The Need for Salvation: Sin Exposed

Romans 1:18-23

Introduction:

Refresher:

Paul’s introduction: Gospel Exalted PT 1: His call: To proclaim the Gospel to the gentiles; Gospel Exalted PT 2: The Gospel is exalted through personal faith- The word was spreading about the Romans faith; The Gospel Exalted PT 3: Righteous Living made possible through the Gospel: Justification: being a friend of God;

Need for saving

-In a survey conducted by the Barna Research Group in 1992, nearly 1/3 of all born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not.

While 88% in a recent Barna poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs.

We may now know why there is such a lack of urgency today

Navigating the thinking of our world

Why does Paul take this time to expose sin:

Until man see’s their depravity they will not be concerned with their deliverance

If you believe there is no such thing as sin, in the way the Bible describes it, you then see no need for God’s moral law, the wisdom of scripture, dependency on God, the rescuing grace of the Redeemer, the ministry of the church, or the bright hope of eternity.

-Paul David Tripp

Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB 95)

“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Ephesians 2:1–3 (NASB 95)

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Read The Text

Spend some time on the wrath of God (vs 18)

God Will Separate Himself from Sin

The Wrath ; (orgē), ( are-gay) wrath (punishment) — the punitive outworking of God’s righteous indignation at sin.

The Wrath of God- God’ s dealing with Sin

The wrath of God has recieved a negative thought but what we see in the OT…

God’s People were in a special relationship with Him as long as they kept His law

Exodus 24:3-8

If they breached this law they provoked the wrath of God for it broke the relationship with Him- Num. 16:46; Numbers 25:3

2. Those who treated Israel poorly recieved God’s wrath Jeremiah 50:13

Revealed- ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalyptō), (a-poka- looptoe) to be revealed (state) — to be or become made known to the public; especially information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret.

NT- The prophets saw the wrath of God continually operating till it hits it peak on the day of judgement

Hard for us to grasp- God’s annihilating response to Sin-

God is at a moral category we have never encountered before- Tripp

How Paul describes it -Paul never uses anger to characterize God’s wrath but love

Impersonal force at work in the world- Romans 3:5; 5:9 (Saved) Romans 12:19 ( do not take vengance but leave evil doers to the wrath) 1 Thess. 1:10- Jesus delivered us from the wrath to come

How the Christian observes it - Remain obedient to God for the wrath of God will lead you to ruin and disaster-

Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.”

God’s wrath is righteous

Romans 13:4–5 “for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.”

Ungodliness- ἀσέβεια - (asebeia) (as-a-by-ya) —impiety — unrighteousness by virtue of not giving proper respect for a God and the God’s institutions.

Unrighteousness- ἀδικία (adikia), (adi-kia) unrighteousness; injustice.-unrighteousness — failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws.

Pagan living-

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

The Winter 1991 issue of the University of Pacific Review offers a chilling description of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster:

There were two electrical engineers in the control room that night, and the best thing that could be said for what they were doing is they were ‘playing around’ with the machine. They were performing what the Soviets later described as an unauthorized experiment. They were trying to see how long a turbine would ‘free wheel’ when they took the power off it.

Now, taking the power off that kind of a nuclear reactor is a difficult, dangerous thing to do, because these reactors are very unstable in their lower ranges. In order to get the reactor down to that kind of power, where they could perform the test they were interested in performing, they had to override manually six separate computer-driven alarm systems. One by one the computers would come up and say, ‘Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!’ And one by one, rather than shutting off the experiment, they shut off the alarms and kept going. You know the results: nuclear fallout that was recorded all around the world, from the largest industrial accident ever to occur in the world.

The instructions and warnings in Scripture are just as clear. We ignore them at our own peril, and tragically, at the peril of innocent others.

Tom Tripp, Colusa, California, quoted in Leadership, Fall Quarter, 1993, p. 56

Three Truths about Sin

1. There is No Honesty VS 18-20

God has revealed himself to man- there is no excuse

There is joy in searching but no one has an excuse - God is revealed- you are aware, humanity is aware

Supress- κατέχω (katechō)- (caught- tek-ho) to check ⇔ hold down† — to lessen the intensity of, temper, hold in restraint, or keep within limits; conceived of as physically holding something down.

John 8:44–47 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.””

Not self sufficient to Salvation- What will we do what has been revealed

2. There is No Humility VS 21-22

Honor and Thanksgiving- this is the response to a Holy God

Not based on emotion but fact- Joy

Even though they know- γινώσκω (ginōskō) ( gi-know-sko)—to know (experientially) — to know or have knowledge about (someone or something); normally as acquired through observation or the senses

They became futile- ματαιόω (mataioō) (matta- ajo) to be futile† — to be or become useless as a consequence of being purposeless or incapable of producing results.

Speculations do not lead anywhere good!

Why are so many people miserable outside of a relationship with God- you become useless

What good is there to offer outside of Christ

They became foolish-μωραίνω (mōrainō) (more- rhino) to be foolish† — to be or become devoid of good sense or judgment.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

3. There is No Virtue VS 23

This is the pinnacle of mans downfall

Charismatic sin of paganism

God does not condone Idolatry

(Friend of God)

incorruptible- ἄφθαρτος ; (aphthartos) (aph-thra -thros)1. imperishable — not being subject to breaking down (and thus lasting forever)

corruptible- φθαρτός; (phthartos)- ( thar-tas) 1. perishable — being subject to breaking down into one’s constituent elements; whether until one is dead or after one is dead.

Mark 7:21–23 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.””

Replacing God with a lie

God is quietly ruled out and human spirit is placed on the throne

Application

I am afraid we are so used to a sin stained world, which is so much a part of our normal daily lives, that we lose sight of the fact that is has messed up everything in our lives… I am afraid that we learn to live alongside of what we should mourn and abhor.-Paul David Tripp

How do we apply this to our lives

Sin has been exposed: Where do we go from here; as a church and as an individual

Unbeliever:

is it for you to feel guilty (not feel but know) feelings fade- but you know

You who are wrestling and trying to minimize your sin- quit God did not send His son for you to tell Him what is Sin He has exposed it

Today is the day of Salvation turn to him: Righteous living- God’s original plan for man before sin- Friends of God

For the Christian may I caution us:

This church is good for us: Confrontation and Compassion : Discipleship

How you respond to your knowledge of your sin does matter- If God is sanctifying you= respond with humility and honesty

God’s word; prayer; and fellowship/discipleship

Psalm 51:1–3 “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.”