18) Is There No One?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The words we read in the book of Romans are the words of a man who has been forgiven much. A man who has committed great sins against God in God’s own name. A man who has taken lives, persecuted Christians, and with great zeal lived as a leader of God’s chosen nation. A man that was rewarded for his works, applauded for his passion, acclaimed for his knowledge.
3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
If anyone had works that could lead to salvation it was Paul. Who in his own mind had everything figured out until he met a man on the road.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
He has given his life for this truth. He turned from the persecutor to the persecuted. From the one authorizing the stoning of Steven to the one being stoned for speaking the truth of Jesus. A man not ashamed.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
This is a man who has tasted the goodness of God, who feels the compulsion to speak about his Lord, who will give his life so that others will drink from the deep well of the love of the King.
Paul emphatically wants others to know the saving truth that set him free. The promise of hope that he has anchored his life to. The Good News that Christ came to save sinners. He is revealing who needs to be saved. Who needs to hear what he has heard and believe what he has believed. He has spoken of the need that all of the gentiles to be saved from God’s wrath. We have gone through he explanation of the need of the Jews get rid of their false assurances and to see their need of a savior.
He has been dismantling different arguments and assertions that lead people to trust in something other than Jesus. If he hasn’t been clear enough with the arguments that God had spoken through him, he will turn to the Old Testament scriptures to see that they were clear that all have sinned and are in need of a savior.
Today we turn to 3:9-20 of the book of Romans
9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, 17 and the path of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
What then?
What then?
9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,
After spending a large amount of time speaking specifically about the Jews and that they will not be saved by works, heritage, or any other special privilege, He asks this question.
What then? Are we any better off? Paul does not define who “we” is. Some translators believe he is still speaking to the Jews and this has been added to the text. Others believe he is speaking to another group or division that thought they were better off in some way. Either way
He says not at all! The Jews and Greeks have been already charged. This is a legal word like a charge taken before the court and judge. It is the testimony and evidence that they have broken the law and in this case both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.
The Jews and Greeks leave no on out as the Greeks was a term used for the world outside of the Jewish one. And if that wasn’t clear say are all under sin. In the next three verses he will emphasize the universality of the lostness of man in 9 to 10 different ways. Using words like, “no one”, “not even one”, “All have”, and “All alike”.
He turns to the scriptures to make his point.
Testimony of Their Lives
Testimony of Their Lives
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
No One is Righteous
No One is Righteous
Paul says there is no one righteous, not even one. He is quoting either Psalm 14 or Psalm 53 which are very similar for the first three verses.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. 3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
There are none that are righteous, there are none that do what is right, that does good. Though they may do things with the appearance of righteousness they are corrupt and do vile deeds. He outlined what this looks like in chapter 1.
28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
The motives of all people without Christ do not come from a place of righteousness but a place of selfishness. People want desperately to believe they are good. They go to great lengths to justify their behavior. People blame others for their own actions, create arbitrary standards that make them feel good about where they are at. They find like minded people so that they are not challenged in they way they live.
No One Understands
No One Understands
For, there is no one who understands, not even one. There is always a time in our lives that we believe that we are the smartest people that we know. There are moments and seasons that this proves true. Most of us have experienced those teenage years where listening to adult did not seem like a valuable exercise only to find out we should have listened when consequences set in.
20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
The truth is revealed through the Spirit.
14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
The truth of God seems like foolish and valueless rhetoric before the one who does not have the spirit. True understanding is revealed, not stumbled upon. Last night our power was out and we stumbled through the dark areas of our home. The light must be shown for the truth to be revealed.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
No One Seeks God
No One Seeks God
The hardness of their hearts and their natural ignorance keeps all people darkened in their understanding. Content to sit in the dark. Comfortable in the dark. Unaware that there is anything different. No one is seeking the light. No one is even looking for the light switch.
God has not made himself hard to find.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
The issue isn’t that God is hard to find, it is that no one is looking for him. No one seeks after the Lord. For there must be belief first.
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
All Have Turned Away
All Have Turned Away
Since they do not seek God, they turn to other things. They turn to the created things instead of the creator.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
Their minds and hearts find refuge in anything they can find. They worship images and idols, making new false gods for their own personal religion. They follow the lies of the enemy and seek after and chase after fleeting things.
All Alike Have Become Worthless
All Alike Have Become Worthless
So all alike have become worthless. They produce nothing of value. They create nothing that lasts. All they do has no intrinsic value before the Lord. And does not remove even one transgression or get anyone even a single step closer to eternal life and salvation.
No one does good not even one. The lives of the lost do not seek God or do what is good. Their minds seek what is evil and so the fruit of their mouths are also evil.
Testimony of Their Words
Testimony of Their Words
13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
If there was a bible verse that described this last week I would say this could be it.
43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
All men reveal what is in their heart when they open their mouths. Especially in conflict. You want to know what goes on inside then listen to what come out.
Their throat is an open grave
Their throat is an open grave
This is a quote of
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.
The picture of an open casket. The image is words that are filled with rot, decay, death and destruction. The words of a dead heart. It should remind us of the word of Jesus to the Pharisees.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
To spew out words filled with corruption, wickedness, and decay. This last week I have read so many posts that are summed in this image of words that smell of a dead and rotting heart. And many from those that would say they are Christians. Woe to you, who reveals their heart in this way.
They Deceive With their Tongues
They Deceive With their Tongues
Their words are filled with deception. They speak to manipulate and to lie. They know what they are doing.
