The Guilt of all Men

Throughout chapter 3 Paul is drawing his argument to its logical conclusion.

In Chapter 1 he talks about the pagans: rejecting the revelation of God in nature and pursuing a lifestyle that was both idolatrous and degrading, and it was deserving of Gods wrath.

Then in chapter 2 he turns his attention to the Jews: who had the law but failed to put it into practice. They received no benefit from their privileged position.

If you look at this entire section of Romans from chapter 1 until now the whole thing sets up like a court case.

Paul is holding all people accountable for their lack of following God.

The Arraignment (v9)

Here in verse 9 Paul lays out his argument and charge against the people.

He does not hold back on anyone.

The idea that one group of people were better than another group was running wild and had made its its way through everyone that might read Pauls letter

The Jews thought they were better

The Greeks or Gentiles thought they were better

The Christians thought they were better

Here Paul tells them that they are all the same.

That all men regardless of their background are all sinful and will die spiritually with out a relationship with Christ.

Nowhere else in this epistle does Paul use the word WE

It is used here to refer to Himself and the other Christians in Rome, which are both Jew, and Gentile.

The question would then read “Are we Christians, in ourselves better than the other groups of People that God has condemned?”

The answer was instantly NO!

Paul is saying that the whole human race without exception is guilty of sin and not following God and the only way to not be found guilty is through the blood of Jesus.

Look at the word here for “Under” it is Hypo in the greek and means not simply to be beneath something but to “be totally under the power, authority, and control of something or someone”

Often times people who are religious tend to look at themselves as being better than everyone else. a “Sister or Brother better than you”.

the thing that a christian has over the rest of the world is that they know who can save them and they have asked Him to do so.

It is something they should run from house to house trying their best to give to other people not because it helps them but because it helps the other person.

The Indictment (vv10-17)

The first thing that we need to see in here is it is a quote from the OT.

the phrase “it is written” was used by Jesus many times when He would quote the OT.

It was also used by Satan to quote the OT to Jesus during the time of His temptation.

What we need to see about this is the fact that Satan knows scripture as well.

He can use it just as good as Jesus can.

He knows it because he was there when it was being written.

We see 13 charges that Paul brings fourth here in verses 10-17 and they fit into 3 categories.

The Character of the Accused (vv10-12)

Under this section Paul lays out the first 6 of the 13 charges:

It is because of Mans fallen nature they are:

Universally Evil (10b)

There are no exceptions; all men are evil in their core.

Only wanting things they want and we have to train ourselves to do for others.

Spiritually ignorant (11a)

Even if men somehow had the ability to achieve Gods perfect righteousness, they would not know what it is or how to go about attaining it.

Rebellious (11b)

Judging from the vast amounts of religions in the world today you would think that people are seeking after God, in fact they are running away from Him and His truths.

They cherry pick the best parts of other religions and the rules they want to follow and then claim that they have the best way to get to heaven but the only thing that they have is the rules that best works for them.

Wayward (12a)

This one is a natural progression of the first three.

living a life of being evil, spiritually ignorant, and rebellious will lead to a life of waywardness.

Spiritually useless (12b)

The Hebrew word here for “useless” was often used to describe milk that had turned sour and rancid, thereby becoming unfit to drink or to be used to make butter or cheese or anything else edible.

In greek literature the word was even used of the senseless laughter of a moron.

Morally corrupt (12c)

This is almost a repeat of the first charge and a summation of the whole list.

Just a bad person to be nothing good or useable.

The Conversation of the Accused (vv13-14)

The mouth of a person is the output of the soul.

What we put into our bodies is the same that will come out.

Here Paul makes 3 more charges about the nature of fallen man:

Spiritually dead (13a)

Psalm 5:9 ESV

9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

The dead cannot speak life into another.

Fallen man is deceitful (13b)

Psalm 36:1–3 ESV

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

fallen men lie to themselves and to others.

Poison Venom on their Lips (13c)

Psalm 140:3 ESV

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

They are full of cursing and bitterness (14)

Psalm 10:7 ESV

7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

Nothing is ever good enough or nothing can help.

The Conduct of the Accused (vv15-17)

The last 3 charges against the fallen man are ones that go against their conduct.

Their actions are the direct result of their Character, and their speech.

They are innately murderous. (15)

They are destructiveness. (16)

They are peace less (17)

The Motive (v18)

The reason for mans sinfulness is his built-in godlessness.

The basic sinful condition of men and of their spiritual deadness is evidenced by the fact that, for the unsaved their is no fear of God before their eyes.

Psalm 36:1 ESV

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Sinful men do not fear God because they do not know the true power of God.

We as people who are saved do not fear God because of the love He showed us on the cross and it was also the cross that took that fear away and replaced it with love.

The Verdict (vv19-20)

We become conscious of sin through the law.

When we compare our lives with the Law no one stands complete and sinless.

It is only through Jesus Christ are we made perfect in the Law.

Benedictions 087 Benediction

087 BENEDICTION

May the Lord your God be to you a safe retreat

In troubled times, a stronghold and refuge when you are oppressed,

So that you can say, I will be glad and rejoice in you,

I will sing praise to your name O Most High.