Romans 3:1-31

! I.                    Intro

·        Man/Wife hunt expensive tasty lobster & crab.

a scuba diving accident, grim-faced policemen.

some bad news, some good news and some really great news. Pulled body up from the Bay."

"Oh my!," "What's the good news?"

"When we pulled her up she had two five-pound lobsters and a dozen good size crabs on her."

"What's the great news?!"

The policeman said, "We're going to pull her up again tomorrow morning."

·        In truth though, Some times you can’t appreciate the good news till you understand the bad.

·        This afternoon: grasp & bring home the bad news, ask “If it is so hopeless even for those who try to please God, then why bother,” then see how this leads to the good news

II.                Paul’s been giving US the bad news.

III.              Then Why bother, dude?

A.           Very Words of God

1.            What would you ask, if God promised to write you an answer an put it under your pillow?

2.            Would you read it?    (Read vs.1-2)  Even if it’s bad news, it is still God’s very words!  Like Bible.

B.            Bad news shows his perfect fairness  (Read vs.3-8)

1.            Illustrate: Mom’s show love cleaning vomit.

2.            Making Him look good is no reason to wallow

IV.            We’re ready for the good news when we really get the bad.  (Read vs.9-20)

A.           Every one of you… and me, deserve hell and God’s anger.  And you are going… unless.

B.           MUSIC: God So Loved

Rubel Shelly, preacher, phenobarbital, for seizures.  Illegal, impounded t/entire shipment.
Dr. Edward Babayan, ministry for foreign affairs Russian Federation.
After polite introductions, Rubel said who he was & why he was here.
Dr. Babayan began to scold, Rubel Shelly “You are right, the laws are just, your people acted correctly, I have done t/wrong, I should have known better & I apologize.

What do I need to do in order to release the rest of the shipment?”
 

C.           God forgives you and makes you perfect and that only happens in Jesus.

1.            Not for religionist or moralist- we ALL have sinned.

2.            As a gift… (but to whom?)

3.            Those that trust Him, and His atonement

Robert Heffler’s illustration: dead duck, makes a slave of you.

D.           Drop that weight of slavery: MUSIC: I Need You.

V.               Invitation: Do you get the good news/bad news?  What are you waiting for?

E.           The evidence is there for God’s existence and deity, and for Jesus’ historicity and resurrection.

F.            You know you are good enough on your own, you will never attain self-righteousness b4 God!

G.          God already knows your sin, and your helplessness, and has forgiven you through Jesus, and will remake you through Jesus.

H.           You must admit, repent, recieive, today!  (I will help you with missing details as you need.)