8 Their tongues are deadly arrows— they speak deception. With his mouth one speaks peaceably with his friend, but inwardly he sets up an ambush.
The one who has lying lips should worry about the Lord.
22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight.
Viper’s Venom is Under Their Lips
Viper’s Venom is Under Their Lips
Like a snake that hides it deadly fangs, so the fallen man hides his poisonous words under their lips.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s bite; viper’s venom is under their lips. Selah
Malicious words that have the intent to harm and kill. Not just deceive but they are weapons used to maimed and destroy. Who hear has been bitten by the poisonous words of another who has intended to hurt and wound. I remember many times as a kid and young adult the word just kidding or sike. The idea that I could say any harmful thing I wanted as long as I put a disclaimer on it, that I was just kidding. The issue is that many of those words were poison.
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
It was another rebuke of the religious leaders.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Mouths Full of Cursing and Bitterness
Mouths Full of Cursing and Bitterness
7 Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
Rotten words, Lying Tongues, Word’s to Harm. If that isn’t enough Paul adds two more cursing and bitterness.
Cursing: hostile angry speech, hateful speech, arrogant speech. Words filled with contempt.
Bitterness: Words of envy, rage, unforgiveness, complaining, groaning, slander, gossip, sarcasm, and even cold criticism.
Testimony of Their Treatment of Men
Testimony of Their Treatment of Men
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, 17 and the path of peace they have not known.
The path of the wicked.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, 9 for they will be a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. 11 If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the Pit. 13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. 14 Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share the loot”— 15 my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path, 16 because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood. 17 It is useless to spread a net where any bird can see it, 18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. 19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
How a person treats others testifies to their heart? We do not have to look very far to see that abuse and bloodshed are every where. We also see that when a societies consequences are taken away abuse and bloodshed grow. It is not that the law enforcement is too little or too much. It is that we see the fear of punishment removed, those consequences are put in place by a society to push against sin, goes away. You see how fallen men treat each other.
In America in 2023 there were nearly 20,000 murders. 1.2 million violent crimes were committed. Over half a million children were abused and neglected. 10 Million people will experience abuse from an intimate partner. 10% of those 60 and over living in their homes will experience abuse or neglect and 16% in care facilities and nursing homes. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse by 18 years old.
Over 1 million unborn babies will be killed in abortions each year.
7 Their feet run after evil, and they rush to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths. 8 They have not known the path of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks on them will know peace.
The treatment of those that have been created by God, in his image condemn them before the judge. They are like little children that run in to destroy waht someone else has created.
For they do not fear what men should fear.
Testimony of Pride
Testimony of Pride
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
This is the duty of man, but they do not do it.
13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
But man does not fear God.
1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person: Dread of God has no effect on him.
Man sees himself as indestructible and in charge of his own destiny. Believes that he is in control and will make it in the end. But Jesus said.
4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
God has called men to fear him and to follow him but man proves that he cannot do this on his own.
12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?
The Justice of The Law
The Justice of The Law
Paul has set all of this testimony before his readers. They would see themselves in many of these and know that God is speaking of them. As God has revealed through his law what was righteous and good. And so on the judgement day if men and women are to stand before the truth of the law they will have no defense their mouths will be shut as they are subject to God’s perfect law.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.
For no one can do anything to aid in his own salvation.
20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Conclusion
Conclusion
A young man in his early thirties is has been killed. He traveled around speaking the truth to anyone who would gather to listen. He called for men and women to see the kingdom of God, to repent and to believe. He was hated by his enemies, and followed by his friends. He lived a life to do the will of God. He died publicly by the hands of the fallen and the wicked, the ungodly and the unrighteous. His family watched him die as people rejoiced in his death. As they mocked his message of hope. A young man has died to save a man like Charlie Kirk. A man has died to save a man like Tyler Robinson.
A man has died to save humanity from itself. For no one will will be justified in God’s sight by his own works. A man has died and his name is Jesus.
Paul has used God’s own words as the charge of humanities universal fallenness. Each person without God will have their unrighteous lives testify against them before God. Their word that are filled with rot, decay, venom, cursing, and bitterness will testify against them.
How they treat the very people God has made in his own image. Abusing the very work of God. Taking the life of people who God knitted together will testify against them.
They do not fear the Lord. They are not afraid of the judge or his just punishment. This is the state of all humanity with out Jesus.
The lives, words, treatment of others, fear of the God show that many of those that claim to be Christians as actually lost and unregenerate or are clinging to the flesh that Christ died for them to be free of.
This week has been filled all sorts of deeds and words that make these words very easy for us to see. The rhetoric has been revealing. There has been a call by many who have said “we must do better.” What does that even mean when the lost world cannot even understand better? For the believer it isn’t doing better, it is doing less.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
We must decrease, and he must increase. In our own lives, in our homes, and in our communities. We must live for the work of the Master.
15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
What does this look like? It is to be a fount of righteousness and goodness that comes from a new heart. That come from the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. It is to pray for and serve others. It is to share the message of hope with anyone, whether they agree with you or not. What comes our in our actions and deeds is from our heart. Charlie Kirk revealed what was in his heart by his words and actions. He was a fellow Christian and spent his life proclaiming the Gospel to as many as he could. And he now sees his hope in eternal life fulfilled.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
The current events in our nation reveal the truth of the scriptures.
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
Let us not get complacent with the reality of the world around us and let us be deeply thankful that God has saved us from this state of despair.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Blessing/Benediction
5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
