Unit 9 / Session 6 Following Their Own Corruption

Sign up for Men’s and Ladies Conference

Introduction:

Big Picture Question: What is the fair payment for sin? The fair payment for sin is death.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Since we began this class a couple of weeks ago, all of the passages/stories that we have covered have revolved in one way or another around this theme. Last week Hophni and Phinehas gave us a clear picture concerning the consequences of sin.

Even the bright spots of Ruth, Boaz, Hannah, and Samuel were plagued by sin personally and dealt with a world marred by sin’s effects, including famine, infertility, idolatry, and death.

What are some ways we have seen sin manifested through the biblical narrative thus far? (disobeying God’s command not to eat fruit from a tree; murder of a brother; pride; falsely accusing someone else; lying; enslaving others; refusing to obey God out of fear; not taking God’s holiness seriously; stealing)

What are some ways we see sin manifested in our world today? (murder; rape; robbery; greed; lying; racism; abortion; war; terrorism; death; disease; natural disasters)

Here’s where we’re going today: Everyone is a sinner deserving death, but God has provided the means of rescue through Jesus Christ.

We call this the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And today we’re going to look at the theology behind that runs behind some of the passages we have studied thus far. But here’s what I want us to focus on and think about throughout the lesson. The gospel’s effects are far-reaching. They reach past salvation into our sanctification. We are no longer destined to hell because of our sin, yet we still struggle with sin. What’s the solution? The gospel. Jesus’ death and resurrection deliver us from the power of sin, enabling us to live holy lives for His glory. If you and I forget the fact that we are still sinners, we will lose our love for the gospel that saved us and sanctifies us, rendering us useless to the cause of Christ.

So let me rephrase our main point for today: You are still a sinner deserving death, but God has provided a rescue through Jesus Christ. *maybe clarify what I mean.

Point #1: All Are Guilty of Sin Against God (Romans 3:9-18)

Turn to Romans 3.

Romans 3:9–18 KJV 1900

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used 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 have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This passage can be subdivided into two themes:

First, Romans 3:10-12 teaches the universal nature of sin as it draws from Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 14:1-3; and Psalm 53:1-3.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

Psalm 14:1–3 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Psalm 53:1–3 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: There is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

The problem of sin is universal. Every person, regardless of their background or heritage, is a sinner in their mind and heart.

Have you ever been witnessing to someone and when sharing about sin had them respond that they are a good person and that they do good things? How should Christians process and understand the “good works” of people? (we can be grateful for the common grace of God that people show love to others and have hearts to seek what is good for others; we must understand that “good” as defined by the world does not equate with God’s evaluation of what is good; a person’s “good works” cannot earn them good standing before a holy God; truly good works flow from a heart of faith in Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God)

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Second, Romans 3:13-18 teaches the extensive nature of sin and draws on Psalms 5:9; 10:7; 36:1; 140:3; and Isaiah 59:7-8.

Psalm 5:9 “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.”

Psalm 10:7 “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.”

Psalm 36:1 “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, That there is no fear of God before his eyes.”

Psalm 140:3 “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.”

Isaiah 59:7–8 “Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood: Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; And there is no judgment in their goings: They have made them crooked paths: Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

The problem of sin is extensive, affecting every part of us. Sin taints the way we speak, what we do, and how we see the world.

Let’s give some examples of how “good works” can be tainted by sin.

Taken together, the two sections of Paul’s argument demonstrate the universal nature of sin (everyone is a sinner) and the pervasive nature of sin (sin has affected every part of human beings). We all suffer under the rule and destructive consequences of sin and stand guilty before God.

Every person is a sinner and guilty before God. We (still) deserve death as punishment, but we also find that we are already dead in our sins.

Point #2: All Are Dead Through Sin Against God (Romans 5:12-14)

Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Essential Doctrine #41: Sin and Death: The ultimate consequence for sin is death — physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death (Romans 6:23). God was clear to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden that if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). The type of death that would result from the fall in the garden of Eden wasn’t only physical death but spiritual death as well, the separation of a person from God. Spiritual death continues in a permanent state when someone dies apart from the reconciling work of Christ, who defeated death through His own death on the cross and subsequent resurrection.

