Verses 9 - 18 of chapter 3 are a summary of Paul's explanation of the sinfulness of man he started back in Chapter 1. Verses 18 - 32 of Chapter 1 describe man's willful decision to follow the lust of the flesh. We see the sinful nature of man, always choosing darkness, always choosing things that oppose God, always wanting more sin - giving in to the flesh with total disregard for what is known to be true about God. We also see in these verses the depth of man's sinfulness.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened Romans 1:21
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves Romans 1:24
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28
Our sinfulness reaches far beyond our actions, deep into our mind and our heart. These are the root of our sinfulness, and they are the disease that needs to be cured should we ever hope to desire a relationship with God, who sheds light on our sinfulness.
It's important to notice that Paul mentions multiple times that "God gave them over" to what they wanted. Man wanted sin, and God allowed them the choice to go that route. God does not force people into sin or a sinful lifestyle...we always choose sin because it is what our heart and mind desire in our lost state - always.
Then, in Chapter 2, Paul goes after the self-righteous Jews who no doubt were quick to say - well we are much better than those sinners you described in Chapter 1. Paul shut the door on that argument very quickly, accusing the Jews of being hypocrites...judging others while practicing the very same things. The Jews didn't get the fact that this sin problem is with the heart and mind. In their attempt to feel good about themselves, they held to a system of "fixing" the heart and mind problem by cleaning up the outward actions. Jesus described this best:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matt 23:25
We need to address the inner issue of the heart, which needs the power of God to be regenerated. Then, we will see the outward changes begin to show themselves, as the Holy Spirit guides us through the lifelong process of sanctification.
As Paul works through the end of Chapter 2, He describes to the Jews their complete misunderstanding of the law, which they had used as a tool to create lost people who thought they were saved based on their "perceived" ability to keep this law. They had totally misused the law, led many people astray - including themselves, and as a result Paul had these words:
For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Romans 2:24
In their desire to justify their in their own minds their ability to live up to God's requirements, they had trampled the very thing that God offered, amazing grace.
Beginning in Chapter 3, Paul addressed the Jews argument that being given the law by God through Moses may not have been of any advantage. Paul proclaims that having the law (or in our case the Bible) is an amazing privilege that allows us to get to know God in a deep and personal way.
Now, to our verse today, verse 9 of Chapter 3:
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin
After explaining the Jew's advantage, having been given the law, Paul quickly explains that this does not put them in any better position before God. All people, all Jews and all Gentiles (which sums up the entire population of the earth, for all time) are under sin.
This goes back to those described in Chapter 1, always choosing sin over God, and this includes the self righteous Jews in Chapter 2 who were convinced they were not sinners.
We must realize that being under sin means two things:
1. All men, apart from Christ, are completely enslaved to and dominated by the power of sin.
2. The end result of sin is always eternal condemnation, apart from Christ.
In the following verses, through 18, Paul will use the Old Testament to prove his point on the complete and utter sinfulness of man, the depths of which are so hard to grasp.
I think it is good to take a look back at the overall picture that Paul has painted in these first sections of his letter to the church in Rome. He has laid the groundwork in order to share the gospel, revealing the absolute and desperate need of man for a Savior to drag them from the depths of their sinfulness. It will take nothing short of a miracle, the power of a sovereign and almighty God, to change the willful desires of a corrupt heart and debased mind.
As Christians, we need to remind ourselves daily of the amazing work that God has done in each of our lives, as it says in Col 1:13: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son ... AMEN!
If you are not a Christian, please take a moment to recognize where you stand today. You carry the baggage of a sinful heart and mind. Your desire to do "good" will always give way to the lust of the heart and mind to pursue sinful things, that drive you from the light of God. Recognize your sin, recognize your need for a Savior to provide a path of forgiveness and regeneration, a path to a restored relationship with an all-loving God that created us with a desire to know us personally!
Jesus Christ is that Savior - pray that God will open your heart to Him!
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Hebrews 3:15
No comments:
Post a Comment