honor and privilege of the mature Christians to disciple the newer believers and love them, remembering that they are just as guilty and in the same boat.

Teaching them the tools to grow in their faith, not tearing them down for being weak or new.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NKJV

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Let us remember that....

Romans 2:11 (NKJV)

11 For there is no partiality with God.

Crowd mentality. vs 3-4

Romans 3:3–4 NKJV

3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

At this time the Jewish people as a whole had rejected Christ, Paul was addressing the idea that just because the people don’t believe Jesus, does not make it any less true.

We need to be careful of crowd mentality

we can easily get caught up in what the masses are saying and believing and forgetting the teachings and guidance of Jesus.

This even happens in the church, not just the world vs the church.

If the church or Christian circle gives into an idea, whatever it may be, i see the crowd follow this idea as well.

we have a desire to be a part of something and if the people around us validate our ideals, we tend to ignore what we know the Holy Spirit is saying to us.

This is why it is so important to have a group of people that are not always on the same page as us, to challenge us and keep us in check.

I see people just congregate around the people they are comfortable with and it starts to create a culture that is not willing to be challenged or grow.

I have to say, with Paul, ‘What if some did not believe?’ It is no new thing; for there have always been some who have rejected the revelation of God. What then? You and I had better go on believing, and testing for ourselves, and proving the faithfulness of God, and living upon Christ our Lord, even though we see another set of doubters, and another, and yet another ad infinitum. The gospel is no failure, as many of us know.” Charles Spurgeon

Checking everything with the Word of God.

God is right even if everyone is saying otherwise.

Stick to the gospel, it is the foundation of our lives and belief.

Excuse to sin? vs 5

Romans 3:5 NKJV

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)

Paul was addressing the idea that, “God is in control of everything. Even my evil will ultimately demonstrate His righteousness. Therefore God is unjust if He inflicts His wrath on me, because I’m just a pawn in His hand.”

In theory, the most dramatic example of someone who might ask this question is Judas. Can you hear Judas make his case? “Lord, I know that I betrayed Jesus, but You used it for good. In fact, if I hadn’t done what I did, Jesus wouldn’t have gone to the cross at all. What I did even fulfilled the Scriptures. How can You judge me at all?” The answer to Judas might go like this: “Yes, God used your wickedness but it was still your wickedness. There was no good or pure motive in your heart at all. It is no credit to you that God brought good out of your evil. You stand guilty before God.” (Enduring word Commentary)

Mockery of the gospel. vs 6-8

Romans 3:6–8 NKJV

6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

Twisting the glorious free gift of God in Jesus into a supposed license to sin is perhaps the peak of man’s depravity. It takes the most beautiful gift of God and perverts it and mocks it. This twisting is so sinful Paul saves it for last, because it is beyond the depravity of even the pagan.

When God’s gift and word is twisted into something like this, it is much worse than just being a sinner, it is mocking God.

If this is the heart, there is no understanding of the gospel message at all, it is a dead and dark, broken and hardened heart that will respond this way.

Galatians 6:7–8 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Slaves? vs 9

Romans 3:9 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.

Since Paul was Jewish by birth and heritage (Philippians 3:4-6), when he says “we” he means “we Jews.” The point is that by nature, the Jewish person is no more right with God than the pagan or the moralist. Paul demonstrates that the pagan, the moralist, and the Jew are all under sin and under condemnation.

“under sin”- to be sold, in slavery to.

Without Christ we are bonded, in total slavery, under its power.

Again, we are all on the same page, no one is above another.

Our depravity. vs 10-18

Romans 3:10–18 NKJV

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 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.”

He starts with a blanket statement about all of humanity

Putting in perspective the reality of who we are without Christ.

we are broken, fallen, sinners, and cannot claim anything for ourselves.

we are rotten and corrupt to our core and our flesh continuously desires to usurp our will for Christ and Holiness.

Paul looks at the human condition from top to bottom. He begins with the head and moves down to the feet. Warren Wiersbe calls this passage “An X-ray study of the lost sinner, from head to foot.”

Even in our searching, we are not truly searching God.

in our own flesh, we defile even the “search” for God, we cannot help but be selfish in every endeavor without the one who truly is selfless.

Unprofitable- rotten fruit.

something permanently bad, useless, no longer of any value.

Using this reference from the Psalms, Paul calls out virtually every part of the man’s body. The throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, and eyes are all full of sinful desire and are rotten, longing to depart from Christ’s covering.

To forget that this is truly who we are without Christ, filled to the brim with deceit, selfishness and destruction, bringing misery and sorrow wherever we go.

We are truly a hopeless cause, lost to ourselves there is no way out, we are slaves of our desires and sin, we will do nothing but strive for what pleases us most.

This is a truly humbling thought, the true depravity of our flesh and the depth of how dark we are at our core.

We should have so much compassion for sinners, our hearts aching for them, remembering the hopelessness and darkness we once where apart of.

Lord change my heart, i want to see the truth, help me remember who i am without you

i cannot take ANY credit for ANYTHING that is good in me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Worship Him! vs 19-20

Romans 3:19–20 NKJV

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law- our works

they will never save us

they will ALWAYS condemn us

The law shows us how crooked we truly are, trying to keep it to gain salvation just shows us how incapable we are and how in need we are of our saviour Jesus!

It breaks me to think of how far away i am from being like Christ, yet it also breaks me to know that Jesus knew of my depravity and chose to set me free regardless.

i realize that i can do noting of my own accord, i have to rely completely and wholly on Christ, striving to let Him be the cornerstone and foundation of my life.

the depth of my brokenness cannot be understated, i want to keep this visual fresh in my mind, everything i emit is nothing but rotten fruit.

when i understand the depth of my darkness and depravity, i can truly understand grace.

THIS is where true worship comes into play.

I understand that i am anything but worthy to be a part of Christ, yet He has decided to make me His own, freeing me from my chains of sin.

My heart rejoices in Him who loves me!

I will worship Him forever and ever, Jesus is MY LORD, MY SAVIOR, MY REDEEMER, MY FATHER AND MY KING!