Romans 5:13–14 “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

The fallout of Adam’s sin covered all humanity and creation in death. But by God’s grace, Adam is a type pointing forward to Jesus, whose impact brings life and overcomes death.

Typology: Typology is a facet of Bible interpretation that recognizes an intended comparison of a person, place, event, or thing in the Old Testament with a corresponding person, place, event, or thing in the New Testament. Although the historical contexts differ, there is a real similarity between the two designed by God so that the former is said to point forward to the latter, such as Adam foreshadowing the last Adam — Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:45).

What are some examples of typology (other than Adam) in the Bible? (Not every superficial parallel between the Old and New Testaments is an instance of typology, but only those that substantively foreshadow the redemptive work of God through Christ. Other examples include David (Matt. 22:41–45), Jonah and Solomon (Matt. 12:39–42), Moses (Heb. 3:1–6), Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1–19), the tabernacle and its sacrifices (Heb. 9:1–15), and the Temple (John 2:18–22). By a simple metaphor, Paul posits the typology vested in the Paschal Lamb: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7).)

“Adam is a type of Christ in that just as those who descended from him inherited death, even though they had not eaten of the fruit of the tree. So also those who are descended from Christ inherit his righteousness, even though they did not produce it themselves.” — Chrysostom

Let’s compare/contrast the type between Adam and Jesus on the whiteboard. How does Romans 5 help us look at Adam as a type of Christ? How does Romans 5 interpret Jesus as the last Adam (better Adam)?

Every person is a sinner, and every person deserves death. Our only hope for salvation from sin and death is Jesus Christ, the better Adam.

Point #3: All Can Be Rescued From Sin and Death in Christ (Romans 7:24-8:11)

Romans 7:24–8:4 KJV 1900

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For many of us, we have downplayed the effects of sin in our life. Imagine if we talked like Paul, and viewed our sin like Paul did. Paul was crying out for deliverance from the tragic condition of sin and death. We must view our sin this way!

The cry of faith for rescue from sin and death is answered only in Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of God to deliver us from all condemnation.

How should a believer think about sin? How should a believer think about overcoming sin?

Romans 8:5–11 KJV 1900

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

In addition to eternal life, believers in Christ receive God’s Spirit, who enables Christians to resist sin and live righteously in the present.

What will it look like to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh? (striving to obey God’s commands in the power of the Holy Spirit; aiming to resist temptation and sin in the power of the Holy Spirit; repenting of sin when we fail; loving what God loves, such as the church; displaying humility as we proclaim Christ’s gospel and call on others to repent and believe)

My Response:

Because God has rescued us from sin and death through the death of His Son, we seek to put sin to death in our lives and instead live in holiness out of love and gratitude for what Christ has done.

Head:

How does/should your understanding of sin shape you?

How does your understanding of sin and death shape your presentation of the gospel?

Unless sinners understand their sinfulness and need for God’s grace, they will never repent and trust Christ for salvation. We must have a robust theology of sin in our own lives.

Heart:

In response to the grace of our Savior, Lord Jesus, we should be thankful to God, our Creator and Savior. We gather on Sundays to remember and give thanks.

Here’s a challenge: Before gathering on Sunday, reflect on your sin and the grace of God. Then as we sing, read Scripture, and respond to preaching think about the gospel and how it frees you to worship God.

How will you express your gratitude to God for saving you?

Hands:

Salvation is not just a past experience or a future expectation; it is a present reality for believers. God is saving us from the enslaving power of sin through His Spirit. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives within us and gives us power to obey God’s commands. This does not mean Christians will not sin, but it does mean we do not have an excuse when we do sin. Why? Because God has given us everything we need for “life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3), including His Spirit to live inside of us. Let’s rely on the Spirit to empower us to live for God daily.

What is one specific step of obedience you will take this week as you rely on the Spirit for help?